The Unit was contacted by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management at 5:30 P.M. on Saturday July 31^st. Snohomish County had requested 11 team members to help in the rescue of two climbers injured on Merchant Peak. They were asked to report to the Cache at 6:30 P.M. or at the Barkley Creek trailhead at 8:30 P.M. Eleven members responded: Chris Berryman, Ken Capron, Bruce Smith, Dave Treber, Rick Wire, Tony O'Brien, Stan and Angela Kartes, Marcus Collins, John Miner and Steve Platt.. The members were on the road en route to the rescue when they were called and turned around. Snohomish County had been able to lift the injured climbers off by helicopter.

There was another mission notification on Sunday for a possible rescue of a stranded dog on a sandbar in the White River; however, that mission was canceled before anyone left home.

The Unit was contacted by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management at 6:30 P.M. on Saturday Aug 7^th . Snohomish County had requested as many members as we could send to help carry out a 15 year-old boy who had been struck by a boulder on the Pacific Crest trail in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. A call-out was made and nine members responded: John Miner, Bill Weber, Jeff Sharp, Sanford Winslow, Russell Anschell, Jim Andrues, Alan Givotovsky, Marcus Collins and Fran McFarland The following was submitted by John Miner who was Operations Leader, Editor

The weekend of August 7-8, 1999 was one of the busiest the Unit has had recently, with the very unusual event of two major operations at the same location on the same day and totally unrelated in nature.

On 8-7-99 at 2330hrs. members of the Tacoma Mountain Rescue Unit assembled at the designated landing zone near milepost 23 on the Suiattle River Road outside Darrington. Initial information was that a party was hiking along the Pacific Crest trail and had stopped to take a break when one of their members was struck by a large rock. He was in very serious condition (three hip fractures, ruptured spleen, bruised lung and cracked ribs, Editor) and the intent was to get him flown out on this evening. A fire department medic and two rescue personnel had been dropped by helicopter some 500' above the injured party and had made their way to the victim. We were to learn later that he was at the 4400' level of the Pacific Crest trail near Vista Creek. The weather was very poor with heavy cloud cover and we staged to do a night helicopter operation with Blackhawk Helicopters, one from Yakima and one from Ft. Lewis. The following team members were assembled:

Operations Leader: John Miner, Truck Driver: Bill Weber, Team 1: Jeff Sharp Sanford Winslow, Russell Anschell and Jim Andrues Team 2. Alan Givotovsky, Marcus Collins and Fran McFarland

There were many other rescue organizations arriving at the end of the road where the command post was set up. These included Tacoma, Seattle, Everett and Olympic Mountain Rescue Units.

ESAR units from Seattle and Snohomish County and horse units from King County were also present. Ultimately the weather would not allow the copters to get in and the party on the Crest Trail, 19 miles from the road end, would have to spend the night. We camped at the horse pasture LZ, along with a large bug population, and waited for the morning. Our tentative assignment was to fly in, get the patient to an LZ, and get him out. The weather did not cooperate and a ground team was started in at 0811hrs., consisting of Jeff, Sanford, Russell, Fran and Marcus. The horse units and other ground teams started in as well. Givo and Jim were assigned to fly with two Everett Mountain Rescue members and they launched at 0836hrs. The Snohomish helicopter took off with marginal conditions for the mountain. The helicopter dropped Givo and John Wilson of Everett Mountain Rescue off at a sandbar and was able to "sneak in" under the clouds and set down long enough for the few ground personnel that were there to get the victim on the helicopter. The task then was to get all of the ground teams that were scattered over twenty miles of trail out, along with the rest of the party that the victim had been with. The communications was difficult at best, even with a relay team.

Part two of this unusual day started at 1730hrs. as the last of the teams were literally minutes from the trailhead. Some of the ESAR units had already headed home. The horse teams were arriving at base camp as we got word that a man was trapped by a boulder down the road near the Buck Creek campground. The Sheriff started down that way along with some of Seattle ESAR and a Tacoma team of Jeff, Fran and Sanford. I spoke with the Sheriff and remained at the base camp to make sure the rest of the search teams made it in from the original mission. The last team out was the rest of the victim's party that was being escorted by Givo and John Wilson from Everett Mountain Rescue. We gave some instructions to the party leader, explained that we were headed down the road on another mission for a man trapped by a boulder that was on him, and then went to the rescue truck at the LZ to get all of our people together and move quickly to this next operation. We drove another four miles back down the road to the Buck Creek campground. Jeff was requesting the pry bars and cribbing for a man who had his leg trapped by a large rock. They were about a mile and a half in on a poor excuse for a trail and up the bank from the river. All of TMRU was sent in except for myself. It quickly became apparent that this was being handled more like an aid call in that there was no base camp command post and again communication was very difficult. A rescue rig from Darrington Fire Department arrived that had some cribbing material and inflatable air bags for lifting heavy objects. I took two of the three firefighters and we hiked in to join the rescue effort.

Upon arrival Jeff and his team had the rescue effort well under way. The 16-year-old boy was indeed trapped. A rock had shifted and his leg apparently went into a deep hole and the rock rolled against him, pinning the leg tight. He was held up with the assistance of Sheriff Sergeant Wikstrom while a harness had been rigged and safety lines attached to that. Cribbing was put in place, the litters readied, and the careful movement orchestrated. The rock moved and the badly fractured leg pulled free. There were three visible fractures, including an open fracture at the ankle. He was moved into a litter, the open wound bandaged and the fracture splinted with an air splint. He was packaged for helicopter short haul and like clockwork, the helicopter arrived. It was an untended short haul and the logging helicopter pilot made it look easy as the short haul line came down smoothly through the tall trees and then just as smoothly the patient was lifted out and to a nearby landing site.

This was a great team effort. There were some twenty people at the rescue site from several different agencies. There was good communication and cooperation from all. Questions were answered politely; everyone assisted each other and respected their roles in seeing this operation through successfully. The rescue was efficient but never frenetic. I made a follow-up phone call to Sgt. Wikstrom, thanking him for inviting the Tacoma Unit to assist in the rescue effort and to ask if he had any constructive comments at all on our performance. He was genuinely pleased with us and thanked us profusely for our efforts. I am confident that we will be invited to assist them again with a large operation that would involve that kind of mutual aid assistance. My thanks to all team members as the Operations Leader. As always, it is often necessary to make a lot of decisions quickly and your cooperation was sincerely appreciated.

Respectfully submitted,

John R. Miner 8-15-99

The Unit was contacted by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management at 4:00 P.M. on Wednesday August 11. They requested swift-water qualified members for the continuation of a search for a missing 9- year-old boy who was presumed drowned in the White River just above the town of Greenwater. They were asked to meet at the Buck Creek Airstrip on Highway 410 at 9:00 A.M. The following members responded: Tom Miner, Russ Brinton, Mike Mixon, Jim Lewis, Lee Tegner, John Simac, John Kirkman and Jim Andrews.

After meeting at the airfield they split into three teams: Mixon, Andrews and Brinton took River right from the PLS (point last seen) downstream (of course); Miner, Lewis and Kirkman took River left; Lee Tegner and John Simac provided valuable dry-land support in working with some of the tools we used to clear some of the log jams -- chain saws and hand tools brought to the riverside from the road etc.-- plus they did some early stream-side recon before we really got going, finding the strainers for the other teams to check. . During the teams trek downriver they spotted a lot of likely spots on the River that they didn't look forward to the prospect of checking -- toooooo dangerous!! This river was higher and swifter than normal, with a lot of "junk" in the river (sweepers, logjams, just plain nasty stuff!!) -- also, the water visibility was zero -- one team was surprised by a nasty branch that floated past them unseen (underwater) and popped up just downstream of them when it hit some gravel!! (The branch had been freed up by another team upstream) -- It just hit home that we had no visibility for any dangerous stuff underwater!) -- This really wasn't a river to be "playing" in (plus the water temp was 32 degrees!)

After a lunch break, the teams resumed searching and found the boy about 1/4 mile down stream of the Buck Creek Bridge. -- He was in a log jam, but not "jammed" -- just caught in a pocket or pool -- the only thing showing (according to John Kirkman) was his shoe up on a log -- the rest of his body was submerged.

All the teams arrived there approx 2:30 and finished the extraction and recovery by 3:30. An ambulance was on scene and out of sight of the highway to allow for more private handling of the body.

Note: To end the day -- there was a head-on collision on 410 several miles out of Greenwater on the way to Enumclaw. We received word it would be 3-5 hours before it was cleared, so we began turning around, not looking forward to the long way home thru the park (some people in line did not have the gas anyway, and the station in Greenwater was closed!!) Then word was spread that the fire dept was getting some Weyerhauser roads opened that would take us around the accident ! -- As it turned out-- where the detour rejoined 410 was just past the accident -- you got a clear view of both cars as we crossed a small bridge over the river -- -- fun way to end the day!

Convened 19:40

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Alan Givotovsky, Bill Weber, Larry Crum, Connie Crum, Ken Capron, Russ Brinton , Jeff Sharp, Chris Berryman and Phil Pletcher.

OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT: Lee Tegner, Mike Mixon, Jim Andrues, and Gary Dunn.

GUESTS: Two representatives from Motorola; Michael Hellum and Donald Witters gave a short presentation on Iridium phones. These phones operate by satellites and are good for remote applications, however they are not waterproof. They cost $1495.00 and this includes 2 lithium batteries and a portable antenna. There is a $10.00 monthly service charge.

The June 99 minutes were accepted as read with the following amendment: In the training report, item #5 should read Russ is working on an Operations Leader's (OL's) training (not OP's leader training). Note: The questioned Western National Assurance Company was verified as correct following the meeting.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Larry Crum

• Accepted as presented for June 99. (Full report is attached to the official minutes)
• 5000.00 was transferred to the Vanguard Mutual Funds for the truck fund
• New categories were developed in Quicken to better track income/expense and support budgeting.
• REI link for ordering kits is now on the TMRU web page.
• Bull & Bear money was left in the savings account. There was no difference between interest rates in savings account and the money market account.
• KIT REPORT: Chris Berryman for Tracy Berryman
• $1500.00 in July sales.

OPERATIONS REPORT: Gus Bush (absent)

• See July rucksack for mission reports.

TRAINING REPORT: Russ Brinton

• 24 members attended the Wednesday July 14^th training. 9 members attended the MAST and familiarization training on Saturday July 17, 1999 and 14 members participated in the training with Snohomish County on Sunday
  July 18th .
• The August and September training have been switched. The August training will be high angle and will be presented by Chris Berryman. The September training will be survival systems and will be taught by Brian Pope. Chris will send out a page and put it on the hotline regarding this change.
• Following a discussion regarding training and missions it was emphasized that missions have priority over training.

EQUIPMENT REPORT: Ken Capron

• Ken worked on updating the two LZ kits and found that one kit is in need of a signal panel.
• There was a recall on the brakes for the truck. Ken took the truck in for this and also had the oil changed.
• A buckle on one of the rigging kits was repaired.
• Ken cleaned and washed the truck following the helicopter training.
• Extra webbing can be found in a stuff sack with the snow anchors.
• Ken suggested to the board that we purchase a 9mm rope for glacier travel. Jeff Sharp stated that when we had 9mm ropes previously they were used incorrectly and were used for high angle rescue. It was emphasized that you lose the ability to be flexible when you carry a 9mm rope. The board decided not to purchase a 9mm rope.
• The team equipment sign-out sheet is continuing to be updated and will soon be in the truck for use.

COMMUNICATIONS REPORT: Stan Kartes (absent)

• No report.

SAFETY AND EDUCATION REPORT: Phil Pletcher

• Phil is working on the fall trade shows.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT: Chris Berryman

• Benjamin Drummond's application was reviewed and he was voted in at field support.(no dues paid).
• Chris provided the board with a copy of the skills evaluation test for their review and feedback.
• Ken Davies was voted in at rescue support.

FINANCE REPORT: Bill Weber

• No activity.

AIR OPERATIONS REPORT: Jeff Sharp

• Jeff is working with Ed Hrivnak on obtaining a helicopter but currently no luck.
• On Friday July 30^th Jeff is presenting our helicopter training procedures to the Snohomish County. They are planning on adopting our helicopter training program.
• Snohomish County is a resource for helicopters and we need to coordinate this through SAR.
• SAR COUNCIL MEETING REPORT: Jeff Sharp
• The hepatitis shots will be given on August 3^rd.

MAST:

• No report.

OLD BUSINESS:

• Chris showed the plaque that was made for Shorty Williams.
• No report from the rigging committee.
• John Simac, Lee Tegner, Stan Engle and Bill Weber attended the memorial for Dr. Otto Trott.
• The board agreed to put a gas card in the truck. (Jeff's card will be the truck card.)
• The question was brought up regarding reimbursing individual members for gas on missions. The OL for the mission has discretion for deciding on this issue.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Mike Mixon presented to the board the idea of purchasing rescue gear that would be stored at the two high camps on Mt. Rainier. The gear would consist of the following items at each camp: 3 three-man tents, 3 stoves and 2 gallons of fuel. He has discussed this idea with Mike Gauthier the lead ranger at MRNP and with Seattle Mountain Rescue. MRNP has given him the OK for space to store the gear at these two locations.
• Lee Tegner expressed concern regarding the possibility of vandalism to Shorty's plaque if it was placed out at Spire Rock. It was suggested the Mountaineer's Clubhouse might be a good possibility.
• It was suggested that Stan Engle would be a good resource for advice on obtaining grant money.
• The group picnic is August 18^th at Stan Engle's
• Ken Capron asked about the protocol for safety issues which arise at training, especially when the training is with other units. Any safety issue observed should be immediately reported to our training officer.
• Phil Pletcher reported that he is working on getting pro deals from PMI and Petzl
• Gary Dunn (new member) works for Helly Hansen and stated that he could possibly get a pro deal on team jackets.
• Chris would like the feedback on the skills test by 8-1-99.

GOOD OF THE ORDER:

• GPS Y2K article stated that 8-21-99 was the deadline to meet for upgrading your GPS units. Ron Langhelm will upgrade TMRU's GPS units.
• August 12^th is MRNP's Centennial Celebration. Alan will be attending.

Adjourn 22:00

Respectfully submitted

Connie Crum
Secretary

The offices of Secretary and Treasurer are up for nominations at the September Membership meeting. All elected officers serve for a two year term with the President and Vice president being elected on even years and the Secretary and Treasurer being elected on odd years. The actual elections will take place at the October Membership meeting. If you know someone you would like to nominate for these offices please due so at the September Membership meeting.

Would you like to participate in a practical field trip on high-line operations? The instruction will consist of rigging a high-line system across the Mashell river south of Etonville.

Date: 2 Oct. 99

Time: 0700 at the cache





R.S.V.P. Chris Berryman at

253-581-6614

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