Please remember to do an annual purchase of a CORSAR card for you and everyone in your family. Remembering all of our regional Search and Rescue volunteers when you are looking for someplace to charitable donate your cash to, is always deeply appreciated.
Familiarizing yourself with their experienced advice before you head out there is always the best idea.
These men and women are true heroes and rise far above even our public servants. They volunteeer their lives and skills to rescue you. Thank you so much to all the men and women of Mountain Rescue Aspen for your service.
Two Mountain Rescue Aspen members and Wright left from the base of Aspen Mountain on two snowmobiles around 12:15 a.m. Sunday, according to the press release, which was issued by the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office Sunday morning.
“Due to the risks to rescuers, nighttime search and rescue operations are rare and are usually only taken on in cases of serious injury or illness,” according to the release. “However, due to the potential risk of frostbite or other cold-related injury to Murray, a night time rescue was deemed acceptable.”
By 2 a.m., Wright was able to guide rescuers to Murray’s location, and they arrived back at the base of Aspen Mountain at 3:20 a.m., according to the release.
Both Wright and Murray praised the efficiency, kindness and professionalism of the Mountain Rescue team. They said it was the first and hopefully the last time they will need to call on the agency’s services.
They acknowledged that some might think them foolish to set out on a backcountry snowmobile trip alone, but they said on that particular day, no one was available to join them. With in-town highs in the upper 60s Saturday, most have given up on winter activities, Murray said. They recognized they were taking a risk but set out anyway, as the weekend’s trip in the stunning backcountry scenery was expected to be the last of the year.
“It’s melting fast up there,” Murray said, noting occasional bare spots on Richmond Ridge Road...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Showing posts with label Mountain Rescue Aspen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mountain Rescue Aspen. Show all posts
April 23, 2012
March 4, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "A skier’s best friend"
Aspen Daily News:
"Dogs in Aspen are a ubiquitous site, seen everywhere from the post office to City Hall to the numerous parks around town. And while many owners may even bring their dogs to work to lie silently in the corner of the office, there is an elite group that wake up everyone morning and really go to work. Instead of getting the morning paper, these canines strap on their harnesses, hop on the chairlift and spend the day on the mountain ready to spring into action if there is an avalanche.
There are 11 mountain rescue dogs spread across the four local mountains: three on Aspen Mountain; three on Highlands; four on Snowmass including a part-time Mountain Rescue Aspen dog and a new puppy named Piper; and this season brings the first dog to Buttermilk, Two, aptly named since she was the second born in her litter.
Lori Spence, a member of the Highlands Ski Patrol and leader of the rescue program on that mountain, said all of the dogs within the Aspen Skiing Co.’s program are owned by their handlers. The low staff turnover of patrollers helps to facilitate that approach, and is unique when compared to other resorts where the dogs belong to the companies that own them.
Although local avalanche rescue dogs were formally introduced seven years ago, Brad Benson, the leader of the program on Aspen Mountain, traces the first working canine back to 1983. Chopper worked on Highlands with his owner Chris Kessler, who was killed in a slide on Highland Bowl in 1984..."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Dogs in Aspen are a ubiquitous site, seen everywhere from the post office to City Hall to the numerous parks around town. And while many owners may even bring their dogs to work to lie silently in the corner of the office, there is an elite group that wake up everyone morning and really go to work. Instead of getting the morning paper, these canines strap on their harnesses, hop on the chairlift and spend the day on the mountain ready to spring into action if there is an avalanche.
There are 11 mountain rescue dogs spread across the four local mountains: three on Aspen Mountain; three on Highlands; four on Snowmass including a part-time Mountain Rescue Aspen dog and a new puppy named Piper; and this season brings the first dog to Buttermilk, Two, aptly named since she was the second born in her litter.
Lori Spence, a member of the Highlands Ski Patrol and leader of the rescue program on that mountain, said all of the dogs within the Aspen Skiing Co.’s program are owned by their handlers. The low staff turnover of patrollers helps to facilitate that approach, and is unique when compared to other resorts where the dogs belong to the companies that own them.
Although local avalanche rescue dogs were formally introduced seven years ago, Brad Benson, the leader of the program on Aspen Mountain, traces the first working canine back to 1983. Chopper worked on Highlands with his owner Chris Kessler, who was killed in a slide on Highland Bowl in 1984..."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
January 19, 2012
SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Boarder, skier die in separate accidents"
Chad Abraham:
"Snowmass Village resident Keith Ames was killed in an avalanche Wednesday outside the Snowmass Ski Area, while Aspenite Gabriel Lee Hilliard died shortly before that after colliding with trees at Aspen Highlands.
Ames, 43, worked as a bartender at the Village Steakhouse in the Wildwood Lodge in Snowmass. A co-worker said authorities notified him that Ames had perished in an avalanche in the Burnt Mountain sidecountry of Snowmass Ski Area. Ames was scheduled to work on Wednesday but didn’t show up.
John Bender, assistant manager at the Wildwood, worked with Ames, who bartended at the inn five nights a week.
“I liked working with him, he was a good man,” Bender said Wednesday night. “It was very unusual when he didn’t show up for work today.”
An investigation done by the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office revealed three acquaintances had met at Snowmass Ski Area and decided to ski together. Witnesses to the incident, which occurred at about 1:45 p.m., reported Ames dropped in from a ridge above, knocking loose a section of snow. When Ames came to rest at the bottom of the 25-yard-long section, the snow caught up to him and buried him. Bystanders on scene had to dig Ames out from the under the snow, which took approximately 10 minutes, while others on scene contacted 911. Snowmass Ski Patrol arrived on scene at 2:18 p.m. while CPR was being administered to Ames by the bystanders. At approximately 02:50 p.m., Ames was pronounced dead.
Personnel with Mountain Rescue Aspen acted as advisors to the Snowmass Ski Patrol because of the difficult terrain, said Alex Burchetta, a deputy with the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office. Burnt Mountain is located outside of the ski-area boundary adjacent to the Snowmass Ski Area, and ski patrol does not maintain the area...".
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"Snowmass Village resident Keith Ames was killed in an avalanche Wednesday outside the Snowmass Ski Area, while Aspenite Gabriel Lee Hilliard died shortly before that after colliding with trees at Aspen Highlands.
Ames, 43, worked as a bartender at the Village Steakhouse in the Wildwood Lodge in Snowmass. A co-worker said authorities notified him that Ames had perished in an avalanche in the Burnt Mountain sidecountry of Snowmass Ski Area. Ames was scheduled to work on Wednesday but didn’t show up.
John Bender, assistant manager at the Wildwood, worked with Ames, who bartended at the inn five nights a week.
“I liked working with him, he was a good man,” Bender said Wednesday night. “It was very unusual when he didn’t show up for work today.”
An investigation done by the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office revealed three acquaintances had met at Snowmass Ski Area and decided to ski together. Witnesses to the incident, which occurred at about 1:45 p.m., reported Ames dropped in from a ridge above, knocking loose a section of snow. When Ames came to rest at the bottom of the 25-yard-long section, the snow caught up to him and buried him. Bystanders on scene had to dig Ames out from the under the snow, which took approximately 10 minutes, while others on scene contacted 911. Snowmass Ski Patrol arrived on scene at 2:18 p.m. while CPR was being administered to Ames by the bystanders. At approximately 02:50 p.m., Ames was pronounced dead.
Personnel with Mountain Rescue Aspen acted as advisors to the Snowmass Ski Patrol because of the difficult terrain, said Alex Burchetta, a deputy with the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office. Burnt Mountain is located outside of the ski-area boundary adjacent to the Snowmass Ski Area, and ski patrol does not maintain the area...".
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December 8, 2011
SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Plane crash survivor grants $1.5 million to Mountain Rescue"
"Lynda Cameron has never forgotten the plane crash outside Aspen that she survived, but which claimed her father’s life 34 years ago.
Nor has she forgotten those who rescued her and five others after the plane went down in the Capitol Creek Valley during a snowstorm on Nov. 27, 1977.
On Nov. 29, the survivor from Oklahoma returned to Aspen and the Main Street headquarters of Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA). Standing before members of the group, including two who took part in the rescue, Cameron announced that she was awarding a $1.5 million grant to fund a new MRA “cabin,” as the headquarters is known.
“There was not a dry eye in the room,” said Doug Paley, MRA president.
An MRA press release issued Wednesday says the plane took off from Sardy Field amid a snow squall. Communication with the aircraft was lost soon after, and a search was initiated.
Ground crews, helicopters and other aircraft were deployed to canvass a large search area, as rescuers had few clues where the plane was.
“It’s an amazing story,” Paley said...."
(Chad Abraham)
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Nor has she forgotten those who rescued her and five others after the plane went down in the Capitol Creek Valley during a snowstorm on Nov. 27, 1977.
On Nov. 29, the survivor from Oklahoma returned to Aspen and the Main Street headquarters of Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA). Standing before members of the group, including two who took part in the rescue, Cameron announced that she was awarding a $1.5 million grant to fund a new MRA “cabin,” as the headquarters is known.
“There was not a dry eye in the room,” said Doug Paley, MRA president.
An MRA press release issued Wednesday says the plane took off from Sardy Field amid a snow squall. Communication with the aircraft was lost soon after, and a search was initiated.
Ground crews, helicopters and other aircraft were deployed to canvass a large search area, as rescuers had few clues where the plane was.
“It’s an amazing story,” Paley said...."
(Chad Abraham)
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