This is a venue for El Dorado SAR members to provide fill-in information and first-hand accounts of specific previous searches. After SAR302 posts the first item about a recent search, any SAR member is invited to add their comments/observations/feelings/experience as it relates to said search. The postings are then edited and posted to the ESARC website (edsar.org) for public viewing.
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> As of 11:45 pm Saturday 10/10
>
> There is a callout in progress for an adult male missing in the Mosquito
> Area. Call the hotline at 621-6555.
Lee (60+-yr old male) left his house around 1700 Sat, and walked a
short way along a trail from the house, then proceeded South down a
small gully toward the river. Terrain was quite steep, and densely
covered. When he realized he could not make it back up to the house by
dark, he walked down to the river and followed it, expecting to reach
the Mosquito Rd. bridge. He underestimated the distance to the bridge,
but made it within 0.7mi of the bridge before settling in for the night,
covered in leaves, on a rock in the creek. H20 found him quickly Sun
morning and hoisted him out. He was cold, but well, and did not require
further medical care.
Response to the callout was limited. Linda did an excellent job with
planning and assignments. I handled maps and communications. We had two
teams doing assignments. A search around the house and along the road
and open areas near the house did not reveal any clues. One team tried
to search the fence line North of the house, but could not see much and
was stymied by dense brush. A wider search along roads and an evacuation
route were also unfruitful. A foot team followed a game trail SE of the
residence and encountered some recent-looking tracks, but they disappeared
after a short distance. Our two teams rested and we made plans for morning.
As it began to get light after 0600 Sun, more support arrived (and the
comm van). Two dog teams began following a line that led to the tracks
discovered Sat night. An OHV team deployed to the South side of the river,
to view the river and North bank. It was about then that H20 spotted Lee.
Chris and Radek could not get back up the steep slope to the house,
so they had to proceed down to the river (following the same track Lee
did) and navigate some difficult obstacles before meeting up with an
OHV transport. It was slow going, but we got everyone back and had lunch
at Mel's.
Thanks to everyone who responded!
Tait
SAR 365
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