2013: Off to Great Start!

On Monday, January 14th, BAMRU held the first meeting of 2013.  Thanks to our recruiting officer, Rachel Farrand, we had over 30 guests in attendance!  We are all looking forward to getting to know the 2013 cohort.

Other highlights of the meeting included the first promotions of the year:

BAMRU welcomed two new trainees to the team.  Craig Taylor and Chris Nielsen.  Craig brings his extensive outdoor experience to the team, including time spent on Denali.  Chris has a background as wild-land firefighter and an EMT.

Woody installing motor retention hardware in a rocket

Woody Hoburg who has been with BAMRU for two years and with Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR) for two seasons, was promoted to field member and is now one of the teams newest OL's (Operations Leader).  Woody is an aerospace engineer working on a PhD in electrical engineering and computer science. His extensive skill and knowledge set are invaluable to the team.

Chris K. climbing in Ouray during
the ice fest earlier this month

Chris Kantarjiev, BAMRU's training officer, was promoted to Technical Member which means that he has completed all of the skills in the three disciplines of search skills, technical rock, and snow and ice.

Hope you all had a wonderful first week of this new year!  As we forge ahead into 2013 we'd like to take a moment to reflect on 2012.  

We made some great headway in fundraising and towards our goal of buying a new truck, but we still have a ways to go!!  You can donate here: http://www.bamru.org/donate

In 2012 we welcomed seven new trainees to the team, logged 2,305 hours in the field responding to 29 callouts, 6,435 hours on trainings, and 884 hours at meetings.  We received and responded to the 30th callout of the year on New Year's Eve.  

In total, BAMRU logged 10,370.5 volunteer hours.  That's 10,370 hours spent away from home, families, and warm beds doing a job that we love to do and 10,370 hours supporting each other through difficult searches, brainstorming sessions, long trainings and some good times thrown in for good measure.  

While every member of our team is extremely valued, every year a handful are recognized for their outstanding service.  This year BAMRU recognized the following members:

Member of the year: Chris Kantarjiev 

The annual Member of the Year award is presented to the BAMRU member who through actions, attitude, creativity, and commitment provides the greatest support and enhancement to BAMRU's ability to perform its public-service mission. This year, we highlight the member who devised and instituted a new training philosophy focused on the needs of trainee members to complete their certifications; an innovative training portfolio that creates more opportunity for senior members to enhance their skills; the "endorsement" mechanism to recognize progress towards the rank of rescue member; a reworked schedule; and inspiring a culture of safety, achievement, and fun. 

It's hard to sum up what Chris has done for our team.  His title is "Training Officer", but he's also a mentor, an organizer, and someone who has his finger on the pulse of the team and its members.  This year he was promoted to technical member, logged a total of 516 hours working for the team, and that's not including all of the hours spent being responsive to endless emails and questions from those of us looking for guidance.  The entire team is eternally grateful for his service.  


Searcher of the year: Kito Berg-Taylor

The annual Searcher of the Year award is presented to the BAMRU member who makes the greatest direct contribution to BAMRU's search and rescue operations. It is based on attendance at call-outs, participation in overnight and multi-day operations, and commitment in the field. 

In 2012 it was notable that half a dozen BAMRU member logged more that 125 hours in SAR operations. However, one individual stood out. By participating in 18 search and rescue operations, including several multi-day commitments, with a distinctive combination of energy, determination, and good cheer.

Kito is the type of searcher that seems to never tire.  Somehow he manages to get through the toughest assignments on barely any sleep and still be a pillar of strength for his teammates.  Kito has just recently deployed for boot camp and will begin training to become a field medic for the U.S. Army.  We wish Kito all the best on his new path and a safe return home.  

Recognition for Service:  
Ben Yaffe: For service as Operations Officer
Will Gilmore: For service as the BAMRU Secretary
John Mandish: For service as the Recruiting Officer
Blake Gleason: For “High hours, but more important, high initiative, and high frontline leadership in training and developing people."
Abi Fitzgerald: "For ongoing efforts to highlight BAMRU’s presence in the social media and ongoing cultivation of BAMRU camaraderie."
Rachel Farrand: "For exceptional dedication and for opening her home to the holiday party this year."

Happy 2013 everyone!

Contributors:  John Chang- Award descriptions and summary, Rachel Allen- Log of unit hours

The View From Above

While the end of the world is likely not coming, the snow is!! For those of you who love to go out and play, camp, hike, or ski in the white stuff, here is a great write-up by BAMRU's Alex Grishaver on how to help get spotted should you loose your direction crossing snowy terrain:

Ever wonder what a helicopter pilot sees while flying over a wintry wilderness area? On a recent Tahoe search, we got some compelling visual evidence of what's easy and difficult to see from the air --  with important lessons for all you outdoorsy folk.

These shots were taken from the air by a local deputy in the South Lake Tahoe area (specifically, near Upper Velmer Lake), where we had, thankfully, just made contact with a lone hiker who'd been pinned down in the first storm of the season. The helicopter was probably between 200-300' above the ground. What do you see in this first photo?



Well, hopefully you see… trees and snow, of course. A stream. Some very high-contrast shadows. And tracks! You may spot some people (or you may start to infer where they are based on the location of tracks). But you have to admit, people are pretty difficult to make out here. Even in when a helicopter is hovering in a stationary position, there's plenty to distract: vibrations; glare; reflections; etc.

Here’s another photo taken a minute later:



In this last photo, you might be able to make out one individual.



In fact, there are 7 other rescuers behind a cluster of trees, chatting with the hiker -- who was in fine condition, but who had been tent-bound for 5 days and was facing, at best, a 10-mile slog through 4-foot snow drifts in trail-runners if we hadn't found him. In this particular search, crews on the ground made contact with the hiker, who saw the helicopter drop them on a ridge and then used a whistle to alert us. The helicopter crew didn't actually see the hiker until after we'd made contact.

Yes, the photos aren't of the highest resolution. But the deputy who snapped these shots attested to the great difficulty of seeing us, only a few hundred feet below him. And the helicopter crew has way more visual information to process than what’s captured within the small “window” of these photos.

It's hard to see people from the air.  However, tracks stand out well on fresh snow, and stomping a message or pattern is surprisingly effective, quick and easy.  If possible, you should still try to attract attention with bright, geometric patterns in a clearing.  High-contrast patterns also work in other environments: spreading lightly colored gear against a dark background (or vice versa) can assist you in getting attention when you need it.

Have fun, and stay safe!

Written by Alex Grishaver, Edited by Matt Jacobs, Photo Credit: Deputy D. Frisby, CHP

BAMRU is Recruiting!

VOLUNTEER RESCUERS NEEDED

www.bamru.org/join

bamru.info@gmail.com

The Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit (BAMRU) is looking for mountaineers and people with wilderness medical training who enjoy the outdoors, teamwork, physical challenge and helping other people.

BAMRU is currently ramping up for its 2013 recruiting season. If you are interested in Search and Rescue and want to come learn more about our team/recruiting process please join us for one of the three scheduled Bay Area recruiting events. Several BAMRU members will be present to discuss and answer questions about the team and recruiting process.

RECRUITING EVENTS (Look for BAMRU members in red uniforms):

 

Oakland	Wednesday	Dec. 12th   7-9 pm	Pacific Coast Brewing Co.
Mountain View	Monday	Dec. 17th   7-9 pm	Tied House
San Francisco	Wednesday	Dec. 19th   7-9 pm	Southern Pacific Brewing Co.

                                                Stop by anytime.  BAMRU members will be there from 7-9pm.

BAMRU is a volunteer wilderness search and rescue team specialized for operations involving difficult terrain, challenging weather conditions, or high altitude. We are based in the San Francisco Bay Area and respond throughout California as an accredited member of the Mountain Rescue Association, a FEMA and California OES Type I search and rescue resource and is a volunteer branch of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department.

BAMRU members are men and women who share a desire to put their specialized outdoors skills to use in the service of people missing or injured in the wilderness. BAMRU members are climbers, skiers, mountaineers and backpackers. Self-sufficiency is a trademark of BAMRU. Members are prepared to operate in the field autonomously and without support, for up to 72 hours. 

Teams That Play Together, Stay Together

Members of our leadership team having fun in Alaska
photo credit: Bill Parker

I thought it might be nice to take a moment before the rush of the holiday season and upcoming busy winter training schedule to shed a little light on a side of SAR that we don't always talk about in blogs, updates and training summaries, and that is the amazing sense of camaraderie that grows from working with a group of such capable and reliable folks.

Semi-Colin and Ben on a Thanksgiving trip to Red Rocks
photo credit: Callie Hintzen

Companies and organizations who want to build camaraderie among their staff can hire outside professionals to come in and provide bonding exercises likes trust falls, ropes courses and nature hikes.  For a few hours or maybe a weekend, staff get to play together to develop trust, respect, loyalty and communication skills.  As SAR team members, we get to experience this kind of team building a minimum of one weekend a month.  We rely on one another to hold our weight over a 1,200 foot cliff with a litter and a patient.  We count on each other to get to a search and back safely in the middle of night.  We also go through some pretty stressful situations together and support each other through the aftermath.  

Enjoying the view photo credit: John Chang

The result is not only a cohesive team that can work together effectively and seamlessly during a call out or an emergency situation, but also a network of about 50 or so like-minded new friends to hang out with and go on adventures with.  In fact, we even had to start a separate mailing list for social events due to the high volume of invites, evites and outdoor trip planning.

Eszter, Chris and Abi laughing on a Sierra Club snow camping trip
photo credit: Emilie Cortes

This sense of camaraderie extends well beyond our own team as well and reaches into the entire SAR community. We are all sort of held together by this common mission and common goal.

Of course working in stressful situations with many people who tend be leaders rather than followers, it isn't always just warm and fuzzy.  There are difficulties encountered, lots of debriefing, logistics that need improving and there is always room for growth and improvement.  But reflecting back on the year, it is safe to say that despite any hiccups or logistical glitches, we are constantly working on ways to be better and to remember why it is we're doing this; someone is missing, and they need our help.

Happy December everyone, it's been a great year, here's to making 2013 even better!      

Tyler and Woody on a climbing trip in Yosemite
photo credit: Tyler Phelan