Working Together In the Mountains

by Sgt Scott Elliston, 442 SAR Sqn

19 WING COMOX - As part of continuation training, 442 Search & Rescue Technicians deployed to the Eldred Valley, near Powell River, to conduct a mountain exercise.  These exercises focus on mountain rescue techniques and systems, along with climbing and basic bushcraft skills.

Operational rescue situations often involve multiple agencies, therefore, it is always beneficial to train together under ideal conditions and to not have the first meeting be on some “dark and stormy night”!

Recently,  members of the Powell River Search & Rescue Mountain Rope Rescue were invited to participate in this Air Force training to share experiences and practice in a safe coordinated manner.
 
Colin Dionne, PRSAR Rope Team Leader, along with four other members of the team, spent two days working together with SAR Techs from 442 Squadron. All participants began the training with a hike into a base camp area, where we would spend the week in tents and improvised shelters.

Our first task was “dry-land training”, building a Kootenay Highline with English Reeve.  This system would typically be used when traversing a ravine or such, with a requirement to lower a person down into a “hole” to effect a rescue.  It is a more equipment-intensive system, requiring a fair number of personnel to build and run it. This was an excellent refresher for the SAR Techs and initial exposure for the PRSAR members. 

After lunch, a Buffalo aircraft from 442 Squadron arrived to practice para-supply drops into a challenging location. These supplies are key to missions and survival conditions and can be dropped to survivors or rescue personnel on the ground.  We successfully retrieved most of the equipment, however, a replacement globe for a lantern and axe-sharpening file had to wait to be plucked out of a tree on Friday by a Cormorant helicopter crew!

Training continued that afternoon on Psyche Slab. After a prudent detour to avoid a bee’s nest along the trail, we arrived on the slab.  Once on the slab, the SAR Techs built a Panoramic Pick-off system using only the equipment we would carry on the aircraft and we conducted the procedure as a “two-person team”, which is standard for SAR Techs on missions.  Gord Likar, PRSAR, volunteered as our “casualty” and he was lowered by the PRSAR Rope Rescue Team on a system built by the PRSAR Rope Rescue Team.

Following the afternoon’s training and a break for supper it was on to a night scenario, with Master Cpl. Stephan Richard running a Kootenay Highline with English Reeve.  Both teams integrated extremely well, quickly and efficiently building the system across a river, allowing Andy Perkonig to be sent across and lowered into a hole. 

By 10 p.m. the day’s training was completed, the equipment packed up, and all participants had time to relax.

A Cormorant helicopter insertion into the mountains near Emma Lake was the event scheduled for day two.  This involved two separate lifts by the stand-by Cormorant crew of six passengers and equipment per lift, to an elevation of almost 5000 feet above sea level.  Canadian Forces Base Wing Chief Warrant Officer L.R. Hodgins flew out from Comox on the helicopter to be involved in the day’s training.

It was now a SAR Tech’s turn to be the “casualty” while the PRSAR Rope Team ran the system to effect the “rescue”.  Colin organized his team, including some SAR Techs as team members, to build a rope system with the intent of lowering Les Magura (PRSAR) as the Stokes litter (“stretcher”) attendant.  A SAR Tech rappelled about 200 feet over the side of a cliff to await his rescue.  Les was lowered down to the SAR Tech, who was then placed into the stokes litter.  The system was then switched to a raise system and the grunt work started!  With over 400 pounds over the side, the steady process of the raise was carried out.

CWO Hodgins observed as PRSAR and 442 SAR Techs worked together to build the system.  Master Cpl. Andrew Mackenzie hiked down a trail with the Chief to observe the actual “over-the-side” rescue being conducted.  With the SAR Tech in the Stokes, the Chief hiked back up the trail, and volunteered to work with the haul team, sweating under the afternoon sun to help bring the load back up the 200 feet. 

With a great deal of training completed and the day running short, we proceeded down the trail to where two trucks were pre-positioned for extraction.  The hike out was over an hour down some tough terrain.  A breathtaking view in spectacular country went hand-in-hand with the physically exerting trip.

On Friday, once the PRSAR Rope Rescue Team was no longer under training with us, Colin Dionne and Christie Lepitre (also a member of the Rope Rescue Team) stayed behind on their own time to show some SAR Techs one of the challenging rock climbing routes.

Having the PRSAR Rope Team members participating allowed us to conduct training we would not have normally been able to do with only Squadron personnel and their presence contributed greatly to a positive training opportunity.

In all, this was an excellent opportunity for all participants to work together and observe first hand each other’s capabilities.  Although there were some minor differences, it was good to see that both units operate using very similar procedures and integrate well together.  The PR SAR Rope Rescue Team proved to be well-prepared and well-trained, and were a pleasure to work with.  It was the general consensus that all participants came away from the exercise learning something.  This was an invaluable opportunity to integrate multiple resources in a training exercise, including Powell River SAR Rope Rescue Team, both Buffalo and Cormorant aircrews, and SAR Technicians.

These Things We Do, That Others May Live.
RESCUE!

19 Wing Deputy Public Affairs Officer, Capt. Cheryl Robinson (250) 339-8201.