Signal flares spotted
By "Major
Disaster"
We got the
call bright and early that some Palm Springs city
workers had seen some signal flares coming from
the Tahquitz and Andreas canyon area. Boy, did
that sound marginal. The last time we went out to
that area someone had seen a signal mirror and
after hours of searching, we found nothing. Must
be those NINJAS fooling around again.
The turnout
was slim as we collected at Ann Dolley's place at
the mouth of Tahquitz canyon. Don, our favorite
helicopter pilot, flew in just as the last of our
small band arrived. It was decided by our
commander Walt "General Grump" Walker,
that he, as usual, would fly search for a while
along with a trusted observer, Joe
"Lieutenant Ludicrous" Erickson. Gee,
some people get to have all the fun, but rank has
it privileges.
It was warm
there at Ann Dolly's but higher up it was cool
enough for snow and quite windy. We had taken the
doors off the bird to facilitate not only entry
and exit, but observation as well. Anyway after
about an hour of flying around Don landed with a
very blue Joe, who had not taken a parka.
Well, enough
of this flying around big, the troops were
chomping at the bit to get out in the field. So
teams were made up, assigned radios and points on
the map picked for them to search.
Kevin
"Colonel Klutz" Walker and I were the
first to be put out on the east ridge of Tahquitz
canyon. Don could barely get the ship to land,
the wind was so squirrelly. I could see why Lt.
Ludicrous was green as well as blue.
Another team
made up of Jim "Admiral Hornblower"
Fairchild and new guy Ray "Dr. Ghoul"
Hussey were put out higher up the ridge. The last
team made up of Bernie McIlvoy and new guy Curtis
Pontynen was put out even higher. It was a good
game plan that covered a large area. If anyone
was about they could not only see us (with bright
orange shirts) but hear us as well. The only
response we got was the howl of the wind. No sign
of anyone.
Meanwhile,
back at base, the General had deployed another
team to check out a trail leading up to the
ridge. That team was led by Mel "Captain
Chaos" Krug along with Rob "Squeaky'
Gardner and Mark "Here's the Beef' Rhodes.
They too found nothing.
By this time
it was getting to be mid afternoon and we were
running out of leads to search. Also people were
showing up in droves. Even Pete Carlson showed up
for his one mission of the year he does. Glad you
could make it Pete, we really needed you. So
General Grump made the command decision to pull
the plug after consulting with the sheriff.
So Don once
again fired up the 'ol chopper to pick up the
field teams. The Col. and I were first to be
picked up. To help Don get an idea of wind
direction and speed we lit a smoke signal. Since
these are old flares, one needs to hit them on a
rock to get them going. Unbeknownst to me, sparks
shot out along with the smoke and set some grass
under the rock on fire.
So here we are
guiding Don in, when we notice the smoke is
working too well. Don about fell out of his
helicopter with hysterical laughter as he fanned
the flames with his blades. Col. Klutz and I
somehow managed to put out the blaze despite
Don's help.
(ED. NOTE: For
this outstanding act Major Disaster was given
RMRU's highest award for a distinguishing act in
the field, THE GREEN WEENIE! Congratulations
Major).
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