On September 25, BAMRU of San Mateo County Sheriff's Office received word of an ongoing search for 72 year old missing hunter in the Mendocino national forest area in rugged terrain above 5,500’. Gene Penaflor had disappeared during a hunting trip the day before. He and his partner agreed to meet for lunch and the had split up to walk down two different ridges. Unfortunately, Gene never met his partner, and was reported missing later that day. Seven members of BAMRU/SMCSO responded to the call out, and met with Mendocino county search and rescue at 8:30am on Thursday the 26th. The search continued until Saturday, with 13 BAMRU/SMCSO members attending on Friday, and a total of 14 on Saturday.
The Searchers Prepare
Accessing the site was quite challenging: it required a multi-hour drive on dirt roads from Ukiah following the drive up from the bay area. Thankfully our hosts were incredibly helpful, which made the process substantially easier.
Making Maps
Once on scene BAMRU/SMCSO was honored to be able to help coordinate a significant part of the effort to locate Mr. Penaflor, including analyzing the map of the area and using information from Mr. Penaflor's hunting partner to plan the search assignments for the weekend. The terrain was very rugged but the search teams all worked together seamlessly to cover a very large area over the course of the four day search, we were very grateful for the incredible professionalism and hard work of all of the teams involved. With great sadness we were all forced to leave on Saturday night by an incoming bad weather front and a total absence of clues. We always hate leaving searches without any result, and so an early end to the search was very hard on all of the teams involved.
Thankfully, two weeks later on Saturday October 12th, a full 18 days after Gene Penaflor went missing, BAMRU/SMCSO was invited back to Mendocino to assist with a follow up search. Eight BAMRU/SMCSO members were able to attend, although none of us expected the result that followed. At 08:30am Gene Penaflor, still alive and sheltering near a creek not far from where he fell, was able to get the attention of a group of hunters passing near by. When the hunters found him, he reported that he had not been able to eat for three days and was incredibly weak. They were able to use their sweaters to make a stretcher and carry him to a nearby clearing. They also called 911, and we were able to use their GPS coordinates to locate them, and find Gene.
The members of BAMRU/SMCSO were privileged to be able to assist with the care and extrication of Mr. Penaflor. We are very grateful to the hunters who found him for their assistance in the hauling of the stretcher to the helicopter landing zone, where Mr. Penaflor could be air-lifted to Ukiah Valley Medical Center. We are also incredibly grateful to all of the other search teams involved, their professionalism and expertise was instrumental to the success of this recovery. Mr. Penaflor was treated for minor injuries and released to his family the next day.
Ready For the Rescue
It is truly amazing that Gene Penaflor was able to survive for so long alone in the wilderness. He reported that he was able to shoot squirrels and other small game, and that he cooked algae from the nearby stream to stay alive. To stay warm he insulated himself with packed leaves and grasses and made a small fire. When it rained or snowed he crawled under a large log to keep dry.
On Our Way!
Carrying Gene Penaflor to the Helicopter Landing Zone
Off to the Hospital
An important element of this story is that during the initial four day search Mr. Penaflor used his camp fire to burn wet leaves and produce smoke in an effort to signal the CHP helicopter that was flying overhead assisting with the search. He did this during two full days of the search, but the helicopter was unable to see him. Members of the public are often unaware of how incredibly difficult it is to see small objects - such as people or campfires - from a helicopter flying over an expansive and thickly forested landscape. In this case, the wind was strong enough to blow away most of the smoke, and the crew of the helicopter could see nothing.
We are incredibly pleased with the outcome of this search, and very happy that Mr. Penaflor is out of the hospital and doing well now. The members of BAMRU/SMCSO were truly privileged to be able to assist with the care and extrication of Mr. Penaflor, and we hope that other searches can all have such a happy outcome, although preferably with much less time in between the disappearance and the recovery.
Over the past few days, BAMRU has been involved in a challenging search for a missing woman in Pacifica. This was a collaborative and mutual aid based effort from multiple agencies. During the busiest period, there were more than 100 resources deployed in the field.
BAMRU turned out for the first operational period on Wednesday with a team of responders that worked through the night into Thursday that included multiple field and overhead assignments. Follow-on operational periods included mutual aid from across the Bay Area counties and as far as from Placer and Fresno.
We've had such a great start to the year that it's been hard to keep up!
Ranger Gibbs at rock skills training.
Kurt instructing comms to new recruits.
In addition to the members in the previous post, BAMRU also promoted Kurt Gross early this year from trainee to field member. Kurt is an EMT and spent several seasons as a back country ranger in Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park. Kurt is one of two experienced NPS Rangers on our team, the second being John Gibbs who joined us towards the end of 2011.
Ed Daley kicked off 2012 as another one of our newest Field Members. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend that you sit down with him sometime and ask him about his pilot days and about his experience working with NASA....or climbing with Chouinard.
Ed on Andesite ridge in January.
Last but not least, this year we also welcomed John Lissoway onto the team as a trainee. John is an M.D. who has come the Bay Area to complete a fellowship at Stanford in wilderness medicine.
John L. trying his hand at placing pickets.
Congrats and welcome! BAMRU is honored to have such a breadth of experience on the team.
On Jan 20 @ 0843 BAMRU was paged to direct deploy to CP for a missing man out of Daly City. When we arrived, we had two possible sightings nearby. BAMRU setup the CP and launched hasty searches based on this intel. We also worked closely with Daly City PD who had searched local businesses and notified neighbors.
As the search progressed, we met with the PD investigators who provided a significant amount of additional info that led us to focus our efforts more tightly. The subject was found in a difficult area. The investigation and recovery was turned over to local PD.
BAMRU ran an effective CP and made a difficult find. We our glad to provide closure for this incident. Our condolences go out to friends and family.
On Wednesday afternoon, Oct 19th, BAMRU was called to a search in San Carlos. Local residents heard a person with a dog stranded in the bush, and called 911. Police arrived and heard a dog, but could not approach the subject due to steep and difficult terrain.
BAMRU staffed one operational period Wednesday evening, and a follow-on period which started at daybreak on Thursday. Teams from San Mateo SAR, Alameda and Marin joined the search. The subject was not found.
The vegetation in the search area was thick. Following the operation, a BAMRU searcher had to visit the hospital to be treated for a bad case of poison oak.
On the evening of Friday, October 7th BAMRU received a page for assistance in locating a missing subject whose vehicle was found parked at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Sonoma County. The park is located just outside of Guerneville, about an hour and a half north of San Francisco.
The following morning of Saturday, October 8th BAMRU joined about five other SAR units for an 0830 briefing by Sonoma County SAR. The missing person was not from the local area and was described as an individual that did not show signs of having trouble at home or at work.
BAMRU searched a densely vegetated hillside, that consisted of trees, brush and poison oak. This search required the team to use their navigational expertise and their familiarity with the use of UTM coordinates as they translate to the map proved extremely useful.
Around noon on the 8th the subject was located near the last point last seen and media reports indicate that it is likely to be deemed a suicide. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the friends and family.
News: Press Democrat, Sacramento Man Missing In Sonoma Redwoods
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.
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
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
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.
On Tuesday, May 24th BAMRU was called for a Mutual Aid search in the vicinity of the Golden Gate and SF Presidio. The subject was a missing 15 year old girl from Danville.
BAMRU sent a team for one operational period Tuesday evening. We had another team ready for a follow-on period Wednesday, but the search was called off.
Media reports indicate that the girl may have committed suicide.
Our thoughts go out to the missing girl's family. Thanks to BAMRU members to participated in the search.
On Thursday May 5, BAMRU was paged for a mutual aid search in Annadel State Park, Sonoma County. The subject was a 19 year old male. Suicide notes had been found both at his home and college residence, and a hand gun was missing from his home.
BAMRU had teams in the field for an operational period that started Friday at 0600, and completed search assignments together with responders from Cal-ESAR and Marin SAR.
BAMRU returned for a second operational period on Saturday at 0600, and was paired with a CARDA dog team. After a 2 mile hike to the start of the search assignment, the dog found the subject's body.
Our team secured the area, and reported the find to CP. Post-find coordination was largely done by cell phone. BAMRU secured a helicopter LZ, and police investigators were flown in. Then BAMRU returned to CP for debriefing.
Wildlife was abundant during this search. BAMRU members saw deer, jack rabbits, wild turkey, lizards, geese, and turkey vultures. In separate incidents, members nearly stepped on a sleeping young fawn and a rattle snake. A non BAMRU team reported seeing a mountain lion chasing a deer. Wildflowers and scenery were at their best.
Many thanks to our members, who put in long hours and worked professionally. Our condolences to the student's family for their tragic loss.
On April 9th at 8pm BAMRU was requested to search for a missing 24 year old woman who had been reported missing in the Devil's Canyon area of southern San Mateo County. She was described as having some backcountry experience, but not dressed for nightime temps that dropped to the 30's/40's. (leggings/light shirt/flip-flops).
BAMRU searched a cave entrance was near the top of a 40' waterfall. We dropped rope and rappelled to search the pools below. Other teams searched upstream and downstream in Type 2 terrain. Later in the night BAMRU responded to investigate potential clues, rappelling waterfall areas where the missing subject could have fallen.
At daybreak the subject was found when she hiked out and found a local residence. She was cold, scratched, and had lost her flip-flops, but was in good health.
There were a lot of interesting aspects of this search. We used our tracking skills to follow tracks. We built two technical systems and used a lot of personal rope skills. We also assisted with plans and some CP work.
Tree wells occur in deep snow. They form a narrow vertical chute next to the tree trunk, and can be six feet deep or more. Self-rescue from a tree well is difficult.
Tree well fatalities can be described as "Non-Avalanche Related Snow Immersion Death", or NARSID. Learn more about NARSID here.
Here's a video taken by a man who was caught in a tree well on Mt. Shasta.
Luckily this man was found and rescued by local ski patrollers. See more at NWCN News.
BAMRU has been involved in a number of tree-well related operations this season. We can testify that it is often difficult to see someone who has fallen into a tree well.
When skiing in deep snow, go with a partner! And keep your partner in sight! Learn more safety tips at treewelldeepsnowsafety.com.
Friday March 25 BAMRU was called to a mutual aid search in Lake County, near Pillsbury Lake. The search subjects were 3 males aged 16-20, who went on a multi-day trek in mountains that received 2-3 feet of new snow.
BAMRU responders arrived at CP throughout Friday night and early Saturday. Responding teams came with 40+ responders from Lake Co SO/SAR, National Forest, Marin, CoCo, BAMRU, Monterey, Tahoe Nordic.
BAMRU involvement started at 6:30 am Saturday and included 1) drafting search assignments, 2) transportation of team in the field, 3) medical, 4) comms relay, and 5) hasty and side-search teams.
Trail conditions varied from dirt/mud to thigh/waist deep of snow. Rain, sleet, snow through out the day with with light to moderate winds. Fully overcast. Air support not possible. Transportation of teams to search assignments proved to be very challenging. Casualties and challenges included broken snowcat, broken truck axle, stuck vehicles. Communications was challenging to non-existent, no cell phone coverage, radio was spotty and required repeaters or human relay. Sat phones were very helpful.
Initial tracks in snow reported about 10:30am. Subsequent clues and redirect of resources led to locating the 3 subjects together in good condition about 12:30pm.
On Saturday AM, San Francisco PD requested mutual aid to continue the search efforts for a missing man who went missing from his home on Thursday Feb 24th in the evening. SFPD started searching Thursday evening and through Friday; they subsequently called for aid on Sat AM.
BAMRU was part of a combined team including 60+ searchers from six surrounding agencies.
When active searching closed for the day, 28 assignments had been written with 22 completed. The subject was not located.
This weekend BAMRU was involved in a difficult search for a 23 year old man who went missing while snowboarding on Mt. Shasta. Our main search assignments were done on back-country skis, in steep terrain and deep snow. Saturday our team was on scene from midnight to 6pm, with a four hour break for sleep. We left completely exhausted.
The body of the missing man, Alex Gautreaux, was found Sunday morning.
During the search we witnessed friends and family who had hoped for Alex's safe return. This man will be profoundly missed. We send our deep condolences for his loss.
BAMRU is a wilderness search and rescue team specialized for operations in difficult terrain, challenging weather, or high altitude. We are based in the San Francisco Bay Area and operate throughout California.
We depend on public contributions to cover our expenses. Please donate.
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