Rock Skills Training at Donner Summit

BAMRU converged upon Donner Summit this past Saturday morning for its annual rock climbing skills training. Throughout the weekend, several stations were run at any given time to teach personal climbing skills, such as ascending and descending with prusiks and mechanical ascenders, ascending and descending past knots, escaping belays, ascending a loaded line to a leader (with angled line and redirects), ascending a line in free space, munter-hitch rappels, and other climbing self-rescue skills. BAMRU's newly initiated trainee class as well as other BAMRU members moved between stations in a self-directed fashion ensuring everyone devoted the time they needed to master each skill. Saturday night was spent at a member's house in Truckee, discussing proper decision-making techniques and reviewing reports from Accidents in North American Mountaineering.

The weekend provided an excellent foundation for several upcoming BAMRU trainings, including the Alpine Skills Training (July 23-25) and Basic Technical Rescue (August 21-22).

Statewide Search Activity

After a quiet spring, BAMRU finds itself in the midst of a spike in search activity.

Today, nine BAMRU members returned from a search for a missing man in Butte County. (more information on the missing person at http://goo.gl/xNMa)

Over the weekend, BAMRU was also on standby for a search in San Mateo County.

Additionally, there were SAR teams looking for lost persons in Monterey County (http://goo.gl/KWtq) and Riverside County (http://goo.gl/BEmr).

The spike in search activity occurred while 18 of our members were engaged in a training exercise on Donner Summit. Thanks to BAMRU members and operations coordinators for their contributions during a busy period.

National Award for Chang

BAMRU proudly congratulates John Chang on his award for Outstanding Contribution to the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA). John received the award Friday at the 2010 MRA Spring Conference in Juneau, Alaska. He was presented the award by the President of the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR), Dan Hourihan. John's list of accomplishments and contributions are truly outstanding. Humble as he is, John has earned this recognition for all he has done for BAMRU and the MRA.

Congratulations John!

Cantu Search Update

Last year BAMRU was involved in a search for a missing child, Sandra Cantu. Her deceased body was sadly found a few weeks after our search period had ended.

Melissa Huckaby pleaded guilty to the murder, and today was sentenced to life in prison.

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/state&id=7496581
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20007640-504083.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandra_Cantu_homicide