TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS SEARCH & RESCUE

 TRAINING REPORT
TEHACHAPI SAR – Jan. 2010
 

Training # 1

Date: 1/16/10

Type:  CPR/AED/First Aid

Location: Golden Hills CSD building.

Weather: Air temp 39, no wind, clear sky

Objective: Certify new TMSAR members and recertify existing members.

 

Training:

Starting at 0800 hours. Members and 11 prospective members attended. We had three qualified instructors to demonstrate the proper CPR. All in attendance viewed a Red Cross video on CPR/AED/First Aid Till 1200 hours. Lunch break @ 1210 hours. Started hands on training @ 1310 hours. Two type of mannequins where used, Adult and infant.  Members had to demonstrate the proper way in administering the different compressions between an adult and infant.  Learned how to use an AED, showed proper first aid bandaging, and showed knowledge of overheating and hypothermia.  Day ended when all members had passed the practical test @1616 hours.

  

Training 2

Date:  1/23/2010

Type:  4 Mile Hike

Location:  Intersection of Willow Springs and Highline Road, Tehachapi

Weather:  Air temp 34, wind chill 28, snow & ice, cloudy

Objective:

To test perspective and probationary members’ basic hiking abilities and gear preparedness. 

 

Training:

Began at 0700 hours.  Approximately Members.  Base camp was set up south of the road closure barricades.  Members were broken down into four four-man teams with a sergeant in charge of each team. After team assignments were given, each team had its 24- and 72-hour packs inspected for required items.  After basic safety inspection to make sure all members had proper attire for the conditions, each team was given two NASAR radios and each member was issued a Rino.  Members were given five (5) GPS coordinates to follow.  Each team started out on the hike and as they reached each way point, they checked back in with base camp to report their position.  Between way point one and way point two, the trail was not visible due to snow coverage, therefore, GPS coordinate readings were essential.  Team 1 completed the hike in two hours.  All teams were back at base within 2 hours of their start times.  Debriefing occurred and members were again checked for safety and were then released from training at 1130 hours.

 

Training #3

Date:  1/27/2010

Type:  Alpine

Location:  Mt. Pinos

Weather:  Air temp 36, cloudy

Objective: 

To refresh alpine skills using crampons and ice ax.

 

Training:

Due to the nature of the training, only a few of members were qualified or available for this type of training.  Training started at 0800 hours by picking up a Sheriffs vehicle from the SO. We proceeded to Mt. Pinos and found a suitable location six miles up Cuddy Valley Road.  Training started by traversing a sixty five degree slope, approximately two to three feet of snow.  This type of training was designed to practice foot holds and to use self-arresting with the ice ax.  After an hour of this type of training, we proceeded to work on vertical hill ascending and descending using the ice ax.  Members then proceeded to an ice shoot to practice walking techniques, ascending and descending on ice.  After this portion of the training was completed, we removed crampons for safety reasons and started our self- arresting techniques.  The training went well; we were able to stop our slide within our body lengths.  No injuries; no equipment damaged.  Training was completed successfully.  Returned to SO at 1400 hours. 

   

 

TRAINING REPORT
TEHACHAPI SAR – Feb. 2010
   

  Training 4

Date:  2/3/2010

Type:  Rappel

Location:  Sheriff’s Office

Weather:  Indoors

Objective:

To self-rescue off rappel line

 

Training:

Due to time restraints, the rappel training was held at the SO using a hoisting winch.  Training started at 0800 hours.  The object of the training was to practice self-rescue while on a figure-eight rappel simulating an article of clothing caught in the figure-eight.  We attached a two-rap prusik to the rappel line above the figure-eight and with a new carabiner clipped it into our harness for safety.    Utilizing a 4’ looped web and a carabiner we created a modified chest harness, attached it to the rappel line so we were secure in an upright position.  Then we attached a two-rap prusik 4’ long with a foot loop on the end to raise ourselves up above the figure-eight and then slid the harness prusik up to anchor ourselves down.  We repeated this several times and climbed up the rope several feet.  We then tried a 2^nd method for ascending.  Attaching a new prusik using a 25’ 7 mil cord we tied a two-rap prusik on the main line.  Then about a 1’ down from the prusik we tied a figure-eight on bright.  That figure-eight was connected to our harness for one extra safety.   The two loose ends were tied with foot loops, one for each foot.  Utilizing the two-foot method, we ascended up the line several feet.  This method was easier.   We were able to take the load off the line and clear the figure-eight and complete the rappel.   Training ended at 1030 hours.  

 

Note:  All equipment used was readily available on our harness.  Two rap for personal and three rap for load.  

   

 

      

Training 5

Date:  2/6/2010

Type:  Alpine

Location:  Mountain Park in Tehachapi

Weather:  Air Temp. 37 overcast with a light wind 7-10 knots Wind chill 30

Objective:

To refresh alpine skills using crampons and ice ax.

 

Training:

This training was limited to only a few members of the unit that are qualified. Training started at 0900 hours @ Sheriff sub-station in Tehachapi. Members gathered all equipment need for the training and proceeded to ride up to Mountain Park in sheriff’s vehicles. Arrived @ base camp 0924 hours and preceded to locate a suitable slope to start training.  This type of training was designed to practice foot holds and to use self-arresting with the ice ax. We started down a 50 to 70 degree and practiced self- arresting techniques with the ice ax.  The training went well; we were able to stop our slide within our body lengths.  We also practiced traversing the slope with crampons and the ice ax.   No injuries; no equipment damaged.  Training was completed @ 1135 hours successfully. 

Returned to sub-station @ 1200 hours.

 

Training 6

Date:  2/6/2010

Type:  Alpine

Location:  Mountain Park in Tehachapi

Weather:  Air Temp. 32 degrees overcast with a light wind 7-10 knots wind chill 28 degrees.

Objective:

To refresh alpine skills: hiking, GPS, ice ax, emergency shelter.

 

Training:

This two day training involved members of our unit.  Training started at 0730 HRS @ the duck pond at Mountain Park.  At that time our lower base camp with our trailer and communications was established. The sheriff’s department brought up all three snow cats. Unfortunately due to the lack of snow coverage on the road only one of the smaller units were used.  At 0900 HRS the small snow cat preceded to ferry members up to the 7000 foot elevation.  At 1100 hours all members arrived at the 7000 foot elevation.  First order of business was to establish radio communications with the lower base camp.  Then we setup the upper base camp and camping sites.  At 1200 HRS we started our survival training.  This training consists of building a snow cave and emergency shelter and how to keep from getting hypothermia at night.  Only four members participated in the self arrest ice axe training.  At 1330 HRS we preceded to do GPS training.  Members were broken up into teams of three or four and given coordinates.  After the coordinates were inputted into the GPS navigation system, members preceded to find those markers.  When members reached their first marker new coordinates were given to them over the radio for the next marker. At 1600 HRS a four person team preceded to hike 3.5 miles down the mountainside back to the base camp. At 1630 a four person team also preceded to hike 3.5 miles down the mountainside back to base camp.  The second team included snow tracking and snow shoeing in their hike back down the mountainside.  Each team was required to carry their 72 hour back pack.  Eight members of the team stayed overnight on the mountaintop.  At 0945 hours 2-21-10 the remaining members preceded to hike 3.5 miles down the mountainside back to base camp.  All members for this training were accounted for at 1040 HRS on2-21-10.  Training completed at 1430 hours.

 

Training 7

Date:  2/28/2010

Type:  ELT

Location:  Ridgecrest

Weather:  Air Temp. 47 degrees, clear skies and no wind.

Objective:

To refresh ELT tracking skills

 

Training:

The few members Tehachapi team met at Denny’s @0600hrs. We did a pack inspection, radio check, and safety checks on all equipment.  After grabbing something to eat we headed out to Ridgecrest to meet up with China Lake rescue team. Arriving at the China Lake base camp @ 0930hrs we checked in and were briefed.
Each of our team members was installed on a China Lake team. A total of three teams were formed plus base camp. Each team set out ¼ mile apart in different directions and proceeded to get DF from the receivers.  Once each team established a transponder direction it was called into base camp. Base camp triangulated the direction and then ordered the teams to move again. We shot the DF one more time and sent the direction to base. By the third time base camp had pinpointed the transponder location. Team 2 established the location of the transponder @ 1045hrs and radio in to base. At that time we were ordered back to base. Returned to base @ 1105hrs for debriefing and return all equipment. All members accounted for. Training completed @ 1125hrs.