11/25/2020

NEW: Baxter State Park WInter Ranger Position!

 Baxter State Park WInter Ranger Position!


BSP has just announced a job opening for a live-in Winter Ranger based out of Togue Pond/Abol area. This could be an amazing opportunity if you like to snowmobile, ski, hike, and may even include ia little mountaineering. 



Visit the State of Maine website for more info and to apply:

https://mainebhr.recruiterbox.com/jobs/fk0u6br/






7/06/2020

FSAR Baxter Weekend Undate July 4 Weekend 2020

John and Mit spent the July-4 holiday weekend at BSP, the first weekend of 'above tree-line hiking' was open to the public.  SAR team camp has been relocated this year to a beautiful abandoned campground on a peninsula on Upper Togue Pond close to the Togue Gate. 



Upon arriving in the park an MFS short-haul helicopter rescue of a tib-fib break injured hiker was about to begin. Mit setup near the Togue Gate and watched the summit rescue unfold while John, upon his arrival in the park, drove to the LZ at Abol Bridge to assist in patient unloading. WRT and Chimney Pond ranger Jen, conducted patient stabilization and packaging on the summit.  It was great to watch this rescue progress. 


After setting up an awesome campsite, Mit and John met with the new BSP chief ranger Dan R. and got the (already quite active) SAR season report for the park.  There are a number of new park employees this year and it looks like a great crew.  The park has already had a number of incidents this year: significant flooding, a forest fire, unauthorized access and injuries in addition to COVID-19 changes. 


In addition to the important tasks of paddling, fishing, watching 'campfire t.v.', and eating some great meals, on Saturday afternoon we were activated for a rescue at chimney pond.   FSAR hiked up to Chimney Pond to assist an injured hiker down to the Roaring Brook campground along with Dan the new chief ranger. The patient had a knee injury and we assisted him by carrying his backpack and with encouraging/focusing verbal cues on the hike down.  Although there was no physical contact with the patient, the rescuers and the patient wore masks and practiced social distancing.


We field-tested the new hands-free hand washing station fabricated by Pat, it worked so great we made a YouTube video to share with others who may be interested.  Check it out  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV03YDEcWlk




We left the park in the late afternoon on Sunday just as thunderstorms were rolling in. 



Overall it was a great weekend and we would encourage ANY FSAR team member, who has been hiking regularly this season (has their trail-legs!) to participate in the next FSAR Baxter SAR duty weekend on Aug 1-2 or Sept. 5-7, Oct. 3-4.  Talk with Pat C. the team BSP Coordinator if you are interested. 

Video: Hand Washing Station for Off-Grid use, Hands Free, foot powered, home built for FSAR

Check out our short video on the NEW hand-washing station built by FSAR Pat for hand=free, on-scene hand-washing.  Field-tested at the Baxter State Park SAR duty weekend basecamp, this new tool worked beautifully. Great craftsmanship on this build Pat, THANK YOU!







4/18/2020

FSAR Tips for Wilderness Safety During Covid-19

1. What are some basic things for people to know about exploring the outdoors?
  • Stay close to home
  • Stay off the 'big peaks' and 'epic hikes' for now.
  • Don't participate in any high-risk outdoor activity 
  • Let someone know where you are going - have a plan and share it
  • Stay in familiar territory
  • Do you have the skills to self-rescue? EMS and SAR personnel may not be readily available to assist you.
  • Do you have a survival kit and know how to use it?
  • Stay on marked trails
  • Be advised, there is still deep snow in the backcountry!
  • Don't go alone but practice social distancing

2.  What are the ten essential items to pack for a day hike?
  1. Map and compass and the knowledge of how to use it. 
  2. Extra clothing/layers and rain gear
  3. First aid kit
  4. Food (a little more then you need)
  5. Hydration (water in container and method to purify)
  6. Sun Protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, Hat)
  7. Headlight or flashlight
  8. Fire (Matches and lighter)
  9. Knife and repair tools
  10. Shelter (tarp, space blanket, tent, bivy)
Plus:  Proper footwear (broken in)

3. What recommendations does FSAR have for outdoor-loving people at this time, to keep themselves and to keep emergency service first-responder crews safe? 

  • FSAR members have the same concerns for their family, their employment situation, personal health, and community health, as most in our community.  For these reasons, across the Search and Rescue spectrum in the US, teams will have fewer rescuers responding. FSAR is no different. During this time of the pandemic, we will have a limited response by team members.
  • Our ability to help injured people in need is greatly reduced
  • Stay off of the 4000' footers, stay close to home and not far from a road. 

4/01/2020

ATC: Asking hikers to stay off the trail!! 4-1-2020

UPDATE: A.T. hikers are asked to postpone all hikes until further notice

The ATC will not recognize thru-hikes that continue after March 31, 2020 or for those who traveled through any areas that were posted closed when the hiker entered.

Until further notice, we have paused our thru-hiker registration system at ATcamp.org, and the handout of 2020 hangtags at all locations. We will relaunch these programs as soon as the CDC issues the “all clear.”


Dear 2020 A.T. Thru-hiker,
We hope this email finds you safe and healthy.
Since COVID-19 emerged as a threat, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) has had two goals. First, we wanted to keep everyone in our community – volunteers, visitors, partners, and the Trail’s adjacent villages and towns – safe and healthy. Second, we wanted to protect the Trail while volunteers and staff were unable to access and take care of it. The only option to achieve both objectives was to ask everyone to stay away from the Appalachian Trail (A.T.), something we’ve never done before nor imagined doing.
Many thru-hikers heeded this call. For this, we are enormously grateful.
We know many thru-hikers made big sacrifices to keep the Trail’s visitors, volunteers, and its adjacent communities safe. So, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is adopting a special policy for this year’s thru-hiking class. We will recognize all 2020 thru-hikers who began their hikes this year and left the Trail prior to March 31, 2020, postponing until after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides guidance stating it is safe to return to resume normal activities. Once the CDC issues this guidance, thru-hikers can pick up where they left off — whether at mile 5 or 500 — and have twelve months from the date they choose to resume their hikes to complete the remainder of their journeys and still be recognized by the ATC as a thru-hiker and 2,000-miler.
No one should be punished for doing the right thing. We want to make sure this year’s thru-hikers who left the Trail have every opportunity to accomplish their dream. And, we profoundly thank those who postponed their hikes entirely.
For thru-hikers remaining on the A.T., we advise you to leave the Trail immediately and shelter in place at the closest off-Trail lodging available to avoid contracting or spreading COVID-19 until the CDC and local authorities advise it is safe to travel. Please consider:
  • Trail closures continue to increase with access points to the A.T. (e.g. trailheads and connecting trails) closed on US Forest Service land south of Virginia; shelters and privies closed on National Park Service land (Trail-wide) and on state park land in New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania (as well as all overnight camping in Maryland); perimeter closures for the Smokies and Graham County, North Carolina; and dozens of Trail businesses temporarily suspending services. For the most updated list, please visit ATC’s Trail Closures page.
  • The ATC will not recognize thru-hikes that continue after March 31, 2020 or for those who traveled through any areas that were posted closed when the hiker entered.
  • Until further notice, we have paused our thru-hiker registration system at ATcamp.org, and the handout of 2020 hangtags at all locations. We will relaunch these programs as soon as the CDC issues the “all clear.”
We firmly believe, during these difficult times, that unless everyone is safe, then no one is. We appreciate your assistance in keeping the Trail community safe and healthy.
If you have any questions, please contact us via email at info@appalachiantrail.org or phone at 304.535.6331. For updates and guidance involving COVID-19 and the A.T., please visit appalachiantrail.org/covid-19.
Sincerely,
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy Team

2/09/2020

Cold Weather Medical Training: Marcolini

Franklin Search & Rescue monthly training and meeting
Wednesday, Feb 12, 2020,  6:30 p.m.
Kingfield Fire Station

Paul Marcolini will conduct a cold-weather medical training focusing on hyperthermia, frostbite and avalanche awareness training.  Paul is an outstanding instructor, so please join us for an informative evening. 

Gear to share: Bring your personal medical kit

Reminders: 
  • Dues are due!  Members: If you have not paid your 2020 dues, John will collect them on Wednesday.
  • Rope rescue team (including anyone interested in joining the rope rescue team) will meet for a short training before the regular meeting beginning at 5:30 at KFD. 


All interested people are encouraged to attend, bring a friend!