Mounted search and rescue

[Una Smith <una@lanl.gov>]

Ian,

This is great!  A bunch of us will be there.  Pagosa Springs
Colorado is only about 250 miles from Santa Fe New Mexico.  I
hope to meet there many others from MSAR-riders, and I have
forwarded your invitation to the New Mexico SAR mailing list.

Thanks!

        Una Smith
        Santa Fe County Sheriff's Posse


------------------ Copy of Ian's invitation ----------------------
 
Training weekend August 23rd.
 
 
Open Invitation !
 
To any MSAR riders OR any supporters / guests / interested folks.
 
Unit A of Mounted Rescue ( Colorado ) will be hosting a fun weekend on
August 23rd 2003 , we will have a "mock" search exercise with varied
missions to accommodate all levels and skills as well as ground teams .
 
Details:
 
Area - Pagosa Springs , Colorado - precise location will be emailed to
all participants nearer to the date as the moisture finally knocks down
all our fires !
 
Dates : Base area will open at noon on Friday 22nd - camping facilities
will include Porta Potties and supplies of Water for your horses , use
of our cook tent / shelter with your own food. Grazing could be limited
so bring weed free hay or suitable hay cubes - it is preferred that you
feed your horses 2 days in advance either cubes or weed free hay to
avoid contamination of the forest / wilderness.
 
Friday 22nd :  Evening will be unplanned and open , at this time no
fires will be allowed BUT use of gas stoves is permitted.
 
Sat 23rd : Check in at staging will commence at 08.30 with briefing for
all team leaders at 09.30 deploy to the field 10.00 .
 
The exercise will involve a wide variety of missions , hopefully
accommodating most skills and specialties that are participating - a
short list would include :
 
- Hasty teams to sweep ride the trails , operational periods of 2 x 3
hours for those camping at base .
- Hasty / containment teams to sweep ride trails and remain camped out
overnight , operational periods of 2 x 3 hours plus overnight and 1 x 4
hours on Sunday.
- Tracker teams as available.
- Communication relay team (s) to attain high ground and assist with
communications , probably will include overnight camp out , operational
period 1 x 8hours  & 1 x 4hours could involve specialist ground team .
- Search teams to search specified areas involving "brush busting"  
 
The exercise will be supported by our base support unit and comms
trailer and managed as a type 4 incident .
 
Hopefully we will have "LIVE" subject(s) that really can be found and
who will demonstrate characteristics of their "type" .
 
Those returning to base camp on Sat night will be able to re-deploy on
Sunday morning if they so wish.
 
Sunday 24th : Operations will begin at 0900 continuing from the day
before with a targeted completion around 1300 hours.
 
There will be a debriefing for each team leader and POD's will be asked
for .
 
EVERYONE must demobilize before leaving - this is critical we must check
everyone out to be sure we are not there a week later looking for you !!
 
What do you need ? ! :
 
You should bring your own equipment for your horse to include your
preferred method of securing overnight , your personal equipment and
your SAR packs. Those only traveling a short distance close to camp may
carry a small pack of survival equipment for emergencies only - everyone
else your normal SAR day or SAR multi day packs.
 
IF you have a radio - please let us know - provisionally the frequencies
we will use are :
 
a) Primary frequency - check ins , general housekeeping = MURS 1 -
151.820 with tone of 179.9  ( we can manage no tone as well ) .
 
b) SAR National channel - this may be authorized and if so you will be
advised at briefing.
 
c) Radio Hams - 146.550 - main check in , general ham channel -
Repeaters monitored will include , Pagosa , Chama , and possibly Eagle
Pass .
 
d) We have full FRS and GMRS capability - if your wish to use one of
these frequencies let us know.
 
e) A small number of "loaner" radios will also be available from our
cache , without exception every team entering the field will be required
to carry a radio !
 
Please bring your own food - at camp we will have BBQ grill and several
cookers available .
 
To facilitate the map situation we will provide full USGS topographic
maps of the areas which hopefully will be easier for riders coming from
out of area , if you wish to keep them a small charge will be levied.
 
Basic rules !
 
- Absolutely no alcohol consumption until you are demobilized and
unarmed !
- Firearms - as provided by state law / federal law , we do not mind
open carry or concealed (if you are licensed)  BUT team leaders have
final say for their team.
- Pack it in Pack it out - please bring your trash out with you and take
it home for disposal.
- Leave no trace - please try to leave the forest as good as or better
than you found it.
 
This sounds like fun - what do I have to do ?
 
In order for us to plan it would be VERY helpful if people would
register with us ahead of time - this allows us to make the plans more
easily and hopefully make your weekend more fun !!  IF the fires
cooperate we will send via mail full briefing packets to each
participant , if not the information will be used to send you a souvenir
participation certificate and patch after the event.
 
Registration:  ( You can cut and paste this to email to us )
 
Name :
 
Address :
 
Unit affiliation :
 
Email : 
 
Have radio - channels / frequencies ? :
 
Rider / or Foot Team :
 
Overnight camp in the field on Sat 23rd ?
 
Skills / requests :
 
Preferred mission :
 
Experience at MSAR / Backcountry travel :
 
Other options: -
 
Supporter will hang out at base :
 
Observer - would like to watch ICP operations :
 
Base volunteer  - Would like to help with ICP operations.
 
Radio Ham : Would like to help with comms at base / ICP.
 
 
Cost : $5 per person payable on arrival - this will cover the odd cup of
coffee , certificate and patch.
 
 
Email registration to : Ian@mountedrescue.com
 
Snail Mail :  Mounted Rescue , Unit A
                  400 Ranch Place
                  Pagosa Springs
                  Colorado 81147
 
Fax: 1-800-813-2128
 
Telephone enquiries please call Ian at 970-731-4062  ( 8am - 10pm)  or
1-800-739-0202 same hours.
 
 
We hope you can make it ( bring a friend - introduce them to SAR  !!)
 
Thank you for your time,
 
Regards,
 
Ian Vowles
for Unit A , Mounted Rescue.
 
 
Unit A - Mounted Rescue
400 Ranch Place
Pagosa Springs
Colorado 81147

Tel : 970-731-4062

 <http://www.mountedrescue.com/> http://www.mountedrescue.com