Mounted search and rescue

[Una Smith <una.smith@att.net>]

Many here are likely to read this story, so I feel some comment is
necessary.  If you have not already read the story, please read my
comment first.  It may spare you from some anguish.
 
Camper Witnesses Chopper Tragedy
Man Captures Falling Chopper On Video
http://www.koat.com/news/19740077/detail.html

I worked this mission Thursday, the day the bodies were recovered,
as Planning SC.  Friday, today, the media report someone videotaped
the helicopter and later heard people screaming in the night, but
did nothing.  The media are making the inference that he heard the
victims, which has many people very upset.  However, the media do
not say he heard or saw the crash, and contrary to the story title
his videotape does not show a falling helicopter.  On TV, he says
he was camped at Spirit Lake.

That day, Tuesday, the weather was beautiful after noon, but after
dark it changed and before midnight at my home a hard rain began
that accumulated 1 inch.  Average total precip for June here is a
mere 1.34 inches.  Wednesday was cold and cloudy, with violent 
updrafts.  Each time the clouds cleared a little, letting the sun
hit the ground, the wet ground began steaming and in minutes the
sky was cloudy again.  It was extraordinarily beautiful.  Thursday
was clear and warm.  Warm is relative;  down in Santa Fe it was
hot enough for air conditioning, but half way up the mountain it
was cold enough sometimes for wool hats and warm coats.

        Una Smith