Mutual Aid- NV Mt Rose Area

Washoe County SAR started started searching 11-21-10 after the sheriff's dept received 911 cell call. Several county SAR groups from NV and CA continued the search for 3 more days, until it was suspended in the afternoon of 11-24-10

Search for missing Reno hiker suspended (channel 4 Reno)

Page Last Updated: Wednesday November 24, 2010 7:24pm PST

Reno resident Rick Gentry.

Officials announced to Reno-area media Wednesday night that the search and rescue effort to locate a missing hiker has been suspended.

Reno resident Rick Gentry was last seen leaving for Galena Park Sunday night, and aside from a cell phone call that he placed to authorities to say that he was lost, he has not been heard form since. His vehicle and some belongings were located during the search and rescue.

Suspending the search involves a combination of several factors, according to Washoe County Sheriff's Deputy Armando Avina, the most significant of which follows:

-Authorities thoroughly evaluated Gentry's chance of survival taking into account the fact that he has been missing for 72 hours.
-The environmental conditions for search and rescue crews are too unsafe in regards to the weather and terrain.

Before suspending the search, officials notified Gentry's family, who were supportive of the decision knowing the daunting circumstances of the search so far, Avina said. Gentry's family members expressed their gratitude to the search crews, and were amazed at the sheer scope of the effort, especially the fact that many counties participated.

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office will resume a recovery search effort on Sunday, weather permitting, Avina said.

Sheriff's personnel and search crews want to stress to the public that these types of hilly and mountainous areas are extremely dangerous because of the extreme cold and the snow, and that they should stay away from those areas if possible. They also said it is easy to get disoriented and lost, especially when it becomes dark outside. Avina says he understands that some people want to experience the outdoors in winter, but if they do they should be prepared, and never go too far from their vehicle.

Horsetail Falls Search 11-7-10

Four rescued near Horsetail Falls

By Adam Jensen
ajensen@tahoedailytribune.com,

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Rescuers braved low visibility, high winds and steep terrain to reach four people who became stranded near the top of Horsetail Falls Sunday evening.

Four backpackers from the Sacramento area, between the ages of 20 and 39, were on the way back from an overnight trip when they were caught in a storm that dropped about a foot of snow on area peaks, said El Dorado County Sheriff's Deputy and Search and Rescue Coordinator Mike Sukau. Horsetail Falls is located off of U.S. Highway 50 near Strawberry.

Although the group was decently prepared, they miscalculated the arrival of the storm, got wet, got cold and were unable to continue, Sukau said. The group set up an emergency shelter above a cliff band near the top of the falls and called 911 on a cell phone about 4:15 p.m.

“They couldn't even go 20 feet because they were so cold,” Sukau said.

Rescuers were able to locate the approximate location of the group by contacting the service provider of the cell phone. After scaling “extremely tough” terrain, one rescuer was able to reach the group about 9 p.m., Sukau said.

At least one of the backpackers, a 20-year-old women, showed signs of hypothermia and may not have survived the night, Sukau said.

Additional rescuers reached the group, giving them food and extra clothing, before beginning the dangerous task of bringing the group off the mountain.

By 11 p.m., rescuers were able to bring the group down about 700 vertical feet to a base camp using a “human chain” to help them down the steep terrain surrounding the falls.

“It was very treacherous,” Sukau said.

The backpackers, as well as their rescuers, reached the parking lot at the base of the falls about 3:15 a.m., Sukau said.

Although shaken, the group declined medical assistance. No one was injured during the incident, Sukau said.

About a dozen people from South Lake Tahoe and Placerville Search and Rescue teams, as well as members of the Lake Valley Fire Protection District took part in the rescue effort.