Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team

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1 Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team 2017 Annual Report

2 Officers Team Leader Scott Carpenter Executive Officer Eric Bivona Dispatch Officer Jan Largent Training Officer Tom Frawley Safety Officer Jim Mason Medical Officer Jan Largent Medical Director Dr. Tom Trimarco Equipment Officer Tom Frawley Membership Officer/Secretary Chris Northrop Treasurer Tony Gove In case of emergency, call: (802) After the tone, enter your call back phone number. Mailing address: Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team PO Box 68 Hanover, NH address: To request information about joining the team: our Membership Officer, Chris Northrop:

You all showed how dedicated you are to helping those in need. Bringing loved ones home, as well as giving closure to families is why we do this kind of work.

3 Team Leader Year End Message Hello Everyone, I wanted to send around note to you all saying Happy Holidays to you. We have done some great work over these last 12 months and I wanted to let everyone on the team know how proud I am of you. I feel very fortunate and blessed to be searching side by side with you. You all showed how dedicated you are to helping those in need. Bringing loved ones home, as well as giving closure to families is why we do this kind of work. I do very much appreciate all the time spent away from work and loved ones. I know the long nights and days of driving for hours is hard on everyone but it's the best feeling at the end of a long search to see families reunited. I would also like to thank those who keep the home fires going while we are away doing this kind of work - they are truly the unsung heroes of the team. I for one could not do this work without the support of my family. Please give your family, significant others, and loved ones my heartfelt thanks for their support of this team. Thank you all. I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year! Let's make 2018 even better! I will see you all out there! Scott Carpenter Team Leader New member shakedown hike on Mt. Cardigan, February 11, 2017 Page - 1

4 Statement of Financial Position For the Twelve months ending on December 31, 2017 Cash Assets and Liabilities Cash Assets Checking Account $1, Dues and Donations $1, Dartmouth Account $3, Total $6, Liabilities Equipment Purchase $ Training Expenses $1, PO Box Rental $ Total $2, Cash Assets December 31, $4, Equipment Donations Received Radios $875 Equipment for SAR packs $436 (compasses, whistles, space blankets, etc.) Total $ Page - 2

5 2017 In Review 2017 was the 23 rd year for the UVWRT and was an average year for callouts with 24 operational periods for 21 separate callout events, just one operational period over the historical average of 23 per year. This was a decrease over the number of callouts and operational periods from 2016 (41/36) with May and June being our busiest months in 2017 (5 each) followed by July (4) and August (3). September continues to be our busiest month followed by August and July in 2017 as opposed to august and October last year. The four months of July, August, September and October, however, remain as our busiest period of the year May/June, July 2016 May, October, June/November 2015 July, September/November 2014 July, August, September/October/November 2013 September, July/October 2012 July, October, May 2011 May, June/September 2010 September, October, July 2009 August, September, June 2008 August, June, April/November 2007 July, September, January/October/November 2006 August, June, April/September/October 2005 October, November, June 2004 July, June, April/September/November 2003 October, September, June 2002 August, September, January 2001 November, September, August/October 2000 August, June, September/October (From there were too few callouts for meaningful comparison) We had our largest participation totals in June (39) followed by May (33) and July (23) for our 13 th highest year. Since the team began in 1995, our highest participation has been the months of August, followed by June and July. We had our 9 th class of trainees in Of the 12 new members who began training, 3 remain with the team going into 2018 which is a low retention rate but something we perennially deal with. The membership window opens in December for interested persons to submit their applications and training begins in January following interviews and the initial screening process. (See the New Members page for a listing of new members and training events in 2017.) UVWRT members were involved with a number of successful searches in 2017, finding subjects alive and helping getting them to proper care and assisting with locating deceased subjects, helping bring closure to families in difficult times. These are some of the more noteworthy events in On January 4 th, UVWRT was called to assist in a search for a young male involved in a New Year s Eve traffic stop who apparently had fled the scene. He was located deceased several days later. Page - 3

6 On May 3 rd, the team was called to search for a missing male in Woodford, VT. After a full day of searching the subject was located alive the next day in a cabin as teams were preparing to go out to search a second day. We were called out early in the morning of May 10 th to search for a special needs student missing from the previous night. He was found alive by F&G just as teams were being deployed in the field. On May 14 th & 15 th, UVWRT searched for a young male in Westmore, VT. The subject was located deceased on the second day. On June 19 th, the team was called to help carry out an injured hike on Mt Cube in Orford, NH. Late at night on June 24 th, the team was called to search for a 16 y/o autistic boy in Gilmanton, NH who was located by F&G on a trail as teams were assembling. The next afternoon on June 25 th, we were called to help with a carry out on Cardigan Mt in Orange, NH. On July 3 rd, the team was called to search for an intoxicated female, missing since the previous evening. The subject was discovered deceased in Malletts Bay on Lake Champlain. Douglas Allen, Support Services Lieutenant of the Colchester Police Department shared this note from the subject's friend: Dear Colchester Police Department and Tactical Team, We buried my friend's, Cynthia Whalen's, urn yesterday. Although we were unable to bring her home alive, I am grateful to the Colchester team for their dedication and hard work in attempting to find her. Your swift action gave us hope and support while giving Cynthia the greatest chance of survival. Please share my gratitude with the other air, ground, and water teams that assisted from around the state. God bless you all, April Christenson On July 16 th, UVWRT assisted in the search for a missing experienced hiker on the Dry River Trail in the White Mountains. deceased in late July. UVWRT and NEK9 awaiting helicopter transport to the Dry River Trail Page - 4

7 On August 28 th, the team was called to assist with a search for an elderly male who had gone for a walk the previous day and lost his dog. He went out again the next day to look for his dog but became lost himself. UVWRT and NEK9 found the subject in a swamp, provided patient care and assisted with the evacuation to an ambulance. On October 2 nd, we assisted in the search for a missing elderly female who got lost while walking in unfamiliar territory. She was located alive early the next morning and sent a very nice thankyou note to the teams that responded. Hi, Your search and rescue team aided the Glover,VT search and rescue team on Sunday night, October 1 and Monday morning, October 2, I want to thank you so very much for coming to Glover to help out in rescuing me, It was very much appreciated. I have hiked and walked in the woods for a lot of years and have not gotten lost. I am both embarrassed and fortunate. I made mistakes that resulted in getting lost, but fortunate that I was survived in relatively good condition. Thank you so much for your fine work. On November 6 th and December 2 nd, we were again called to Westmore, VT to search for another subject who remains missing. In addition to searches and callouts, UVWRT participated in several service events in On March 2 nd, a group of Dartmouth engineering students who have been designing a device to assist smaller carry out teams with liters, asked us to test their prototype and provide feedback. UVWRT members testing the litter assist prototype at the Dartmouth Skiway On July 8 th, UVWRT provided bike safety patrols on the in-town and wooded walking routes of the annual Prouty event in Hanover. On August 20 th, UVWRT provided basic instruction in land navigation, map & compass use, and GPS/computers for the Lempster, NH Fire Department. On October 22 nd, UVWRT provided bike sweep support for the CHaD HERO halfmarathon in Hanover, NH. Page - 5

8 Photos from the helicopter fly-in and Auriemma search, Dry River Wilderness, July 16, 2017 Page - 6

July 17, 2017 Search Continues for Missing New Jersey Man in the White Mountains Contact: Lt. Bradley Morse: (603) 271-3361 Lt.

9 July 17, 2017 Search Continues for Missing New Jersey Man in the White Mountains Contact: Lt. Bradley Morse: (603) Lt. Heidi Murphy: (603) CUTTS GRANT, NH The search continued today (July 17, 2017) for Gregory Auriemma, age 63, of Brick, New Jersey, who was reported last week as missing in New Hampshire s White Mountains. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department initially worked off his last known location (North Conway), and later in the week developed information that he had stayed in the area of the Mizpah Spring Hut in Bean s Grant on or about June 28. Further information was then obtained linking Auriemma to an abandoned campsite near the Dry River Trail in Cutts Grant. A Fish and Game search and rescue team confirmed on Saturday (July 15) that the abandoned campsite was Auriemma s. A ground search of the Dry River drainage was conducted by that search team and the area was also searched by air with a New Hampshire National Guard Blackhawk helicopter. Hikers in that area were interviewed by Fish and Game Conservation Officers to try to obtain additional information. The Dry River area is a very remote portion of the White Mountains; searchers must hike approximately four hours to access the area to begin searching. Authorities are asking the public for any information available from hikers who have been in this area and may have met up with Auriemma; if you have any information, please call (603) Additional on-the-ground search assistance is not being requested at this time. The search is likely to be scaled down after today, depending on what is found, according to Fish and Game Lt. Bradley Morse. Fish and Game Conservation Officers have been assisted in the search by the Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team, New England K-9 Search and Rescue, Pemigewassett Valley Search and Rescue, the Appalachian Mountain Club, US Forest Service, a NH State Police search team, Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue, and NH State Forest Rangers. For information on safe hiking, please visit [Note: deceased several weeks later.] Page - 7

10 Summary of Events UVWRT participated in 36 events: 24 callouts, 8 trainings, and 4 service events in Summary of Events Date EventNumber Location State Activity Outcome 1/4/ Island Pond VT Search for a missing 23 yo male who had been involved in a traffic stop. 1/28/ Hanover NH Introduction to SAR and new member orientation 2/11/ Orange NH Mt. Cardigan shakedown hike. 3/4/ Lyme NH Engineering project testing - litter buggy 3/16/ Hanover NH Low angle training for new members. 4/6/ Hanover NH Navigation, GPS, map and compass new member training. 4/22/ Hanover NH Additional navigation training 4/29/ Lyme NH New member training weekend 4/30/ Lyme NH New member training weekend 5/3/ Woodford VT The team has been called out to search for a missing male in Woodford, VT. 5/4/ Woodford VT The team has been called out to search for a missing male in Woodford, VT. Page - 8 deceased the next day. Tom T. set up and ran the training event. Tom ran the shakedown hike. Helped the engineering students test out the litter buggy. Officers conducted the low angle training. Tom and Eric ran the training. Chris and Eric ran the training Conducted new member training. Conducted new member training. The subject was not located in this OP but was located alive the next day. alive. 5/10/ Haverhill NH We have been called to by Haverhill NH to search for a F&G on a trail south of his 24 Yr special needs male that home in good condition, as has been missing since 7:00 we were all being deployed pm. in the field. 5/14/ Westmore VT Search for a missing 20 yo male with mental impairment. 5/15/ Westmore VT Search for a missing 20 yo male with mental impairment. The subject was not located during this OP but was located deceased the next day. deceased. 6/2/ Brandon VT The team has been called

11 Summary of Events Date EventNumber Location State Activity Outcome out to search for a missing 39 yo male with Downs Syndrome in Brandon, VT 6/19/ Orford NH The team has been called out to help carry out an injured hike on Mt Cube. 6/24/ Gilmanton NH The team has been called out to search for a 16 y/o autistic boy in Gilmanton, NH 6/25/ Orange NH The team has been called out to help with a carry out on Cardigan Mt in Orange, NH. 6/27/ Grafton VT The team has been called out to search for an 80 y/o M with dementia in Grafton, VT. 7/3/ Colchester VT The team has been called to search for a missing intoxicated female, missing since last evening. 7/8/ Hanover NH Bike safety patrols on the intown and wooded walking routes of the annual Prouty event. 7/16/ Cutt's Grant NH Search for a missing Dry river Trail hiker. Page - 9 alive. The subject was carried out. alive by NHF&G conservation officers. The subject was carried out. The subject (and his dog) was located by VSP along the road. The subject was discovered deceased in Malletts Bay on Lake Champlain. UVWRT provided bike safety patrols. deceased in late July. 7/30/ Franklin NH The team has been called to search for a 75 yr old male in alive. Franklin, NH missing since 11am today. 7/31/ Bennington VT The team has been called out to search for a despondent 46 y/o M missing since Saturday in Bennington, VT. 8/5/ Seabrook NH Search for a 23 yo male missing since July 25th. 8/16/ Deerfield NH The team has been called out to search for a 77 y/o male, missing since 11am. 8/20/ Lempster NH Lempster FD SAR training - field work The subject walked out on the Bald Mt. trail. deceased. The subject walked out on his own before teams arrived. Scott, Tom F. and Tom B. ran the navigation training with the Lempster Fire

12 Summary of Events Date EventNumber Location State Activity Outcome 8/28/ Holderness NH The team has been called out to search for a 77 y/o male missing since 2pm this afternoon. 9/23/ Franklin NH The team has been called out to search for a missing elderly male in Franklin, NH. 10/2/ Glover VT The team has been called out to search for a missing 67 y/o F in Glover, VT. 10/16/ Ossipee NH Search for a missing 23 y/o male. 10/22/ Hanover NH Bike sweep support for the CHaD HERO half-marathon. 11/4/ Loudon NH The team has been called out to search for a 16 yr/old despondent male. 11/6/ Westmore VT The team has been called out to search for a middle aged despondent male. 11/9/ Hanover NH Environmental emergencies training 12/2/ Westmore VT Continuation of the search for a missing middle aged male on Nov. 6th. Department. cold and wet and evacuated to an ambulance. alive. alive. deceased before teams arrived. UVWRT provided bike sweep support for the event. deceased the next day. The subject was not located. Sarah Thompson presented the training. The subject was not located. Page - 10

13 Summary of Participation UVWRT provided 167 responders to all requested operational periods for the 24 callouts in 2017 totaling 743 person-hours. Callouts - duration, response, hours Date EventNumber Location State Response Duration TPH 1/4/ Island Pond VT /3/ Woodford VT /4/ Woodford VT /10/ Haverhill NH /14/ Westmore VT /15/ Westmore VT /2/ Brandon VT /19/ Orford NH /24/ Gilmanton NH /25/ Orange NH /27/ Grafton VT /3/ Colchester VT /16/ Cutt's Grant NH /30/ Franklin NH /31/ Bennington VT /5/ Seabrook NH /16/ Deerfield NH /28/ Holderness NH /23/ Franklin NH /2/ Glover VT /16/ Ossipee NH /4/ Loudon NH /6/ Westmore VT /2/ Westmore VT totals Page - 11

14 Annual Callouts and Participation by Month Callouts Page - 12

15 Participation Page - 13

16 New Members UVWRT welcomed 3 new members in 2017, who completed the training process to become callout certified. Barrie North Sarah Thomson Eric Weiner South Strafford, VT Lebanon, NH Concord, NH 2017 New Member Training Schedule: January 28, 2017 February 11, 2017 March 16, 2017 April 6, 2017 April 28-30, 2017 May 20, 2017 New member orientation and introduction to UVWRT Full team/new member shakedown hike on Mt. Cardigan Introduction to low angle ropes and knots Introduction to navigation: map & compass, GPS, computers SAR training weekend, Green Woodlands, Dorchester, NH Fitness Hike/Cookout/Annual Meeting Page - 14

17 2017 Membership Roster FirstName LastName City State ApplicationDate Eric Bivona Hanover NH 4/9/1996 Tom Bourgoine Warner NH 12/2/2008 Sam Brakeley Norwich VT 11/20/2012 Scott Carpenter Wilmot NH 4/12/1998 Andy Felegara Surry NH 12/31/2011 Mick Foot Keene NH 12/29/2011 Tom Frawley Lyme NH 1/30/2009 Tony Gove White River Junction VT 4/28/2010 Adam Hescock Norwich VT 6/30/2016 John Hinds Lebanon NH 1/6/2014 Daryl Holthoff Hanover NH 1/14/2015 Dave Keaveny Enfield NH 1/5/2016 Sam Kocen Hanover NH 12/24/2015 Jan Largent Enfield NH 2/9/1999 Daniel Lein Hanover NH 1/20/2016 Eric Lindgren New London NH 6/3/2016 Luke MacCormick Norwich VT 12/27/2015 Charlie Marshall Enfield NH 11/21/2012 Jim Mason Lyme NH 1/14/2004 Barrie North South Strafford VT 1/23/2017 Chris Northrop Concord NH 11/13/1999 Dan Pontbriand GRAFTON NH 2/9/2016 Patrick Saylor Hanover NH 1/11/2014 Gerben Scherpbier Somerville MA 12/26/2011 Dave Schullinger-Krause Woodstock VT 3/22/2010 Sam Seder Hanover NH 4/4/2015 Sarah Thomson Lebanon NH 1/27/2017 Tom Trimarco Lyme NH 11/30/2012 Chris Valley Enfield NH 12/21/2011 Kate Van Arman Norwich VT 6/18/2016 Eric Weiner Concord NH 1/24/2017 Ebben Whitehair Norwich VT 12/20/2015 Page - 15

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Officers. In case of emergency, call: (802) After the tone, enter your call back phone number.

Officers. In case of emergency, call: (802) After the tone, enter your call back phone number. Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team 2013 Annual Report Officers Team Leader - Scott Carpenter Executive Officer - Eric Bivona Dispatch Officer - Jan Largent Training Officer - Tom Bourgoine New Member