A mountain rescue incident occurs when a member of the Unit is involved in a rescue where the Unit itself has not been officially activated. Editor

A group of Minnesota teenagers and Frontier Lodge guides were on a spelunking excursion after a hard week of work at Frontier Lodge when one of the youths slipped and got stuck deep in Wapiabi Caves. While trying to extract her, some of the group went for help. The rescue team from Nordegg was notified and put on stand-by for a helicopter and confirmation of the subject's status.

The responding members were Don Livingston and Doug Ritchie, Rocky Mountain House Mountain Rescue, and Rick Wire of Tacoma Mountain Rescue (staying with the Livingston family for the MRA Conference). The respondents were picked
up at the Nordegg Ranger Station in a Bell L3 Long Ranger from a local seismic company working in the area, operated by Northern Air Support. The rescuers were transported to a saddle in the Front Range above the cave mouth and dropped off to assess the situation.

By the time the rescuers arrived, the subject had been completely extracted from the cave, but still needed to be moved up to the Heli Spot about 140ft (43 meters) above the cave over class 2 loose rock. The subject was able to hop with assistance on her good leg. Since the terrain was moderate angle (25) and loose it was decided a belay was in order. While Don and the helicopter pilot shuttled 3 of the other teenagers down to their van, Rick and Doug put the subject in a harness and set up a belay. Since there were no anchors, three of the remaining teenagers were slinged together as ballast. With the help of one of the group leaders, Doug, and the belay, the subject hopped up to the staging area for the helicopter.

By this time the weather was getting cold (even snowed a little bit), so the subject was lent some clothes and also a vacuum splint was put on to stabilize her injured foot. After the remaining group members were shuttled to their car, the rescuers and subject were transported to the ranger station where an ambulance was waiting.

One of the reasons we have you fill out an application for a Emergency Workers card after you join the Unit is to protect you against loss or damage to your personal equipment. If during the course of a rescue some of your personal equipment becomes lost or damaged, you may submit a claim to the state for reimbursement. This is accomplished by submitting a Property Loss or Claim Form DEM-086. These forms can be found in the treasurer's box at the Cache or contact the treasurer to receive the form by mail. After you obtain the form you need to complete Part One (front and back), then sign and date the form. Part Two is completed by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management (PCDEM). You may submit multiple claims on the same form as long as they occurred during the same mission. You need to include receipts for damaged/lost equipment if available. Then make two copies, one for your records and one for the Unit treasurer.

Mail the original form to:

Pierce County Department of Emergency Management
ATTN: Yoli Roberts
930 Tacoma Ave. S., Room B-36
Tacoma WA. 98402-2102

The Director of PCDEM will review and sign the claim and copies will be mailed to the appropriate offices. Any more questions should be directed to PCDEM at 798-7470.

These minutes as published are unofficial and subject to approval at the next regularly scheduled board meeting. Convened 19:34.

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Alan Givotovsky, Fran Martoglio, John Kirkman, Gus Bush, Chris Berryman, Ken Capron, Bill Weber.

OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT: Tracy Berryman, Duane Perham.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Victor Caro

• Victor was absent. Alan gave the report.
• Monthly report is accepted as presented for 6-01-00 through 6-30-00 (Full report is attached to the official meeting minutes.)
• Victor is looking into a consultative approach in examining the Unit's financial position versus an audit.
• Victor contacted the county as to the proper procedure for getting reimbursed for damaged equipment. He has established a contact person and has received a corporate claim form.
  [See preceding article.]
• Mail remittance to Victor Caro.

KIT REPORT: Tracy Berryman

• Sales for the month of June are attached to the official meeting minutes.
• Fran Martoglio contacted Adventure Medical Kits about putting together the kits.

OPERATIONS REPORT: Gus Bush

• No report.

TRAINING REPORT: Russ Brinton

• Russ was absent.
• July training will be Night Operations.
• Fran Martoglio will head the September Training which will cover Air Operations.

EQUIPMENT REPORT: Ken Capron

• Two "B" rigging bags are now in service, and we are waiting for two "A" rigging bags.
• Alan Givotovsky discussed a new product, the Rocky Mountain Traction Device.

COMMUNICATIONS: Stan Kartes

• Stan was absent.
• Stan has the paging software.

SAFETY & EDUCATION: Rick Wire

• Rick was absent.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT: Chris Berryman

• The membership committee reviewed members who are awaiting DEM numbers.
• Chris is looking into pending members being covered by insurance on training and missions.

FINANCE REPORT: Bill Weber

• Signatures went through for new board members on the Vanguard account.

SARVAC: Fran Martoglio

• Fran did not attend the SAR Council meeting.

MAST: Bill Weber

• No report.

OLD BUSINESS:

• Fran Martoglio is looking into REI affiliate program.
• Gus Bush and Fran Martoglio discussed WMRA meeting. On August 18, Mt. Rainier Park Service, RMI and a few members from the Olympic, Tacoma and Seattle Chapters of MRA will meet and discuss how we can work together more efficiently.
• Fran will pursue a new grant from REI for gear to store on Mt. Rainier.
• John Miner and Fran Martoglio are working on O.L. guidelines.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Alan Givotovsky gave a report on the MRA Conference in Canada.
• International Tech Symposium is October 20-22, 2000 in Tucson, AZ.
• Duane Perham is putting together a tote with MRA patches for sale.
• Alan is putting together a committee for fixing up the Cache.
• Bill Weber suggested getting a new log book for the truck.
• There was discussion about the Unit picnic.

Meeting adjourned at 21:10

Respectfully submitted,

John Kirkman

The 2000 Unit picnic will be held at the house of a long time member of the Unit, Stan Engle, and his wife, Helen. Their address is 4011 Alameda Ave. in University Place, just south of Fircrest. The Unit will provide the liquid refreshments and the hamburgers and hot dogs. Unit members are asked to bring a covered dish. We also need two or three barbecues. The picnic will start at 6:30 P.M. Alameda is the southern extension of Pearl St., and Engle's is also accessible by 40^th St. from Orchard St. or anywhere west there of.

John Simac
Tracy Berryman
Duane Perham
Piro Kramar
Fran Martoglio
Phil Fortier
Bill Weber

The Kit parties are held from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M., the first Wednesday at the Cache. If you need directions, call 531-2120. We need your help.

There will be no Kit Component Party in August because of the Unit picnic.

©Copyright 2000 Tacoma Mountain Rescue