MASAR Rope Rescue at Chimney Pond in Baxter SP January 24-26, 2014

FSAR team members Melissa Shea and Jim Albert spent the weekend in Baxter State Park at Chimney Pond training with BSP Rangers for an ice climbing search and rescue scenario.  The first scenario involved a single climber that had not returned to Chimney, but was able to give his GPS coordinates to 911 dispatchers. The team then set out in -5 temps with 25-35mph winds to locate the patient in the South Basin below the summit of Pamola Peak. At roughly 3000 ft. elevation, the team switched from snowshoes to crampons and used anchors and ice screws to ascend higher.  The scenario ended when the patient was located and carefully lowered down the ice using ice screw anchors.  

The second training scenario was a multiple burial avalanche situation where the team used strategic planning and safety measures to successfully locate the buried victim, probe the indicated area, and shovel the snow away from the patient before moving on to the second buried subject.  The pros and cons of analog versus digital beacons were discussed as well as other strategies to maximize the strengths of the team members. 

The last training was held inside the Chimney Pond Ranger Cabin due to the weather conditions (-10 with 50mph winds) and included litter rigging and mainline and belay systems with simple mechanical advantage.

(Article and all photos are by Melissa Shea)