Patrol log, 4/12 and 4/13

[Suzanna Pratt]

Saturday, 4/12

Low visibility kept visitors away. A team of 6 (Alli, David, Don, Helaina, Suzanna, Vlad) conducted PSAR at the base of Panorama Point and helped the few visitors who made it that far make good decisions about subsequent travel. Most turned back. We ate lunch in the JVC and got a tour of the Guide House.

Sunday, 4/13

Sunshine increased the number of visitors. Conditions were firm in the morning but softened by the early afternoon.

Nordic 1 (Alli, Chris, Helaina, Mia) skied various lines off Mazama Ridge.

Nordic 2 (David, Don, Suzanna) headed to the Tatoosh. While en route, we observed several parties climbing in the trees next to Narada Face. One lost traction and slid ~30 meters. We called 889 to meet the skier and his partner in the parking lot (he was fine). Another party had a rope and Nordic assisted with belaying the last member of their team up the slope. We directed would-be climbers in the parking lot to take the trail instead of ascending the icy face.

A SAR was called in around 3:30 for a skier with an injured knee near McClure Rock. 4 patrollers (Alli, Don, Helaina, and Mia)  followed the hasty team with the Akja litter and other gear while 2 patrollers (David and Suzanna) stayed in Old Station. 2 winter techs (Jillian and Ryan) and the 4 patrollers skied the patient out by 8:30. 

Don will send out a more detailed SAR report later this week, but I'd like to commend the 4 who went into the field again after a full day of skiing in the sun - they made incredible time both up and down. There were no other resources in the park that day, so this was a good example of how critical our presence is. The patient would have spent the night in the snow if Nordic had not been available to haul gear and help with patient transport.

Other

We did not reset any poles. 

We have 1 NPS truck available for our use. 

The house does not need any supplies. The laundry room is unlocked and it would be nice to launder all the towels before they get stored for the summer.

Ed took our broken radio so there are only 9 in the NH.

The Longmire gate will be open 24/7 starting this week.

Since the board decided to no longer use the sign in binder, I moved it to the downstairs bedroom.