SAR Spotlight

Dave originates from Idaho Falls, Idaho. He has worked in the nuclear, aerospace industries, environmental contractor and in private security. In 2010 Dave decided to hang up the everyday and fully retired.

In 1977 Dave moved to Yucca Valley. After his move to Yucca Valley, Dave made the acquaintance of Jerry Woodring, and as Dave tells it, Jerry started search and rescue in the Morongo Basin. Jerry, a master tracker, in both human and animal tracking made a significant impression on Dave. Jerry became a close friend and mentor to Dave. In 1996 Dave was sworn in as a member of Morongo SAR.

Tracking has been Dave's primary search and rescue interest. "I want to be the best". It was fortunate for Dave to make the acquaintance of his Sgt, Coordinator Darrel Heller. As most of you know Sgt. Heller is considered one of the best trackers in the Sheriff's Dept. Many of you may have had Sgt. Heller as your tracking instructor. With two excellent mentors, Dave solidified and continually improved his tracking tradecraft. In June 2015 Dave was the originator and a primary instructor for the inaugural Intermediate Tracking Class held at the SBCSD Search and Rescue Heart Bar Training facility.

During Dave's many years in search and Rescue he has earned his SAR Tec II certification along with Level 1 reserve in 1997, Post Training Reserve officer, OES- Direction and Control of the Search Function, 2005, other certifications include, Basic Investigative Tracking, CSI Shoe & Tire Impression Interpretation, Commander Morongo Basin 2014, 2015. Morongo Basin Station Volunteer of the Year, 2014. Yucca Valley Community Citizen Award 2014. Drivers Awarness Instructor. Just a side note that this just a partial list of Dave's Awards and accomplishments.

"Thank you San Bernardino County Sheriff's Dept. for all you have done for me and the many members of the various units of Search & Rescue".

Desert Run 2015

It's almost time again for Morongo Basin's annual fundraiser; the "Desert Run". This is our 36th year and the event takes place on the 1st weekend in October. The actual Run this year is on Saturday the 3rd of October but MBSAR members will be preparing all week for this popular event. We have the whole weekend planned for your enjoyment!

We'll have the Morongo Basin Explorer's selling affordable meals along with off-road games such as a vehicle "teeter-totter" competition and an "articulation ramp". There'll also be some vendor sponsored off road exhibits at our "Base Camp". This a family event and not a race and all types of 4-wheel drive vehicles / ATV's / UTV's /  Dirt Bikes / "Buggies" & "Rat Rods" are encouraged to show up and participate. The event takes place on and around  the famous Means Dry Lake off Hwy 247 in the BLM Johnson Valley OHV Area.  Just think "King of the Hammers" but on a small, friendly & local level. So pack up for an off-road camping weekend and join in the fun!

The event is an off road course approximately 15 to 20 miles long and will have an "easy" and a slightly "harder" path (both clearly identified) for you to navigate around to 5 check points. We'll have MBSAR members serve as "rovers" & manning checkpoints to help keep you on course. This is a poker run so you'll play a fun & easy  game at each checkpoint to get a card which will formulate a poker hand. The course takes approximately 4 to 6 hours to complete. We have a trophy and cash for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers with the best hand.  In addition, you'll be given an entry ticket for a drawing held after the event with several dozen quality prizes to be given away. As if that wasn't enough, you'll also have an opportunity to enter into a cash prize drawing ("1/2 & 1/2") that has yielded upwards of $1,200.00 at past Desert Run events! 

You can register at the event on Friday, October 2nd at our Base Camp or you can pre-register online at www.desertrun.org and get a $5 discount. We have a schedule of events and a Menu for the weekend in a flyer that's available at http://www.desertrun.org/sites/g/files/g1125286/f/201508/DesertRunFlyer2015.pdf. Also, the flyer will provide you with any other information that you may want to know about the event. Or you can call Renee @ 951-203-6816 or CJ @ 760-401-6708. Thanks for your support of the Morongo Basin Search and Rescue Team and all profits go toward support and training of the Unit!

This event takes many hours of prep beforehand, so if you'd like to give us hand, please reach out to Renee Recker (951/203-6816), CJ Glover (760/401-6708) or Dave Larus (760/567-2471). Your help would be GREATLY appreciated!

34th Annual Desert Run Oct 5, 2013

Moronogo Valley SAR's annual desert run is just around the corner. For details go to www.desertrun.org

33rd Annual Morongo Desert Run Oct. 5-7, 2012

When: October 5-7, 2012

Where: Means Dry Lake

15-20 Mile Off-Road  Desert Run, Balance  Beam,  Articulation Ramp, Kids Games, Prize Drawings, Vendor  Displays, Hot food, 50/50 Drawing!!

This is not a race, so bring the whole family!

4X4, Motorcycles, Quads, Buggies and all other off road vehicles welcome!

Information:

760-365-8185  or 760-366-4175

mbsar_desertrun@yahoo.com

www.desertrun.org

Rich Dexter of Morongo Basin SAR Quoted in PE Article

Read the details in the article. He is taking ice cream orders as we speak. 

The Search for Donald Foster

Day One

View The Search for Donald Foster in a larger map

A Missing Person report was taken for Mr. Foster on 9 June 2010.  A SAR Hasty Team was deployed from the Joshua Tree station at noon Friday 11 June.  Six members of the Morongo Basin SAR team were deployed to the location of Mr. Foster’s vehicle.  Mr. Foster’s family, who had previously located his vehicle, had completely obliterated any of Mr. Foster’s potential footprints around the vehicle.  Dep. Mary Lee Brown located one partial print on the inside bottom of the driver’s door.  The team used that partial print in the attempt to find Mr. Foster’s track.  The wind had been blowing steadily for several days prior to the callout.  The team performed an expanding perimeter search around the vehicle, attempting to locate Mr. Foster’s track.   A set of prints was found, corresponding to the information the family provided as to the type of shoe Mr. Foster was wearing, heading away from the vehicle in a south easterly direction.   The tracking was extremely difficult, due to track age, weather conditions and the sun was directly overhead.  It took the team over three hours to track approximately 400’, when the track was lost.  Later this track proved to belong to a family member.  The decision was made for a County Wide Callout.

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