2009 MRA California Region Snow & Ice Recertification
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March 7, 2009 |
by William Carlson
As we traversed the steep snow covered slope we saw what looked to be someone laying motionless against a tree. Chad and I rushed overexcited to have located the missing skier our team had been searching for all morning. "Jim! Jim! Can you hear me?" No response. "Sir, can you hear me?" All we heard were moans. "Base, team one! We have located the missing skier. He is unconscious and only responsive to pain at this time. We will need all team members and the snow toboggan with ropes and rigging for a 600-foot technical lower." "Team one, Base copies!"
A quick "head to toe" medical exam revealed pain in the patient's neck, back, abdomen, and lower left leg. Chad and I placed the patient in cervical spine immobilization and proceeded to take vital signs and perform a detailed head to toe exam. Although unconscious, our patient appeared to be stable. Prior to splinting his (possibly broken) lower leg his left foot was not receiving normal circulation. However, after readjusting the leg once we could again feel a pulse. We prepared Jim for the toboggan the other team members were bringing in and covered him in warm clothes.
Neither of us had ever had a patient in this bad of conditionin the backcountry. Very soon the remainder of the team (Pete, Dave, Bill, Dana, Jeff, Kirk) arrived and quickly set two snow anchors. With our patient's conditions what seemed like hours was only minutes. With the anchors and rigging in place Bill was lowered down to our location with the toboggan. Kirk also descendedand together the four of us transferred Jim to the toboggan and an awaiting sleeping bag. We strapped him in and spent a few extra minutes making sure Jim was completely immobilized. Due to his location we were going to have to raise him 50 feet in order to avoid a cluster of trees.
Kirk and Bill quickly ascended back to the top to assist with the haul. "Haul Slow!" "Copy, Hauling slow!" In a matter of minutes the six members on top had raised the toboggan with Jim, Chad, and me the 50 feet we needed to travel to avoid the cluster of trees. The team on top made quick time of the changeover and we were soon heading down the 600-footdecent to the waiting ambulance. We reached the end of our 200-footrope and cut a small ledge to secure ourselves to.
Within minutes Kirk, Bill, Pete, Jeff, Dana, and Dave had built a new set of snow anchors and re-rigged the system for a lower. Chad, Jim, and I were once again on our way to the awaiting ambulance. We were becoming slightly nervous as Jim's vital signs were taking a dive. He had survived a fall and a night out in a winter storm; we surely weren’t going to let him die on our watch. Moments later we were at the end of another 200 feet.
Chad and I again cut a ledge and secured the toboggan. We then untied Jim and helped him get up and out of the toboggan. The events of this morning were all part of a scenario provided as our winter snow and ice recertification test. Every year our team must pass a recertification test in one of three areas (Snow and Ice, Search and Medical, and Technical Rock). This year's Snow and Ice recertification was held in Squaw Valley near Lake Tahoe, CA.
After lowering the subject 400-feet we packed up the technical equipment and brought it back to the rescue van. From there we gathered GPS coordinates which would lead us to the last portion of our test… the avalanche scenario. We all gathered mid-slope a few hundred feet away from an"avalanche debris field." Our examiner gave us a scenario of two skiers who were for sure buried as well as a person on snowshoes who was last seen in the area and has been reported missing.
For the scenario we were only allowed to use 3 rescuers. Dana, Chad, and I quickly spread out in a strategic search pattern. As we performed a signal search (using avalanche beacons to search for buried subjects) we took note of items such as ski poles and clothing scattered amongst the debris. We soon located the two skiers and dug them out. We then systematically checked the items we found on the surface and were able to locate the gentleman on snowshoes because his gloved hand was sticking out of the debris.
This recertification test is a way for us to demonstrate to others and ourselves that our training is held at the highest standard. Although these tests are often fairly tough, we pride ourselves on knowing that we are prepared for the toughest rescue possible. We train once a month in all aspects of search and rescue in order to prepare to answer the call when it does come out.
Members Present: Glenn Henderson, Jeff Toscas, Dana Pots, Gwenda Yates, Mike George, Pete Carlson, Chad Marler, Dave Webb, William Carlson, Tom Mahood, Bill Delo, Kirk Cloyd.
Photos of RMRU at The Recert
