Kings Canyon Search

At approximately 0300 on October 1, BAMRU was paged to provide mutual aid support in King's Canyon National Park for a solo hiker who was one week past his planned exit date after an approximately 111 mile journey. 

Our theme of preparedness was not in vain as NPS, who was managing the search, assigned BAMRU to a 72 hour ground search assignment.  The team was transported 50 minutes via NPS helicopter to the start of their assignment where they proceeded to search until sunset before arriving at Evolution Meadow and setting up camp for the evening. 

 

At 0800 on October 2 the team called in via satellite phone and were informed that the subject had walked out under his own power and in good health.  After hearing the good news, BAMRU took the opportunity to do a small training exercise of a fine grid search on their way to the LZ where NPS greeted them once again and returned them to the helibase.

As always, we are grateful for a good outcome and the resources provided by the National Park Service. 

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News: Fresno Bee | Mercury News | ABC News

Huddart Park Find

Last evening BAMRU was called to search for a five year old girl in Huddart Park. She was camping with a large group, and went missing just as darkness fell.

So confusing is the Huddart terrain, so thick its' forest. The search operation included K9 teams, San Mateo SAR, a Helicopter, mounted patrol, and BAMRU.

A dog picked up the scent. Somehow this five year old had gotten to the bottom of a ravine, steep and dark black. Alone there with a green glow stick, she was found, safe and healthy.

"The moment you give a child back to her mother, who never knew if she would see that child again, really makes the early morning trainings, the long slogs thru mud and rain, all worth it." - BAMRU on NPR

News: New York Post | Redwood City Patch | London Daily Mail

Covelo Search

On August 3, 2011, BAMRU was paged to respond to a missing man in the Mendocino National Forest in Trinity County. The search base was the Covelo Forest Service Station with the command post located several hours into the forest via fire roads. The search had been continued via the involvement of Napa Search and Rescue, Marin Search and Rescue, CARDA, and the Mendocino, Trinity, and Humboldt County Sheriff's Offices.

BAMRU members transported to the Forest Service station late August 3 and caught a few hours of sleep before being transported to the CP. Nothing significant was found during the Thursday search operations. The search continued on Friday, and was concluded with the subject not found at the end of Friday.

The search area was vast and remote. The 3 hour drive to Covelo was easy compared to the 2 1/2 hour off road adventure required to reach the search base. It is often hard to appreciate just how rugged and remote some parts of California are. A relevant book is Ishi - In Two Worlds, which tells the story of a Native American who emerged from the stone age into the modern world in 1911.

Our condolences go out to the subject's family and friends. Thanks to the BAMRU members who participated in the search.

Update: Aug 13 According to Mendocino County Sheriff's Department, the missing man, Martin Dyer was located alive in the Hoxie Crossing area. More information at the Sacramento Bee

Missing Hiker in Portola State Park

On July 7th, a lost 27 YO male contacted his wife via cell phone saying he was lost and needed help. The subject was on a cross country trip from Portola State Park to Big Basin, a rugged and densely forested area in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

SMSAR, BAMRU, and SCU began search operations in early evening. BAMRU team members were given hasty search assignments to flank a tracking dog and handler, drive the valley floor road, climb the trails from the valley floor, and hike the ridge trails to Lane Camp and in the opposite direction (an approximate 11 mile loop).

As day broke, BAMRU crossed paths with a group of lumber company workers who had seen the subject. After that, the Subject was quickly found in good condition, and transported back to awaiting Sheriff Deputies and Park Rangers for their debrief.

It was learned that the Subject was initially without water, disoriented, exhausted, and very confused about the trails / roads along the ridge. Indeed, the terrain was so confusing that our searchers also lost their way from time to time.

Many thanks to our searchers who worked all night, and were able to bring this gentleman home safe and sound.

Amador County Search

On Sunday July 3rd, BAMRU received a mutual aid request from the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) to support Amador County Sheriff’s Office (SO) in the search for a missing woman from Ventura County, California.

Our expertise in search management and steep technical terrain came in handy as we helped to run the search and provided ground resources at a remote area of El Dorado National Forest.

On Monday, July 4th, two days and nights after she was last seen, the woman was located by a California Air National Guard helicopter, just after dropping off a BAMRU team at their search assignment.

The National Guard team tended to the subject before returning her to the Command Post for further medical evaluation and imminent reunion with her family.

BAMRU was honored to be able to support our neighbors in Amador County in this important operation.

Links: California Air National Guard | Camarillo hiker found safe | Crowd welcomes rescued hiker | ANG Photos | Area Map