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Continuation of 1986-046
By Jim Fairchild
Six
A.M. Thursday. RMRU was back at the park. The
family that wet to Santas Village did not
have April in their care. Today there were many
searchers representing the California Region of
the Mountain Rescue Association, a group from
Orange County Search and Rescue, and the RSO
Mounted Posse, all working together under
RMRUs supervision.
The
first order of the day was to conduct a sweep
search through, you guessed it, the brush! Thus
began several hours of smash, crunch, scratch,
and check for ticks while searching. About 9:30
A.M. Western Helicopter Hughes 500D arrived,
piloted by and old friend, Pete Gillies. We
brush-smashers never saw Pete. We did the machine
darting hither and yon, especially up a major
drainage on numerous occasions.
In
the afternoon, while other miscellaneous
assignments were underway, Joe Erickson, John
Dew, and the writer set of in Joes new
Samurai car to check dirt roads. This enterprise
turned out to be educational and adventurous. But
we found nothing related to the search. Our last
hour was spent checking dirt turn-outs along the
highway. At one of them I found a freshly a
freshly turned bit of earth that looked like a
covered hole. It was heart-in-the-throat time.
The hole had nothing in it. So, we are left with
a lot of "Whys" and "What
ifs," wondering about Aprils fate. We
can only pray for here well-being and eventual
re-union with her family.
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