MERIDIAN. What s New What s Now in the MRA

Transcription

1 MERIDIAN Octber 2008 The Quarterly Publicatin f the Muntain Rescue Assciatin What s New What s Nw in the MRA In This Issue: The Greatest Sacrifice - Bruce Harrlle Recap f Summer Cnference in Stwe FEMA Credentialing and Resurce Typing MRA Patch Headed t Space MRA Participates in Steve Fssett Recvery

2 MERIDIAN Octber MRA Leadership Octber 2008 In Memry f Bruce Harrlle 2 View Frm the Tp 3 In Search f 3 MRA Training Revisins 3 Stay Cnnected 3 Our 50th at Mt. Hd 4 MRA Assists in Steve Fssett Recvery 5 MRA Patch Heads t Space Spring Cnference 7 Resurce Typing and Credentialing 9 At the Helm f NPS Emergency Services 9 MRA Film Prject 10 Muntains Dn t Care, But We D 11 Strategic Planning 11 Upcming Events 11 COVER PHOTO: Pht by Hward Paul. Emrgency!Stck ( MRA Spnsrs Thanks t the crprate supprters f the MRA. Please supprt thse that generusly supprt us! CLICK ON THE LOGO TO FOLLOW THE LINK! President Charley Shimanski Alpine Rescue Team (cell) shimanski@speedtrail.net Vice President Neil Van Dyke Stwe Muntain Rescue neilvd@stweagle.cm Past President Fran Sharp Tacma Muntain Rescue Unit fransharp@cmcast.net Secretary/Treasurer Dan Land San Dimas Muntain Rescue Team wdland13@yah.cm At-Large Member Mike Vrachek Bnneville Cunty Search and Rescue mtnsar@cablene.net At-Large Member Dug Wessn Juneau Muntain Rescue DugWessen@gmail.cm Executive Secretary Kayley Trujill kayley@kayley.cm Crprate crrespndence t: Muntain Rescue Assciatin PO Bx San Dieg, CA Muntain Rescue Assciatin All rights reserved. All cntent MRA r as therwise nted. Permissin t reprint granted t MRA units in gd standing with the MRA.

3 MERIDIAN Octber The Greatest Sacrifice IN MEMORY OF BRUCE HARROLLE August 14, 1972 Octber 13, 2008 Arizna Department f Public Safety medic Bruce Harrlle, center, wrks t assist an injured patient during a 2004 missin. Pht curtesy Dnna French, Desert Blm Phtgraphy. It is with great sadness that we reprt the line f duty death f Arizna Department f Public Safety (DPS) Air Rescue's Officer-Paramedic Bruce Harrlle. Arizna DPS is an Ex-Offici member f the Muntain Rescue Assciatin (MRA). Accrding t the Officer Dwn Memrial Page, at abut 2:40 p.m. n Octber 13 th, the Department f Public Safety Air Rescue Ranger Helicpter based in Flagstaff respnded t a request frm the Sedna Fire Department and the Yavapai Cunty Sheriff s Office t assist with a search and rescue missin f tw stranded and dehydrated hikers n Bear Muntain in the Bell Rck area. At abut 3:18 p.m., Officer/Paramedic Harrlle had laded ne hiker and was escrting the secnd patient int the chpper when he was struck by the helicpter's rtr blades and fatally injured. Bth hikers were flwn t safety. Harrlle wrked fr 9 years with Arizna DPS, and 6 with the Air Rescue prgram. He was a recipient f the Department s prestigius Distinguished Award fr his rle in the Lewis Prisn hstage situatin in He was als the recipient f numerus letters f cmmendatin fr his rle in varius rescues and lifesaving peratins. He leaves behind a wife, Angela, and tw yung children, daughter Addisn, age 4, and sn Justice, age 2. He is als survived by bth f his parents. MRA Past President Tim Kvacs has wrked with Harrlle. Accrding t Kvacs, Bruce was a fine man, a passinate paramedic, and a cnscientius external lad Air Rescue technician. In an electrnic Guest Bk created fr his wife and children, Harrlle s childhd friend Sarah Hawley said I always used t tell Bruce that he was a super her because he flew thrugh the air and rescued cmplete strangers. Beneath that shirt I swear there was a huge B in a triangle. He saved everyne-frm animals t peple - n ne was beneath his saving grace. I am cmfrted nly by the fact that he died in the midst f ding smething he lved. Beynd that, I am hurting terribly fr his family and friends. Bruce Harrlle made the ultimate sacrifice... he gave his life in service t tw peple he'd never met. There is n higher calling, and his place shall be amng thse wh have given the ultimate expressin f selflessness. As the Meridian ges t press, MRA Hnr Guard members are assembling t hnr Harrlle at his memrial service.

4 MERIDIAN Octber VIEW FROM THE TOP By Charley Shimanski, MRA President IN SEARCH OF The MRA is in search f an editr fr the Meridian. Respnsibilities wuld include develping and acquiring cntent and prducing a quarterly prduct. Care t step up? If yu are interested, please cntact Charley Shimanski at Shimanski@speedtrail.net MRA TRAINING REVISIONS MRA President Charley Shimanski and a flight nurse exit a rescue helicpter after lading a patient at 12,500 feet. As yu knw, Fran Sharp, ur MRA president f the last tw years, develped Meridian as a tl t infrm us n issues pertaining t the MRA. Since then, Meridian has becme a belved and valued frm f cmmunicatin within ur membership Tday we engage in a test-flight f an all new Meridian. We are building upn the success f the Meridian by adding mre cntent frm acrss the MRA landscape and kicking it up a ntch t a fullfledged quarterly publicatin. Simply put, we have n set frmat, but we d have a very imprtant bjective. We will use the Meridian t bring yu, the MRA member, even mre in tuch with what s happening with yur MRA. Sund like is a test flight withut a flight plan? It is a bit ut there, but then, we are a cmmunity f rescue muntaineers. We can handle ut there. As such, we ll be depending n YOU t help us with ideas and cntent. This is YOUR publicatin, and we ll cunt n YOU make it all that it can be. Finally, I want t acknwledge ur MRA clleagues with Arizna Department f Public Safety wh murn the death f Bruce Harrlle, a veteran paramedic and flight crew member wh gave his life in the line f duty n Octber 13. Our cllective hearts g ut t Bruce s family at this hrrible time. Be safe ut there. The MRA s training prgrams, available at will underg extensive revisins in the next several days. The new updates will include full clr phtgraphy and illustratins and will sn be accmpanied by PwerPint instructr s prgrams as well. The fllwing prgrams have been revised s far: Helicpters in SAR Operatins Basic Helicpters in SAR Operatins Intermediate Accidents in Muntain Rescue Operatins AVALANCHE!!! Search and Rescue fr Outdr Leaders Risks in Muntain Rescue Operatins Situatinal Awareness in Search and Rescue STAY CONNECTED Did yu knw that there are a number f key ways that yu can stay cnnected t the MRA? We have a general ListServ available t any MRA team member, and an Administrative ListServ. In additin, we have a Members Frum General ListServ The General ListServ is fr MRA team members t share ideas, questins, and thughts. It is, n ccasin, used by MRA leadership as well t prmte smething r ask the membership fr feedback.

5 MERIDIAN Octber Mre than 400 MRA team members are subscribed t this imprtant ListServ. T jin the General ListServ, g t fr mre infrmatin n hw t subscribe, unsubscribe r change yur persnal infrmatin. MRA s Spring Cnference and Anniversary Gala. This year we ll be featuring a snw and ice theme s plan n spending five days n and arund the glaciers and summer snwfields climbing, learning new skills, meeting fellw rescuers frm arund the wrld and hnring the MRA s histry. Yu can als lk at prir pstings t the ListServ nce yu establish a persnal passwrd. Administrative ListServ The Administrative ListServ is fr cmmunicatin t MRA team members frm MRA leadership ONLY. This list has mre than 1,000 MRA team members subscribed, which is mst f the MRA team members' address The Administrative ListServ was develped t increase the amunt f cmmunicatin frm the MRA leadership t ur members. T jin the Administrative ListServ, make sure yur wn team has yur infrmatin, as the ListServ is created annually thrugh the lists prvided by member teams. This MERIDIAN is ed t BOTH the General ListServ and the Administrative ListServ which explains why yu may receive it twice. The Frum The MRA frum was set up t allw discussins f varius MRA-related tpics t take place nline. Tpics range frm equipment t rigging, medical t FEMA infrmatin. MRA members have the ability t create new cnversatin tpics within these general discussin tpics. Each user can cntrl hw they are ntified by the frum. Fr example, yu can chse t be ntified when thers respnd t a tpic that yu are cntributing twards. In additin t the cnference, there is s much t d in Oregn at this time f year it s hard t even mentin all f the pssibilities. It s an excellent pprtunity fr a vacatin and we ll have helpful assistants wh can get yu cnnected t the best the area has t ffer. Unlike ther cmmunicatin tls, the frum allws yu t see a lng and diverse histry f tpics and pinins all in ne place. Check this tl ut by lgging int the MRA member site and clicking n the frum link. A separate user lgin and passwrd is required. OUR 50TH AT MT. HOOD In 1959 a grup f visinary muntain rescuers met at Timberline Ldge n Oregn s Mt Hd and frmed the Muntain Rescue Assciatin. In June f 2009 we ll be back at Mt Hd celebrating ur 50th anniversary. Please jin Prtland Muntain Rescue at the beautiful and histric Timberline Ldge fr the Prtland Muntain Rescue will hst the 50th Anniversary MRA Celebratin in June f 2009 at the histric Timberline Ldge n the flanks f Mt. Hd

6 MERIDIAN Octber Belw is a chrnlgical summary f the activities that are planned: June (Tue, Wed, Thurs) Pre cnference at Histric Clud Cap Inn: Limited t 20 attendees and instructed by Timberline Muntain Guides. This is an intensive sessin cvering glacier travel and self rescue techniques. Fd and ldging will be prvided by the Crag Rats at Clud Cap Inn lcated n the remte nrth side f Mt Hd. Field exercises will be held n the Elit Glacier in the Mt Hd Wilderness. June 25 (Thursday) and June 28 (Sunday) These days are set aside fr climbs f Mt Hd, Mt St Helens, and Mt Adams r climbing at Smith Rck State Park. Althugh these climbs are nt advertised as a part f the cnference (due t Wilderness special use permit reasns) ur friends frm ur lcal MRA teams have agreed t rganize these climbs fr ur MRA friends. the wrld premier f the new MRA spnsred vide abut the frmatin f the MRA. Runding ut Saturday s activities will be a new event, Rckin with Rcky beginning after the banquet presentatins we hpe yu ll stay at the Ldge fr sme dancing, scializing and free beer. Sunday is the business meeting r anther chance t climb sme f the regin s best peaks with ur MRA friends. MRA ASSISTS IN STEVE FOSSETT RECOVERY June 25, Thursday afternn and evening: Registratin at the Ravens Nest in Histric Timberline Ldge. There will be vendr displays and beverages available. Plan t stay and scialize. And regale us with stries frm yur day s climb. June 26, Friday This will be ur classrm and field sessins: Our theme is ice and snw and we ll have a variety f tpics t chse frm. The field sessins will be in clse prximity t the ldge s yu ll be able t mix and match classrm and field venues. Tentative sessins include: cmparing avalanche transceivers; RECCO, snw anchrs, crevasse rescue, strategic shveling, glacier travel skills, wilderness medical skills sessins. In the evening well hld a heritage panel discussin featuring sme f ur funding members and ther lng time MRA members as they recllect the early days f the MRA. Fllwing the heritage panel well have a BBQ at the newly restred utdr amphitheater at the Ldge. Friday evening s entertainment will be a vide cntest featuring vide submitted by MRA members f their team s trainings r missins r their persnal adventures. Please encurage yur creative teammates t get their cameras ut and start filming as we ve gt sme utstanding prizes at stake. Saturday June 27: The Rescue Rendezvus is a multi statin, utdr rescue skills event. We ll create mixed teams f attendees frm all ver and send yu ff t meet the challenges. Yu ll have a chance t slve prblems, teach, learn and share experiences with fellw rescuers. Saturday evening is the banquet and alng with majr awards and VIP intrductins we ll have MRA Members frm China Lake Muntain Rescue Grup take a break between assignments. Pht curtesy Bb Rckwell. MRA teams frm Califrnia were requested by Madera Cunty and the Califrnia Office f Emergency Services t participate in the search f the missing aircraft pilted by Steve Fssett. Members f several Califrnia SAR teams as well as Ysemite Natinal Park hiked in 6 miles frm Devils Pstpile trail-head, near Mammth Lakes, t the rugged site f the crash at the 10,000 ft level. China Lake Muntain Rescue was present n Thursday and Friday t aid in the recvery amid deterirating weather cnditins. The fllwing renditin was prvided t Meridian by Bb Rckwell f China Lake Muntain Rescue Grup The crash site had just been fund, and the Madera Cunty Sheriff's Office requested that CLMRG and ther SAR teams g in and search fr all pssible evidence and remains. Dan (Operatin Leader),

7 MERIDIAN Octber Daryl, and I went fr the first day, and fr the next day it was Dan, Jeff, Martha and me. On day 1 we hiked the six miles and 2500' vertical t the crash site, with the last several hundred feet being a very steep talus chute which nt t many searchers were able t negtiate. Thse f us wh gt there cncentrated n a fine-tthed search f the crash site and immediate surrundings, then were flwn ut by a Natinal Guard Blackhawk at the end f the day. said that psting f pictures shwing n bdy parts r persnal effects is OK. MRA PATCH HEADS TO SPACE As this editin f Meridian ges t press, Shuttle Astrnaut Jhn Grunsfeld is preparing fr his sixth jurney t space abard the Shuttle Atlantis, a flight during which he will als engage in three space walks t repair the Hubble Space Telescpe. On day 2 we gt a hel ride in Ysemite's Bell SAR hel, with ur main fcus a line search frm the wreckage t where the shirt had been fund, 0.6 miles away. We searched carefully t that site, then shifted dwnhill 100 yards and searched a parallel track back t the wreckage. Once there, we did anther detailed search f the area. Because f threatening weather and the cncern base camp had fr ur safety, we were flwn ut arund 3 pm. Iny SAR had an analgus assignment frm the wreckage t the site where the ID was fund, and back. While we were n ur secnd day's search assignment, Ysemite SAR spent the day cllecting and lading up the wreckage t be flwn ut by a cntract hel. I was amazed t see hw clean they left the site, with nly a few pieces abut the size f a silver dllar r smaller remaining. Any Lkie L s hping t get there and find smething t sell n ebay will be srely disappinted. Full time NASA astrnaut and part time climber Jhn Grunsfeld, gives a thumbsup after a seven hur space walk t replace the Hubble Space Telescpe starbard slar array. Pht curtesy Jhn Grunsfeld and NASA. Amng Grunsfeld s persnal items n the flight will be an MRA patch, prvided by MRA President Charley Shimanski, a lng time friend and clleague f Grunsfeld. The patch, which will travel millins f miles abve planet Earth befre its jurney ends, will be n display at the MRA 50 th Anniversary Celebratin at Mt. Hd. Grunsfeld is als an accmplished climber. He summited Denali and Acncgua, and can lead 5.10 climbs althugh he claims t be able t lead 5.13 in zer gravity. The engine f Fssett s aircraft had travelled the farthest. Pht curtesy Bb Rckwell. In respnse t my specific questins, the Madera Cunty deputy sheriff wh was running the search In a recent article in Outside, Grunsfeld was asked if he ever gets bred in space. His answer? On my mst recent trip up Denali, there were these huge seracs and unbelievable vistas, and I was thinking, I dn't have t fly in space. There are s many beautiful places n Earth Then I get back int city life and I'm like, Yeah, I need t g t space again.

8 MERIDIAN Octber An hur-lng sessin called Gizms, Gears and Gadgets gave spnsrs a chance t discuss their equipment. Suppliers included Petzl, CMC Rescue Equipment, RECCO Avalanche Rescue System, Sterling Rpe and Adventure Medical Kits. A NASA flag flies next t Grunsfeld s camp n his climb f Denali. Pht curtesy Natinal Gegraphic Sciety. With the supprt f The American Alpine Club, Grunsfeld will als take the 9x12 Zeiss Maximar B flding camera used by Bradfrd Washburn in his famus phtgraphs f the Munt McKinley Range. The camera is the same ne that Washburn tk n his 1937 expeditin t Canada's St. Elias Muntains. Day ne finished with a BBQ in the hspitality tent and a special shwing f the BBC prductin Duel with An Teallach. This hur lng dcu-drama was intrduced by Hamish MacInnes and tells the stry f three climbers f varius experience wh set ut t climb the peak An Teallach n the west cast f Sctland in The tw lesser experienced climbers fell and the mre experienced climber had t secure his tw friends while he went fr help (these were the days befre the mbile phne). Unfrtunately, when the lcal muntain rescue team arrived the tw climbers had succumbed t their injuries and the elements SPRING CONFERENCE The 2008 MRA Spring Cnference tk place June in the beautiful hills arund Stwe, Vermnt. Hsted by the very gracius and friendly members f Stwe Muntain Rescue, this was the first MRA cnference t take place n the east cast. New Yrk State Frest Rangers demnstrate their histing technique. Pht by Charley Shimanski Highline exercise during the 2008 Spring Cnference in Stwe. Pht by Neil Van Dyke Thursday, June 19 Day ne began with numerus ptins, including a day lng curse n swift water rescue, buldering and rck climbing, and a series f lectures at the beautiful Glden Eagle Resrt. Friday, June 20 The secnd day f the cnference prvided a number f utdr wrkshps, lcated in and arund the nearby Mt. Mansfield ski area. Tpics included Lw Angle/Scree Evacuatin, Navigatin, Highline Rescue, and Petzl Hardware. During the lunch hur between the mrning and afternn sessins, participants were ffered a tur f the Vermnt State Plice mbile cmmand pst,

9 MERIDIAN Octber watch a K-9 air scent demnstratin and see the New Yrk State Frest Rangers demnstrate their unique helicpter hist system. The Friday evening event was ne t remember. Participants tured the Vermnt Ski Museum, including a prtin dedicated t the Tenth Muntain Divisin. After the visit t the Ski Museum, participants headed t the Stwe Twn Hall theatre fr a great buffet dinner. This was fllwed by the entertainment highlight f the weekend lcal cmedian Rusty DeWees wh perfrms a ne-man shw called The Lgger. Saturday Awards Banquet Saturday evening cmmenced in the hspitality tent with a Ccktail Receptin and Mse Ckut spnsred by RECCO. As usual, an empty dinner setting was kept near the entrance t the dinner t remember the fifteen US muntain rescuers wh have died during US MR missins between 1925 and Thanks, Tim Kvacs and the MRA Hnr Guard fr reminding us all f their sacrifice. Fllwing the dinner was the MRA Awards Ceremny, which cmmenced with the ceremnial psting f the clrs by the MRA Hnr Guard ( After several awards were bestwed, keynte speaker David Heavy Whalley tk the stage. Heavy has just retired frm the RAF Muntain Rescue Service after 35 years. He s als a past chair f the Muntain Rescue Cmmittee f Sctland and is their current Stats Officer. Needless t say, Heavy gave a very interesting talk abut his muntain rescue experience in the RAF and in Sctland. Cmedian Rusty DeWees The Lgger Pht by Neil VanDyke All returned t the cnference htel fr the pen bar, which lead t a very entertaining Petzl Headlamp Search Cmpetitin. Saturday, June 21 The third day f the cnference cnsisted f an adventure tur n Mt. Mansfield, Vermnt s highest peak at 4,393 ft. The tur cnsisted f a 5.5 mile hike cmbined with three skill statins: Statin 1 Five glf balls and fifteen wden glf tees were hidden in an area 20 m wide by 50 m lng. Each team was given 15 minutes t find as many as pssible. Statin 2 Teams were timed t setup a belay system and lwer an injured subject 100 m dwn a lw angle descent, then acrss, and back up an adjacent slpe. Statin 3 On ne f the lcal hiking trails, the trail cuts thrugh a huge bulder that has split in tw. Nicknamed the lemn squeeze, teams were timed t transprt a litter thrugh the bstacle. Back t the bar, which led t Rick Lrenz s renditin f a Clancy Brthers classic t hnr the visit f Paul Whiting frm Ireland. Fllwing that, a zip line tk the place f the traditinal rappelling ff the rftp. (After all, the cnference htel is wned by the family f MRA Vice President Neil VanDyke). Sunday, June 22 The final day f the cnference was the MRA Annual Meeting and electin f fficers. See the MRA web site fr the minutes f that meeting. Fran Sharp, the utging president, was thanked with a rusing vatin. Fran was nly the secnd female president f the MRA (the first female president was Judy Hanna in 1980). Fran passed reigns f the rganizatin t the incming president - Charley Shimanski. A nice traditin tk place as Fran presented Charley with the MRA cmpass, t help Charley keep the MRA n the track set ut by its funders. This reprt was filed by Paul Whiting; Develpment Officer f the Irish Muntain Rescue Assciatin with sme editing by Charley Shimanski after all, in Ireland, the wrd stretcher is a verb. While we say transprt a litter Paul says stretcher a casualty.

10 MERIDIAN Octber RESOURCE TYPING AND CREDENTIALING By Mike Vrachek The MRA is a member f a natinal wrking grup that is refining the current FEMA Resurce Types and develping individual credentialing criteria fr SAR. The basic cncept behind this prject is t identify a standardized apprach fr identificatin f teams and their members that can be deplyed in time f disaster and supprt federal, state, and lcal respnse effrts. Envisin fr a mment a majr earthquake affecting an area such as Yellwstne Natinal Park at the height f the summer turist seasn, where destructin f bridges r triggering f landslides cut ff campgrunds and trails, stranding hundreds f campers and hikers in the back cuntry. Or cnsider the Salt Lake valley where there are numerus husing develpments and recreatin areas lcated n slpes and ridges that culd be cut ff frm nrmal Fire Department based rescue services, which might be verwhelmed with building cllapses in the dwntwn areas. In bth cases, SAR teams capable f perating in rugged terrain under austere cnditins might be requested by the Incident Cmmand structure, especially where there is a prlnged respnse and relief fr lcal resurces is needed. By having a standardized resurce type, i.e., a Muntain SAR r a Wilderness SAR team, with varying degrees f capability (Type I, II, III, r IV); requesting agencies will be able t assess the situatin and determine what categry and type wuld be best suited t respnd t the peratin. The basic set f Resurce Types has been established fr SAR and can be viewed at t.shtm. Resurce typing is vluntary and nrmally accmplished by determining what categry(s) and type yur team is capable f; and ntifying yur lcal and/r state emergency management r hmeland security agency. MRA Plicy is the basic framewrk that we envisin teams will use t meet the FEMA Muntain and Wilderness SAR typing criteria. We recgnize that ur teams are unique in that we tend t perate in sme f the mst extreme envirnments, and mst teams have taken n the challenge f becming accredited t reginal requirements under Plicy 105. As a bdy, we have the ability t prvide a tremendus capability t respnd t majr disasters such as nted abve, and Plicy was develped t bridge the gap between regin accreditatin and natinal standards criteria. The FEMA wrking grup is currently develping standards fr credentialing f individual SAR respnders. This represents a tremendus challenge due t the diversity f rles and respnsibilities within the verall SAR cmmunity. The MRA is supprting the wrking grup t examine what knwledge, skills, and attributes wuld be needed fr thse members respnding with a Muntain r Wilderness SAR team. Again, Plicy cntains the basic framewrk that we feel is apprpriate fr teams that wish becme invlved, while allwing the team sme leeway in addressing what they feel fits their rganizatinal structure. We can nly hpe that this effrt results in the SAR cmmunity being better prepared fr catastrphic incidents - which we hpe never ccur. All f us have seen the graphic images f suffering and despair that accmpany a disaster r majr emergency. Mst f us have at ne time r anther desired t help, but were nt sure hw t g abut it. Sme have felt the frustratin f vlunteering t help, nly t be turned away. The SAR wrking grup is addressing sme f the issues that are ging t have t be reslved in rder t imprve the natin s ability t respnd t disasters. As the largest representative f SAR teams in the United States, the MRA is wrking t prvide as much input as pssible t this endeavr. AT THE HELM OF NPS EMERGENCY SERVICES This past June, the Natinal Park Service (NPS) appinted Dean A. Rss t serve as its latest Branch Chief f Emergency Services. The NPS Branch Chief supprts Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Search and Rescue (SAR) fr the entire Natinal Park Service. Dean takes ver frm Dan Pntbriand, wh returned t the field when he tk an assignment as Sequia District Ranger, Sequia & Kings Canyn Natinal Parks. Dean Rss has an eclectic histry in many areas; but it is the cmbinatin f his previus experience that makes him an impressive chice fr the tp NPS emergency management pst. Rss has a prfessinal career in terrestrial and satellite cmmunicatins, and built a successful business in the field, befre selling his business t pursue ther interests.

11 MERIDIAN Octber Thse ther interests are t wide and varied t list each f them here, but suffice it t say, he s develped a resume that lks like a Wh s Wh f emergency prgrams. Dean has been invlved in pre-hspital EMS since the 1990 s but it was the tragic events f September 11th 2001 that brught it all tgether. After the 9-11 attack n the Wrld Trade Center, Rss wrked at grund zer fr many mnths. This assignment illustrated sme serius challenges t make public health and emergency respnse his key fcus. Rss then mved t the natin s capital. Starting at the Office f Emergency Respnse, he was ultimately called ut by Secretary Thmpsn himself t design and build the Security Operatins Center at HHS. The prject tk just five mnths, and while the final cst was $3.7 millin, that was $1.3 millin under budget. After Rss built the Center, Secretary Thmpsn made him Directr f it; prviding a key rle in the respnse t Sudden Acute Respiratry Syndrme (SARS) and the beginning f what wuld becme a natin-wide effrt t prepare fr a ptential pandemic. During this assignment, Dean was requested by the Wrld Health Organizatin t cllabrate and crdinate the develpment f their cmmand center in Geneva, Switzerland. His peratins center designs and management cncepts are nw in 17 peratins center arund the wrld. Cmpleting that assignment, Rss went n t serve as Deputy Directr f Emergency Services fr three years at the Indian Health Service. While he is a diver, a pilt, a firefighter, and a technical rescuer, Dean Rss is the first nn-law Enfrcement Ranger t take the psitin at the Natinal Park Service. N stranger t the plitics that plague agencies inside the beltway, Dean Rss describes himself as a man wh likes t empwer, nt put up stp signs. If yu re fllwing me, he says, yu d better hld n t my belt. N kidding. Already, under his leadership f 90 days, Dean Rss has established the Natinal Park Service as the g t agency fr the new Natinal Respnse Framewrk a prgram designed t mbilize federal persnnel in disaster respnse under Emergency Supprt Functin #9. Rss and staff frm parks acrss the natin recently demnstrated the value f Park Service Rangers in disaster respnse during the 2008 hurricane seasn. We re light, we re fast, we re mbile and yu dn t need tw semi-trucks behind us t carry ur gear. Althugh he cmmands an ffice f ne, Rss jb is a critically imprtant element f the Natinal Park Service (NPS). He is respnsible fr the EMS prgram fr the entire Natinal Park Service as well as the SAR prgram which includes technical rescue, swiftwater and land SAR. Cnsidering the NPS perfrms 4,500 SAR peratins a year, this is quite an assignment. But spend just five minutes with him, and yu ll quickly see that he is up t the task. If yu re ever in Washingtn D.C. stp by t visit Dean, and take him ut fr a cup f cffee. But ne piece f advice hld n t his belt. MRA FILM PROJECT By Rick Lrenz In the fall f 2007 a 19 minute vide was made f the annual meeting f IKAR, the Internatinal Cmmissin f Alpine Rescue. It was later shwn at the January 2008 MRA meeting and the DVD was distributed free f charge t all vlunteer muntain rescue teams in Nrth America. The vide was made pssible by three cmmercial spnsrs and was prduced by Internatinal Research Assciates (INREAS) f Tacma, Washingtn. At the MRA annual meeting in Stwe last summer, a prpsal was made fr INREAS t prduce a DVD f early MRA histry in the Pacific Nrthwest, including the funding f MRA in June f The DVD wuld be shwn at Munt Hd at the 50th Anniversary celebratin next summer, and 200 cpies wuld be prvided t the MRA. The prpsal was accepted with the understanding that the prject wuld be cmpleted at n cst t MRA. A private fundatin prvided funding fr the MRA Histry Dcumentary last July, filming was cmpleted in September, editing and prductin are nw underway. Key peple in the histry f MRA were interviewed, including Dick Pley (the first MRA president), Dee Mlenaar, Gerge Sainsbury, and Wlf Bauer, ne f the funders f Seattle Muntain Rescue Cuncil. Additinal filming was cnducted at Munt Hd in July at a reunin f sme f the riginal funders f MRA, including 96 year ld Hank Lewis, a legendary figure wh

12 MERIDIAN Octber established ski patrl n Munt Hd in the 1920 s. Histric vide ftage made in Bavaria in 1948 has been btained fr inclusin in the DVD, shwing Eurpean influence in the early develpment f muntain rescue in the USA. The MRA dcumentary vide will fcus n peple and events in the Pacific Nrthwest leading up t the June 1959 meeting at Munt Hd, and will cnclude with a summary f MRA tday featuring interviews with current MRA leadership and sme recent vide ftage and phts. Final prductin f the vide will be cmpleted at INREAS facilities in New Yrk City, with riginal music by Kenseth in San Dieg. A preview f the DVD will be shwn at the MRA meeting in Salt Lake City in January. Rick Lrenz f Olympic Muntain Rescue will be cntacting MRA teams fr recent digital phts that might be included in the final prtin f the vide. MOUNTAINS DON T CARE, BUT WE DO By Rick Lrenz Renwned authr, climber, artist, and retired Natinal Park Ranger Dee Mlenaar has agreed t write a bk n the early years f muntain rescue in the Nrthwest, with a fcus n events leading up t the signing f the Cnstitutin f the Muntain Rescue Assciatin in June Dee participated in sme early rescues and attended many f the riginal meetings f rescuers in 1958 and The planned bk wuld be rughly 200 pages in length, in similar frmat t his bk The Challenge f Rainier which is nw in its ninth printing. A tentative chapter includes the fllws: 1. The Nrthwest frm the 1890 s t 1950 s, the muntains and the physical setting. 2. Sme celebrated early rescues, the Brthers, Munt Rainier and Munt Hd. 3. The funding f the riginal teams int the 1950 s, including Seattle MRC (1948) and the Crag Rats in Oregn in Steps leading t Munt Hd: The need fr rganizatin in early peratins. 5. Prfiles f the key peple in Washingtn State and Oregn. 6. Munt Hd June 1959: The funding f the MRA. 7. The first years f MRA, early rescues, including McKinley Epilgue: The rganizatin grws up, with a prfile f the current MRA. The draft bk manuscript is currently underging evaluatin by publishers, with prpsed publicatin hped fr the spring f 2008, and cpies available fr distributin at Munt Hd in June Rick Lrenz f Olympic Muntain Rescue is the chair f the publicatin wrkgrup and he welcmes ffers f assistance in submitting material r reviewing the manuscript. Please let him knw at fmlrenz1@al.cm. STRATEGIC PLANNING At ur upcming Business Meeting in Salt Lake City, MRA delegates will be tasked with helping s develp a lng term strategic plan. The Strategic Planning Task Frce members are Past Presidents Tim Cchrane, Rcky Hendersn, Mnty Bell and Fran Sharp as well as MRA President Charley Shimanski and Vice President Neil Van Dyke. Stay tuned fr mre infrmatin abut this imprtant effrt. The Winter Business Meeting will be held n January 9-11, 2009 at the Cuntry Inn and Suites in West Valley, Utah, just fifteen minutes frm the Salt Lake City Airprt. Stay tuned fr registratin infrmatin. UPCOMING EVENTS 2008 Internatinal Technical Rescue Sympsium, Nv , Albuquerque, NM 2009 Winter MRA Meeting January 9-11, Salt Lake City, Utah 2009 NASAR Natinal Search and Rescue Cnference May 28-30, Little Rck, Arkansas th Anniversary MRA Meeting June 26-28, Munt Hd, Oregn

13 The Muntain Rescue Assciatin is an rganizatin dedicated t saving lives thrugh rescue and muntain safety educatin