January 7th, 2015
San Jacinto Mountains, CA
Missing hiker search and helicopter rescue.
Category Archives: Search & Rescue
New Years Eve Day Rescue Mission
Rescue Near Horsethief Creek
January 1, 2013
RMRU write-up of rescue is here.
On New Year’s eve RMRU was called out to search for a hiker missing overnight in rain and snow storm east of Toro Peak in the area of Horsethief Creek. Two field teams (Les Walker, Ralph Hoetger, Lee Arnson, and Helene Lohr) spent most the night out in difficult conditions searching for the lost man. About 10 p.m. a CHP helicopter spotted the hiker, but could not effect a rescue.
Mud Caves Search
April 11-12, 2012
RMRU got a call from Riverside Sheriff’s Office requesting our assistance with a search in San Diego County. A young man, Guillermo Pino, had gone missing while camping with friends in the Mud Caves area in Arroyo Tapiado, part of Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Glenn Henderson and I were the only RMRU personnel available for this mid-week search. RMRU had brought in Fernando Moreira, a professional tracking instructor, to teach a class the following weekend, so Fernando cam along with us.
The Smithwater Death March
July 22, 2011
In which I relate the story of how Tom Mahood tried to kill me, Pete Carlson, and Paul Caraher. Or at least get us eaten by a mountain lion. Not only sweat, but actual blood was let on this one. Read on only if you have a strong stomach.
Helicopter Rescue On Pacific Crest Trail
May 11th, 2011
At 2 p.m. the page went out for RMRU to respond to the Snow Creek trail head for a Pacific Crest Trail through-hiker who had been vomiting non-stop and was severely dehydrated. All my gear was in the garage drying off from Sunday night’s mission, but it was quickly in my truck and I was headed out to Snow Creek, where the PCT comes down out of the San Jacinto Mountains before heading up into the San Bernardino Mountains.
Finding Norman in Death Valley
March 20, 2011
As detailed in my post about my involvement in the final chapter (really the final postscript) of finding the Death Valley Germans, I became somewhat involved with the ever-curious escapades of one Mr. Tom Mahood. It’s been downhill ever since.
Jack Freer, a law enforcement officer from Carson City, Nevada, later contacted RMRU looking for Tom and I put the two in touch. Jack had taken an interest in a Carson City resident, Norman Cox, who had abandoned his car at Badwater in Death Valley, left a suicide note, then vanished. The subsequent search turned up no body. This was in August, 2010.