Sierra Madre Search and Rescue

If a hiker twists an ankle one mile up the trail, or a mountain biker becomes lost near where they left their car, local search and rescue teams can usually staff these calls by themselves. But when operations get more complicated, teams call each other for assistance.

The Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team (SMSR) is one of eight teams in Los Angeles County, and one of dozens of teams in California. Each team has a local area they are primarily responsible for, but all teams work together in mutual aid when their neighbors need help.

The California Office of Emergency Services (OES) works with search and rescue teams to coordinate mutual aid. If a county needs 50 searchers to assist with a search for a missing hiker, they can make one call to OES who will handle the logistics of organizing the needed searchers from neighboring counties.

SMSR is ready and able to assist in these mutual aid calls by living up to their motto, “Anywhere in the wilderness that someone needs help.”

In March SMSR participated in the search for Marine 1st Lt. Matthew Kraft. He was overdue from a ski trip in the Sierras, and the massive search area along his 200-mile long route was in dangerous terrain with high avalanche danger. The Marine Corps, National Parks, multiple aircraft, and search and rescue teams all responded. A SMSR crew was inserted by helicopter to their search assignment, and they searched for two days, spending the night in freezing temperatures before being extracted by helicopter. Unfortunately Lt. Kraft is still missing.

In April SMSR participated in a mutual aid search with a happier ending. Teams were dispatched to assist the West Valley Search and Rescue Team to locate two overdue hikers near Mount Baldy. Thirteen members from SMSR participated alongside searchers from across southern California. On day 5 a crew of three SMSR searchers on a grueling 2 day assignment found boot prints leading to the subjects. Eric Desplinter and Gabrielle Wallace were found alive and well and extracted by helicopter.

In June the Team again participated in a long search with a happy ending. When 73 year old Eugene Jo went missing near Mt. Waterman, the Montrose Search and Rescue team called for mutual aid. Over 300 searchers responded from as far away as Marin and San Diego counties. Throughout the week SMSR fielded 23 team members, logging over 650 hours, providing boots on the ground and support in the command post by running operations and by planning search assignments. On day 7 Mr. Jo was found alive.

In July Inyo County Search and Rescue was looking for Sheryl Powell and her dog Miley who went missing from their campsite near the Bristlecone Pine Forest. On day 4 of the search, a crew from Kern County found the dog, which prompted the search managers to redirect several of the field crews. Shortly thereafter, a crew from SMSR located Powell who was then extracted by helicopter and flown to a local hospital.

Later in July, Wesley Welch and his dog Davie were reported overdue from a backpacking trip in Los Padres National Forest. The Santa Barbara Search and Rescue Team was aided by teams from across southern California, including SMSR, and early on day 2 of the search, Welch and Davie were found alive and well.

SMSR is proud to respond and help their neighboring teams in mutual aid. The Team is also grateful when neighboring teams respond when SMSR needs help.

Since 1951, the all-volunteer Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team has responded to calls for help in the local mountains and beyond. SMSR also provides a range of wilderness safety programs. The Team never charges for any of these services, and is funded entirely by charitable donations. For more information, to donate, or to arrange a wilderness safety demonstration for your school or group, visit www.smsr.org.