Cave Team works with Death Valley National Park Rangers

The San Bernardino County Sheriff Cave and Technical Rescue Team was invited to do a joint training with rangers at Death Valley National Park. The goal was to develop a hasty team that can get to an injured subject and stabilize him/her in preparation for a helicopter extraction. 

The park is steadily experiencing increased canyoneering. At the moment there are more than 300 identified technical canyons in the park. The canyoneering season is the cool/cold months. It is far too hot in the summer to do canyons. Some of the canyons are relatively easy access with a short hike or shuttle. Some require significantly more effort (heavy packs and long hikes). Huge groups of canyoneers meet during the winter holidays in order to socialize and explore canyons. 

The Coalition of American Canyoneers (CAC) has sponsored a Death Valley cleanup event:  www.americancanyoneers.org/death-valley-service-project-report/

The joint training involved nine members of the Cave team and nine rangers. Initially we had a round table discussion about the basics of canyoneering in class A canyons and how it differs from technical rope rescue. We spent 1 ½ days in Scorpion Canyon. All anchors in the canyon were taken apart. Webbing was replaced. For anchors we built typical cairn anchors, rock chocks, knot chocks and simple loops over horns. We practiced courtesy starts for difficult to access rappels. We backed up anchors with human anchors. We protected rope via padding or creeping the rope. We experimented with a large variety of canyoneering ropes and rappel devices. We performed pack drags and partner assists for downclimbing. 

And of course, we were treated with fantastic weather, including great views of snowcapped Telescope peak.

Red Dog Mine Nov 14, 2009

Approximately five years ago, April Pitzer boarded a bus headed home. She was never heard from again. A recent lead indicated that Red Dog Mine, south of Ludlow, CA would be a good place to search. The mine had been searched previously by Barstow Desert Rescue Squad, so this time the dog team was called to assist. The Barstow DRS and Cave Team worked together getting the dogs into the main shaft, while Kern and Los Angeles Counties worked on nearby shafts. Before the end of the day, the mine and two nearby shafts were thoroughly searched by humans and dogs. No remains were found.

This mission was especially interesting in that the dogs and handlers were inserted into the mine on rope. The video above illustrates the process, and the terrific training of the dogs. Toward the end of the mission,  on his way out, Matt Truitt, of the Cave Team, located an additional tunnel that had not been previously mentioned. The mine owner was on hand, and he wasn't aware of a fourth level. The maps that we had on scene only showed three levels. Matt and James, a member of the mine team, carefully searched this additional level.

Meanwhile above ground, a call was received indicating that human bones were found near Kelbaker road, so the Dog Team and Barstow DRS were released to search that site. Before exiting the mine, members of the Cave Team performed a line survey of the mine.