Spring Training for FSAR

 The 2013 MASAR training conference

May, 18-19

           Camp Bishopswood on Lake Megunticook in Hope, ME

Cost Before April 20th: $45

(After April 20th Cost is $100) 

register here: http://2013mesartraining.weebly.com/index.html

sponsored by Waldo County SAR

Upcoming FSAR training:

April 19 Last day to register for (lower price) MASAR conference
May 4   Mantracking class with Coby and Mal
May 11 Smalls Falls 1 day rope rescue training
May 18 Horns Pond hike to pack in and help setup for the summer caretaker. 8:30 a.m.

May 18-19 MASAR conference

Baxter SAR coverage dates:

June 29-30  
Aug. 10-11
Sept. 28-29 

Contact Pat to sign up

Got Fire? FSAR monthly training 3-13-2013

We had a great fire building training on Wednesday led by Seb and Coby.

Nicholas Joy Search at Sugarloaf Mtn. by Barry London

Strong Turnout by FSAR 
At the Search for Lost Skier on Sugarloaf Mountain
MARCH 5, 2013

By Barry London FSAR

On Sunday, March 3, Nicholas Joy skied off the Timberline trail at the Sugarloaf Ski Resort into a glade area, then, after failing to return to the trail, skied down into the Carrabassett River drainage in the Caribou Valley. Initially, the Maine Warden Service, with the assistance of the Sugarloaf Ski patrol and numerous other volunteers, searched the ski resort trails, glades and several out of bounds areas without success on Sunday night and Monday.

On Monday night, Maine Search and Rescue (MASAR) put a request for search teams to mobilize at a command post set up in the maintenance facility at the resort at 7:00 am. More than 80 people turned out on Tuesday morning for the search. Numerous agencies responded including 13 members from Franklin Search and Rescue. Pat Cyr served as Incident Command for FSAR and was leading one of the missions to search a densely wooded area near the top third of the mountain when the teen was found. Joy was found by a volunteer snowmobiler on a trail in the Caribou Valley, approximately 4 miles from Rt. 4 and nearly two miles from where he was last scene.

Although many of the searchers were canvassing areas away from the site where the teen was located, it was a relief for all to have him arrive at the trailhead with only mild hypothermia and complaining of being hungry. Temperatures had been in the twenties, near zero visibility and four inches of snow fell during the time Nicholas was missing.  A brief interview with the rescued teen after the event revealed he had built a snow cave, and drank water from the river to survive the ordeal, then eventually made his way in the direction of snowmobile traffic he had heard the previous day. He also stated he came across snowshoe tracks made a day earlier by rescuers out looking and followed these to the snowmobile trail.

Rescuers riding the Superquad chairlift to get to the search site near the Timberline Trail on Tuesday morning before Nicholas Joy was located. (photo: Melissa Shea)

Sugarloaf: Lost Subject Found in Caribou Valley!

Lost subject found this morning by a snowmobiler on the Caribou Valley road (currently not plowed and used as a snowmobile trail).  The young man spent 2 nights out in a snow cave he built and slept in. He was cold and being treated for hypothermia.  A full debriefing will be discussed at our next scheduled FSAR meeting on March 13^th.

  

Numerous agencies were under the direction of the Maine Warden Service including (but not limited to) the Maine Forest Service, Carrabassett Fire, Mohoosic Backcountry, Mercer CERT, Sugarloaf Ski Patrol, SERE school, US Border Patrol, Wilderness SAR, and Franklin SAR.

photo: Melissa Shea

Being such a high profile search has generated a large amount of media coverage. FSAR fielded 12 searchers!!!! Amazing!

Thanks to another strong showing from FSAR from Jim, Melissa, Becky, Seb, Al, Barry, Coby, Max, Sprague, Forrest, and Justin!

Pat

Sugarloaf Search for 3-5-2013

MASAR has requested that all available active FSAR team members respond tomorrow to assist in the search for a 17 Y.O. male missing since Sunday (3-3) at 12:30 p.m.

Report at 7 a.m, Tuesday, 3-5-2013 to the Sugarloaf Fire Station which is located behind the Admin Building at the resort. Rescuers are requested to park in parking lot E.

Teams will likely be transported to the scene via a chairlift and spend the day on snowshoes or skis searching.  If you are an advanced/expert alpine or telemark skier respond on skis, otherwise bring snowshoes.

Come prepared for winter conditions in a dense alpine environment, (if you are not a skier) snowshoes are a must. Barry (FSAR board member and Sugarloaf Ski Patrolman) recommends a Goretex jacket, as you will get wet with snow falling from the dense trees, and bring multiple gloves or mits as they too will get wet.

Once at the staging area report to Pat C. who will be in charge of FSAR's response.

If you are planning on responding, please text Mit tonight, so we can let MASAR know how many to count on.

Because this search is in our 'backyard' every effort should be made to volunteer tomorrow if possible. It's close and we know the terrain better than most.

Successful Find, 2 Missing Skiers on Saddleback Located

2 Missing skiers who spent the night on Saddleback Mountain's south face have been located and are safe. They were found, cold, hungry and tired on a high elevation snowmobile trail after hiking down the mountain. The pair left the Saddleback Ski resort sometime yesterday for some unauthorized out-of-bounds skiing. The skiers told rescuers that they spent the night walking in circles to stay warm. Rescuers participating in the search and rescue operation included, Saddleback Ski Patrol, Maine Warden Service, Rangeley Fire Dept,  NorthStar, Mahoosic Search and Rescue and Franklin Search & Rescue. After the operation was concluded, some rescuers headed to Sugarloaf Mountain to assist in a separate and unrelated search for a missing teenage skier.

(All photos Jim Albert)

The rescue team composed of MWS, RFD and FSAR and MFS personel made a 13 mile snowmobile ride before connecting with the skiers. One of the 2 male skiers is seen here walking toward the snowmobiles. Cold, dehydrated and hungry, the skiers appeared otherwise in good shape.   

 FSAR team members supplied food and water for the hungry skiers.

 Rangeley Fire Department's new mobile command post was used at the staging area at Rev-it-up Sports. RFD snowmobiles and patient sleds were also very helpful in shuttling rescuers to the remote scene.

3-4-2013 around 9 p.m. from FSAR president Yates:

2 MALE HIKERS ARE REPORTED TO BE MISSING ON THE BACKSIDE OF SADDLEBACK MTN.  DETAILS ARE SKETCHY.  ME. WARDEN SERVICE AND SADDLEBACK SKI PATROL ARE ON SCENE, BUT ARE STANDING DOWN AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS: HIGH WINDS, BLOWING SNOW, AND LIMITED VISIBILITY.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE WARDEN ON SCENE INDICATING THAT FSAR MEMBERS WILL BE ON STANDBY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE TOWNS AWAITING A POSSIBLE CALLOUT TOMORROW MORNING, MARCH 4.I WILL UPDATE VIA CELL AND EMAIL IN THE MORNING. NO NEED TO CONTACT ME AT THIS TIME, HOPEFULLY THE SITUATION WILL BE RESOLVED