Fremont Rescue
Jan. 2007 Searches
Jan. 1, 2007 Mt. Jefferson Avalanche
 |
 |
 |
What started out to be an enjoyable New Years snowmobile ride on Jefferson Mt., west of Island Park, turned into tragedy for a group of 6 young riders. The six gentlemen from Utah and Idaho were high-marking on the high terrain of Mt. Jefferson. Ryan White, from Bountiful, Utah, rode high up one of the canyon draws that lead into Hell Roaring Canyon on the Montana side of Mt. Jefferson. He apparently rode to the top, circled around to come down, and triggered an avalanche burying him and partially burying another member of his party. Nearby riders witnessed the avalanche, offering assistance. The partially buried individual was quickly recovered with minimal physical effort. The buried individual’s group, along with other riders offering assistance, managed to locate where Ryan was buried. Fremont County Search and Rescue was immediately dispatched when word of the burial was received. By the time they arrived, Ryan had been located, but not totally recovered.
Ryan was found buried under 8 feet of snow, and his mouth, nose, and helmet were packed with snow. He was buried for about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The avalanche was approximately ½ mile long, extending down a narrow canyon. The slide was 30 feet wide at the top, intensifying to 80 feet at the bottom with debris and snow.
Individuals buried under an avalanche usually run out of air very quickly.
Current avalanche conditions are high at the present time. Take all necessary precautions, and look at avalanche websites before traveling into mountain areas where avalanche conditions are high.
A reminder to anyone traveling backcountry areas whether skiing, snowmobiling or hiking:
Remember the time of year, exercising all back country cautions. Take necessary equipment and survival gear when venturing into the back country. If you have a GPS and cell phone, be sure to take them with you, but do not rely on them entirely for a safe rescue if you find yourself in trouble or stranded. Cell phones should be kept close to your body & turned off to keep the battery full, so it's not searching for a signal & running the battery down. Avalanche Transceivers and equipment, knowing what the avalanche conditions are, and knowing skills to save lives are a must for everyone entering back country riding or traveling. Plan ahead. Make sure you know the area you are heading into before heading into it. If you find yourself in trouble, stop, take a look around you, and do not go any farther. The farther you go the more complicated and dangerous it is to get yourself to safety, also making rescue efforts more difficult and dangerous. Make mental notes in relation to any physical features or landmarks that would assist in your rescue. Make a plan, stick to your plan, narrow the riding area, and most of all let someone know WHERE you are planning to go!
To check avalanche conditions, here are three sites to look at.
http://www.mtavalanche.com/current
http://www.jhavalanche.org/scripts/avalanche.php?action=forecast&area=teton
Jan 6, 2007 Desert -west of St. Anthony
Saturday morning, 260 volunteers
and Fremont Rescue members
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
spent the day searching for a missing
Salem man.
Nestor Lazzari, 40, was reported missing shortly after Thanksgiving. His van was found on the desert west of St. Anthony a week ago. He was not in it & didn't have appropriate clothing for the frigid temperatures.
Volunteers were searching in a grid pattern around the area where his vehicle was found.
There were many wonderful people who brought horses, ATV's & snowmobiles to help in the search. Also, several of Fremont Rescue members families spent time searching, and/or making lunches for the volunteers.
We also wish to thank Bonneville, Bingham & Madison counties for sending some of their search members to assist.
Jan. 14 & 15, 2007 Two Top, Island Park
6:30 p.m. Fremont County Search and Rescue members’ pagers alerted them there was a search. Despite below zero temperatures, rescue members quickly headed to Island Park with their snowmobiles, winter gear, food, shelters, avalanche beacons & gear, cell phones, and GPS devices. The sub zero temperatures concerned all rescue members.
Four snowmobile riders from North Dakota traveled away from the groomed snowmobile trail on Two Top Mountain north of Island Park. The riders found themselves in a densely treed canyon, necessitating cutting trees to navigate, ultimately not able to manage a way out. Fortunately, the party had cell phones with sufficient cell service enabling them to communicate with Search and Rescue. They started a fire to keep themselves warm to combat Mother Nature’s extreme cold temperatures.
Rescue members split into teams attempting to locate the individuals, temperatures pushing minus 38 degrees.
Air Idaho Rescue from Idaho Falls was called to assist, but had to abort twice, once for mechanical difficulties and the other for icing conditions. Portneuf Life Flight from Pocatello was unable to respond because of cold temperatures. Rescue members had concern for the safety of the lost party because of sub zero temperatures.
Rescue members had to search with snowshoes when they were no longer able to travel by snow machine. After many hours of searching, search members met up with the party about 5:30 a.m. the following morning in Canyon Creek, January 15, 2007. The party appeared in good condition considering adverse weather conditions.
Locating the individuals was only the beginning of the rescue process. With assistance from Fremont County Search and Rescue, the individuals’ sleds were recovered. The party rode their machines out, and Search and Rescue members walked to available snow machines on snowshoes. This snowshoe trek took over two hours to meet up with other members who were waiting to facilitate bringing everybody the rest of the way out. Rescue members and the stranded party rode snowmobiles to Meadow Creek Trail to meet up with other rescue members, Island Park Groomer and operator, and a radiating fire. The party ended their ordeal safely at base camp at 8:30 a.m. Fremont County Search and Rescue transported the four individuals and sleds to West Yellowstone, MT
Search members’ snow machines had to be shuffled to accommodate getting all individuals to safety. Members were on snow shoes for more than 5 hours during the search. Radio, avalanche beacon, cell phone, and GPS batteries take a toll in cold weather and frequent use. Search members must carry extra batteries in their already heavy back packs. Radios are left on for the duration of the search for safety and continuous communications. GPS devices are used to radio coordinates to base where a laptop and mapping program are used to plot locations. These coordinates assist with the search, plotting areas that have been searched, areas to search, distances, terrain, etc.
Fremont County Search and Rescue typically has more searches than any other county in the state! Many of their searches are much like this one in rugged and dangerous terrain tackling adverse weather conditions. It does not, however, prevent the 32 members from responding!
Jan. 24, 2007
Two Top Area, Island Park
Fremont Rescue responded to some snowmobilers who had run out of gas & were in need of assistance. The snowmobilers called later & said that they had some other friends responding and to disregard their call.