MayJunJuly2010

May 24, 2010 Mesa Falls

7:15 P.M., Fremont County Search and Rescue headed to Upper Mesa Falls following a report to the sheriff’s office of an gentleman in the water below the falls. Sightseers spotted the individual in the water, and after acquiring cell service, calling 911, and returning to the location, they were unable to locate him.

20 FCS&R members responded, equipped with climbing gear, including ropes, hats carabineers, flashlights, etc to repel down the unforgiving canyon walls in an effort to locate the individual. Some members were able to climb down the rugged cliffs and rocks to walk the banks of the fast moving river. Other members positioned themselves above the canyon in an attempt to locate him.

Unit members located the body of Tim Laux of Ashton, ID on a rock in the middle of the river approximately 1/2 mile below the falls, his death an apparent accidental drowning.

Additional unit members repelled down the steep and rugged canyon walls to assist with the recovery. A total of 5 unit members helped on the bottom, while other members prepared ropes for a high line recovery. He was high lined from the canyon floor to the top of the canyon ridge in a liter.

With the assistance from Keith Richey, Fremont County’s light system was positioned along the canyon rim downstream.

Recovery efforts were significantly hindered because of rugged canyon walls, cold rainy weather, and lack of daylight.

June 13, 2010 Drummond

4:00 P.M. Fremont County Search and Rescue responded to Drummond, ID to help family members locate a 58 year old gentleman, possibly suicidal. Rescue members responded with 4 wheelers, motorcycles, and automobiles to assist with the search. Some Unit members searched the canyon on foot. The gentleman was located in the Grangeville area near Drummond shortly after 5:30.

July 16, 2010, at 12:05 Friday morning Fremont County Search & Rescue was paged out for a camper from Kaysville, UT, who had floated the 4 ½ mile stretch of the Henry’s Fork of The Snake River from Riverside Campground to Hatchery Ford. He had misjudged the amount of time it would take to walk back to Riverside Campground and his T-Shirt was not very protective against the 41º temperatures that night, but he did have a FRS Two Way Radio which aided in locating him faster. After confirming radio contact, at 1:47am he was able to see the lights of a search team across the river. He was instructed to build a small fire and warm up while another search team walked in to him from the North East side of the river. Muddy and Rocky terrain, thick brush, and low light made the search efforts difficult and dangerous. The second team reached him at 3:02am, and after a thorough assessment they extinguished the fire and walked him out to their vehicles. He was transported to Riverside Campground and reunited with his camp spot. The Search & Rescue members made it home between 4:45 and 5:00am. Parting thought: “It is much easier and faster to float downstream than it is to hike up stream”.