Tonto Rim Search and Rescue

[Dschur]

From Payson Roundup-

Friday, September 4, 2009
Weary rescuers save hikers
By Alexis Bechman

September 4, 2009

A day before the Water Wheel Fire started, it was a normal Saturday afternoon with people hiking throughout the Rim Country.

While most returned home safely, a handful of people narrowly escaped disaster.

The volunteers with Tonto Rim Search and Rescue responded to three calls for service, two involving a group of Boy Scouts and the other a couple from the Valley.

The first call came in around noon. A Valley woman, in her early 40s, was hiking with a friend. As they hiked through Box Canyon, the woman rolled her ankle. Somehow, they both fell together. She broke her ankle, the man with her, injured his knee and ankle.

Box Canyon is a deep fissure several miles long that includes dozens of pools hikers enjoy swimming and fishing in. Located just 20 miles east of Payson, it is a popular place on the weekends.

Thinking the pair was in the canyon where 80 percent of people injure themselves, Commander Bill Pitterle had his crew begin unloading gear above the fifth swimming hole.

This spot is so common for rescues, TRSAR drilled anchors into the rock to lower rescue litters off it. They also train at the spot several times a year.

However, Christopher/Kohl’s Fire Department determined the pair was not in the swimming hole but actually a half a mile farther down the canyon.

“It was extremely difficult to get to them,” Pitterle said.

It took rescuers several hours to hike through “incredibly rough terrain” to reach the site directly above the pair.

Once there, the rescuers set up their gear and lowered a litter 500 feet down to the woman. At least 20 volunteers helped pull the woman up. The man, although complaining of injuries, was able to hike out.

The volunteer rescuers carried the woman out. Most didn’t make it home themselves until after 8:30 p.m.

During that rescue, Pitterle received a call around 12:30 p.m. saying a Boy Scout needed to be rescued from Fossil Springs. Reportedly, a rock had rolled and struck the Scout, injuring him.

Pitterle called more TRSAR volunteers and sent them to the creek to help with the rescue.

A helicopter was able to land in the canyon and fly the boy out.

The extent of the Scout’s injuries is unknown, Pitterle said.

Several hours after the Scout was injured, Pitterle got another call from the same Boy Scout troop, this time reporting that one of the Scout leaders had become dehydrated.

Again, TRSAR went to the canyon, delivered water to the troop and helped the uninjured but suffering man back out of the canyon.

However, TRSARs weekend wasn’t over yet. On Sunday, they were called to help evacuate homeowners in Geronimo Estates because firefighters feared the Water Wheel Fire might accelerate under the influence of strong winds and quickly cover the four miles or so to the isolated development clinging to the sides of a steep, narrow, thickly forested canyon.

Ultimately, winds shifted in the firefighters’ favor, so the flames never seriously menaced Geronimo Estates.

This year has been extremely busy for TRSAR, which has already responded to at least 38 calls — two calls over their record.

“And the year’s not even over yet,” Pitterle said.

[azbackpackr]

I hope so, but sure love getting called out. Wish we got called out more often up here!

[chumley]

The BlackBerry reportedly had a map feature on it that told the group where they were, but the group could not figure out how to access the map’s coordinates, rendering the map virtually useless to rescuers.

Isn't technology great? Too bad it doesn't make people any smarter.

[Dschur]

Archive for Friday, March 16, 2012
Weekend starts with three rescues in the wilderness
March 16, 2012
County officials late Friday afternoon had three rescues underway from the Mazatzal wilderness to the wilds under the Mogollon Rim.

Lt. Tim Scott of the Gila County Sheriff’s office reported three rescues underway Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

The first is located north of the Barnhardt trail on the east side of the mountains. A hiker set off his emergency locator beacon, which turned off as soon as officials received the signal.

After talking to the family of the hiker who waited at the trailhead, county officials decided to dispatch a helicopter from Tucson, the nearest DPS (Department of Public Safety) ranger available. State search and rescue are on the ground looking for the injured hiker.

If the hiker can be located, the helicopter will attempt to land and the medic on board will attend to any medical needs of the hiker and fly him out, said Scott.

The second injury is a reported sprained ankle on the Fossil Springs trail. Currently Tonto Search and Rescue and the Mounted Posse hope to find the hiker and carry them out to safety, said Scott.

The third hiker reported a broken knee. This hiker is located in Box Canyon at the third waterfall near the Christopher Creek area. Colt White, formerly of the Gila Sheriff’s office is working with Tonto Search and Rescue to find the injured hiker. Due to the difficult terrain, Scott said of this rescue, “This will be pretty tough.”

[Nighthiker]

Heard about the three lost folks last week and have not noted anything else about the three.

[Canyonram]

Heard about the three lost folks last week and have not noted anything else about the three.

Follow=up to the three hikers reported in trouble over the week-end.

http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2012/ ... -all-once/

Lucky they got out before the severe snowstorm hit the Rim country.

[Tough_Boots]

It was fortunate that the hiker in the Mazzies had a PLB. I haven't done Sandy Saddle but from what everyone says about it, I don't think I'd try it alone the first time.

[nonot]

The only "deep canyon" in the area is the North Fork of Deadman. The drainages on the east side (before you get deep into Barnhardt) and the drainage Sandy Saddle trail is in on the west aren't too bad. Wonder where he was?

[Tough_Boots]

@nonot
I was kind of wondering the same thing. I was assuming the same thing just from looking at maps of that area in the past.

[Nighthiker]

Thanks for posting the update, congrats to Tonto Search and Rescue and other agencies involved.

[outdoor_lover]

http://m.azdailysun.com/news/local/crim ... touch=true

Coconino has been busy...The Climber Rescue on Granite Mountain is a real

[SuperstitionGuy]

Coconino has been busy...

I wonder if the increase in requests for rescue are partly due to persons or parties using a SPOT type device to request help.
Or vise-a-versa if having a SPOT device would make the rescues less time consuming for the agencies involved.
Either way maybe to many folks are just to lazy to take the steps to rescue themselves and almost immediately rely on government and volunteers to rescue them. Just wondering....

[nonot]

Many of these rescues probably involve the use of cell phones, such as Camelback, Humphries, etc and the SPOT doesn't have much of an effect on recent increases. But compared to thirty years ago, when search and rescue wouldn't happen until the next day, the response time to lost and injured hikers is probably faster.

Then again, one wonders if 30 people per year died on Camelback 30 years ago, or if people had more common sense back then and didn't hike in 110 degrees with one bottle of water.

[chumley]

@nonot
I doubt the percentage of unprepared people is any higher today than it was 30 years ago. But the number of people who do these kinds of activities is so much higher now that the overall numbers of rescues needed is higher too. Liability issues and lawsuits are more prevalent now, so the city regularly force-rescues people with minor injuries that would prefer to hike off the mountain themselves. That and today's twitfaceinstamediatube culture makes sure we hear about every single occurrence as it happens.

[sbkelley]

@nonot
I doubt the percentage of unprepared people is any higher today than it was 30 years ago. But the number of people who do these kinds of activities is so much higher now that the overall numbers of rescues needed is higher too.

Somebody gets an A on their stats assignment!

[chumley]

@sbkelley
Well Liam, now that you mention it, I'm no Elmer!