Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue, Inc. Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue, Inc.

TNSAR Search 2/19/2018

Cold Night In National Geographic Bowl

Submitted by Dirk Schoonmaker

At 4:25 pm on Monday, February 19th TNSAR was dispatched for a lost skier with known coordinates in the northern end of the Chief Creek Valley (National Geographic Bowl at Squaw). His given coordinates put him pretty much fall line below Billy's Peak on the west side of the Pacific Crest.

11 skiers responded to Squaw Valley Fire Station and met with PCSO and Matt Calcutt. 2 Squaw Valley Ski Patrollers, Pete York and Cob Staines, were just getting on his track as the team mobilized so 3 skiers with snowmobiles (Tim Bosse, Scott Meyer and Calvin Mitchell) stayed at the CP to be available for transport later. 8 skiers started up the tram and were transported by troop carrier to the top of Granite Chief lift. (Russ Viehmann, Matt Jacobs, Logan Talbott, Brad Altman, Troy Corliss, Sarah Krammen, Bernie Mellor and Dirk Schoonmaker.) As we got our skis on we heard that CareFlight was in the air overhead and that the patrollers were near the MP. Careflight was not able to land due to encroaching darkness and so we started our descent following patrol and MP tracks as Pete started hiking the MP out. The skiing was not very good and coverage started to be a problem but we met up with Pete and Cob at about 7:30 and took over leading the MP out. At 10:30 we were at the 2nd Goal Post where it was 5 degrees F, looking down at Granite Chief Chair and at 11:45 we were eating pizza in new Comm Van, and wondering how much base damage we had inflicted on our skis.

SheriffDispatchCommVanSkiersSnowmobilesOther
Dave Hunt
Dave Lade
Marty Schoonmaker
Scott Meyer
Calvin Mitchell
Tim Bosse
Bernie Mellor
Dirk Schoonmaker
Russ Viehmann
Matt Jacobs
Troy Corliss
Logan Talbott
Sarah Krammen
Brad Altman
Tim Bosse
Scott Meyer
Calvin Mitchell
Pete York
Cob Staine
Matt Calcutt

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