Callout2007

2007 Incident Response Log

December 18, 2007

Stowe Mountain Resort Ski Patrol called the team to report that they had received a cell phone call from a party of 3 skiers who had started down the back side of Mt. Mansfield toward Underhill, decided they weren't going to make it before dark, and were backtracking up to the summit ridge. Patrol was leaving for the day and passing the situation on to us. It was determined that the party was not requesting assistance, just advising of their situation. Several more phone calls took place during the evening between friends and family of the party and team leader Van Dyke after the reporting party's phone went dead. It was jointly decided to wait and give them a chance to get themselves out of the woods. After getting fogged in on the summit with poor visibility, the group was able to find their way back down to the ski area at around 2:30am when the fog lifted, and back to their cars by 4:00am. It was refreshing to have a party, family and friends that all took responsibility for self-rescue!

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Van Dyke	Stowe Ski Patrol	16:30	Fog , 15

December 9, 2007

Vermont State Police requested the assistance of Stowe Mountain Recue in the search for a lost skier at Jay Peak. The woman had gotten separated from her companion on Saturday 12/8 during the morning while skiing off-trail, and they had not met up as planned at the end of the day. An overnight search with Border Patrol helicopter and Jay Peak Ski Patrol failed to locate her. Additional search resources were called in the following morning. Eventually the subject backtracked up the mountain and located some skiers who were able to guide her out of the woods late in the afternoon.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Burdick, Couper, Govoni, Reinhardt, Selby, Speer, Veliko	VSP, Jay Peak Ski Patrol, VT Fish & Wildlife	9:00-18:30	Overcast, 14

December 4, 2007

Stowe Mountain Resort Ski Patrol called team leader Neil Van Dyke to report 3 skiers who had gotten "lost" and ended up around dark on the nordic ski trails. Neil was able to determine their location from their description and tried to direct them into continuing out of the woods (Ski Patrol was communicating through text messaging on their cell phone). Darkness ensued along with high winds and white out conditions and they decided to stay where they were and await rescue. Ski patrol was given directions to their location and the skiers were picked up by snowmachine. (A similar situation happened the following day but the skiers were able to get out on their own without assistance just before dark.)

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Van Dyke	Stowe Ski Patrol	15:59-18:30	Snow, wind , 20

October 27, 2007

A tree fell on a male subject doing a trail work on a backcountry ski trail in the Ranch Camp area of Mt. Mansfield. Two of his fellow workers immediately left to call for assistance so details on the nature and severity of the injuries were unclear. The team was just staging when the subject came out of the woods on his own power with a minor lower leg injury.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Burdick, Couper, Govoni, Reinhardt, Selby, Van Dyke	Stowe Rescue	12:59-13:45	Rain, 50

October 11, 2007

Mad River Ambulance requested assistance in evacuation of a 60 year old male subject off the Long Trail just north of Burt Rock. Report was of a possible dislocated shoulder. Due to nature of injury, time of day and weather conditions, initial plan was to send small team up to attempt to reduce dislocation and assist the subject in walking out. If unsuccessful "Plan B" was to wait until morning to attempt a litter carry due to difficult terrain. Dr. Burdick was successful in medicating the patient and reducing the dislocation and the subject was able to walk out with minimal assistance.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Burdick, Govoni, Veliko (+Selby, Van Dyke, Couper)	Colchester, Mad River, Waterbury	14:00-22:30	Rain, 50's

October 10, 2007

Female subject injured her ankle hiking on the Sunset Rock trail just 150 yards from Sunset Street in Stowe. Stowe Rescue requested assistance in bringing her out to the street. Dave & Neil brought the litter up and evacuated her to the ambulance.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Selby, Van Dyke	Stowe Rescue, Stowe PD	14:33-15:00	Mostly Cloudy, 60

October 6, 2007

The team was called to assist Waterbury Backcountry Rescue with a report of a male subject suffering from chest pain on the Monroe Trail on Camel's Hump. The subject was found to be stable and was able to walk out on their own.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Anderson, Govoni, Selby, Reinhardt	Waterbury	11:15-13:30	Partly Cloudy, 70's

September 29-30, 2007

Mad River Ambulance requested assistance in evacuation of subject with an ankle injury off the Long Trail between Burt Rock and Mt. Ira Allen. Exceedingly difficult and challenging terrain resulted in an extended all night extrication.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Burdick, Couper, Govoni, Reinhardt, Veliko	Colchester, Mad River, Waterbury	15:00-07:30	Clear, 40-50

September 2, 2007

A party of 3 hiking down the Long Trail were caught by darkness without lights and called for help. Team members hiked up the trail and assisted them to the trialhead.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Burdick, Couper, Govoni, Selby, Veliko	None	20:30-21:30	Clear, 70's

August 21, 2007

Female subject injured her lower leg hiking on Mt. Hunger just above the waterfall. Stowe assisted with the carryout by stokes litter & wheel.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Burdick, Govoni, Selby, Veliko	Waterbury	14:02-18:15	Clear, 70's

August 19 , 2007

The team received a call at 2115, regarding 2, 19 year old hikers who were believed to be on there way down the Long Trail inStowe. After a detailed cell phone discussion w/the subjects, D. Veliko determined they had made a wrong turn while descending off the Chin on Mt. Mansfield. (They had gone up the LT and had planned to reverse their route.) The subjects were uninjured and stated they had been following this drainage for ~1.5 hrs. SMR was dispatched at ~2125 and arrived at Big Spring (Hellbrook trail head) at ~2155.
Whistles and a siren blast were sounded from Big Spring, but did not receive a reply from the subjects.
The subjects were then contacted by cell phone and they confirmed they were able to hear the signals.
A small hasty team hiked up the Hellbrook trail with the intention to make voice contact to locate the subjects.
After a brief hike and ~ 400' elevation gain from the road we made voice contact w/the subjects.
We then left the trail, crossed the drainage and located the subjects.
We provided warm clothing and headlamps, guided them across the Hellbrook drainage and then down the Hellbrook trail. They were meet by a parent at Big Spring and no medical treatment/transport was required.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Couper, Libby, Reinhardt, Selby, Veliko	None	21:25-23:30	Clear, 55

August 16, 2007

Request from Underhill FD to assist with evacuation of an unknown injury on the Sunset Ridge Trail on Mt. Mansfield in Underhill. Team was directed to proceed over the mountain and come down Sunset Ridge from the top. Response was cancelled before arriving at the subject.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Burdick, Couper, Selby, Veliko	Underhill FD, Essex, Colchester	12:10--14:45	Overcast, humid , 80

August 11, 2007

Female subject fell while descending the Cliff Trail on Mt. Mansfield. Suspected fracture of right ankle. Subject was treated, splinted, and evacuated to the Gondola, then down the mountain for transport by Stowe Rescue.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Anderson, Burdick, Couper, Govoni, Libby, Reinhardt, Selby, Veliko	Stowe Rescue	17:01--21:54	Partly Cloudy, 70's

July 28, 2007

A 50 year old male subject had a seizure on the Stowe Pinnacle trail just above the parking lot. The team assisted in treatment and evacuation to Stowe Rescue for transport to Copley Hospital.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Anderson, Govoni, Reinhardt, Selby	Stowe Rescue	11:11-12:45	Hot, humid 85

July 21, 2007

A 24 year old female subject injured her ankle hiking on Mt. Hunger. Stowe's assistance was requested by Waterbury Backcountry for the carryout.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Burdick, Couper,Reinhardt, Veliko	Waterbury, Colchester	15:00-19:30	Clear, 80

July 9, 2007

An 87 year old subject last seen walking their dog. Often walked on trails behind house. Did not return the previous day. Subject was located prior to field deployment.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Couper, Govoni, Reinhardt, Veliko	State Police, Fish & Game, Upper Valley, Richmond, New England K9	7:00-13:30	Showers & Thunderstorms, 75

June 22 , 2007

Three female subjects hiking the Long Trail report being cold, wet, hypothermic and distraught at Puffer Sehlter, and one with ankle injury. Team responded via 4-wheeler on Bolton XC trails, then by foot on LT to shelter. Subjects were warmed up and assisted out of the woods.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Anderson, Burdick, Couper, Selby, Govoni, Veliko	Bolton FD, Richmond, Colchester, Waterbury (standby)	11:57-20:09	Showers, 60's

June 13 , 2007

A female subject fell at Huntington Gorge, hit their head and complained of dizziness. The team assisted Colchester and Richmond with a low angle litter evac to get the subject up to the road for transport by Richmond Rescue.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Burdick, Couper, Selby, Govoni, Veliko	Richmond, Colchester	13:39-16:00	Clear, 75

June 11 , 2007

2 12 year olds traveling from the chin to the summit station went down the Halfway House Trail into Underhill by mistake. They had a cell phone. D. Veliko was at work in Essex and drove to Underhill State Park, located the subjects and drove them back to Smuggler's Notch Resort.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Veliko		16:15-18:00	Clear, 80

April 17, 2007

A male subject kayaing in the Winooski River capsized in rapids and swam to an island after losing his boat. He was uninjured but stuck on the island. 2 rescuers swam to the island and did a contact/board rescue, swimming him to shore.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Anderson, Burdick, Couper, Govoni, Selby, Stewart, Strong, Veliko,	Colchester Rescue, Vermont State Police	17:20-20:30	Light rain , 45

April 6 , 2007

4 skiers trying to ski the Hellbrook Trail called Mt. Mansfield Ski Patrol to report they were lost. It was suggested that they go downhill and try to find the Notch Road. Unfortunately they were on the wrong side of the ridge and ended up in Underhill. Stowe Mtn. Rescue provided phone support in guiding the lost party out by cell phone.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Couper, Selby,Van Dyke	Cambridge	18:45-19:30	Snowing, 30

March 4 , 2007

While on race standby duty at the Bill Koch Nordic Festival, one of the racers fell while going over a small jump on the racecourse and fell on her pole. She was evaluated for abdominal trauma in the team's medical tent and eventually released without transport.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Govoni, Van Dyke	Stowe Rescue	10:15-11:00

March 3 , 2007

While on race standby duty at the Bill Koch Nordic Festival, Mt. Mansfield Ski Patrol phoned to ask our assistance in locating and evacuating three 15 year old female skiers who had gotten lost off the Toll Road on Mt. Mansfield. They were told by cell phone to just keep skiing downhill. A ski patrol member was able to catch up with them and escort them to one of the touring center trails, where we assisted in giving them a ride by snowmobile back to the ski area.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Selby, Van Dyke	Mt. Mansfield Ski Patrol

February 27 , 2007

A mother reported her 13 year old son missing when he did not show up at the end of the day while skiing at Mt. Mansfield. They were to meet at the Toll House area at 16:15. As he liked to ski "off trail," it was assumed that he may have skied off the Toll Road and gotten sucked down toward Ranch Valley. A search was initiated with the assistance of Mt. Mansfield Ski Patrol. The subject ended up finding his way back to the ski area, breaking into a lift shack and calling 911. He was cold and wet but otherwise unharmed. He had been on the backcountry Bruce Trail, followed it downhill until he lost it, then left his skis and hiked back uphill to the ski area.

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Burdick, Govoni, Libby, Selby, Van Dyke, Veliko	Mt. Mansfield Ski Patrol, Stowe PD	18:00-21:30	Partly cloudy, 20

February 10 , 2007

Two skiers attempting to ski the Hellbrook Trail got lost and called 911. It was determined they were on the west side of Mt. Mansfield, either in Cambridge or Underhill. Some of the "usual" areas were being searched when they called from a home on Corbett Road in Underhill that they were able to ski out to. One subject suffered frostbite on his cheek, but they were otherwise unharmed. News

Team Members Responding	Other Agencies Responding	Time of Call	Weather Conditions
Anderson, Couper, Govoni, Selby, Van Dyke	Cambridge Rescue & Fire, Vernont State Police	18:40-22:30	Partly cloudy, 0

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