| Thank you for the opportunity to allow us to be of service. The Dec. 27th evening search and rescue of the stranded couple was a big success. We had 8 searchers in two teams equipped and riding out within 45 minutes of the phone call from the sheriff. Our riders were able to find the couple two hours after receiving the phone call.
This message includes the list of Trail Finders contact information for future use by the Sheriff Search and Rescue team (attached as a Word document and placed below in this message). Also included is detailed information of the rescue last Wednesday and our lessons learned. Also an attached Google map showing where we found the couple. List of participants in the search: Bob Carrell, TJ Ingram, Dean Summers, Cecil Berry, Brandon Christensen, Cody Smith, Bob Smith, and Andrew Grissom. Also of service were Connie Smith and Dottie Carrell who manned the phones and radios. As well Dino and Cheryl Graham drove to Baldy with their tracked side by side to be ready in case they were needed. The location where we found the couple was: 500 feet south west of the intersection of NF-118 and NF-64 (Kendall Skyline Rd.). GPS coordinates were 45.867630, -117.969024 (45 degrees 52′ 03.5″ N 117 degrees 58′ 08.5″ W). We met the next day and had a few lessons learned. The communication effort re-enforced to us that we always need to carry two methods – Garmin radios and cell phones seem to work the best here. Since this search was at night we would use LED clip lights to place on searchers apparel and on snowmobiles. For marking at trail interfaces we would use the plastic ribbon tape. Back up battery systems for our cell phones is a necessity. This is what we posted on our website the next day: “Special Thanks go out to the TTF members who participated in the Search and Rescue effort Wednesday Evening. Two snowmobilers called 911 about 4:00pm that they had taken a wrong turn off the trail and both sleds were stuck in deep snow between Jubilee Lake and the Bone-Chapman shelter. The Umatilla Sheriff Search and Rescue coordinator contacted the TTF President and a response of 8 snowmobilers was headed out within about 30-40 minutes. Communications indicated the snowmobilers had been able to light a fire and provided good landmarks to 911 and they were located about 6:00pm. TTF members were able to get their sleds out and all 10 snowmobiles were able to ride to Morning Creek Snow Park where they had their truck and trailer. Most members were back home about 8:30pm. Thanks to Bob, Dottie and TJ, Cecil, Bob, Connie and Cody, Dean, Brandon and Andrew! Also to Dino and Cheryl for heading out in their side x side in case we needed a winch to retrieve sleds. “ |