Date Changed
10/24/2005
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AFTER ACTION REPORT ROSEPINK SEARCH 30 OCT – 7 NOV 2004 Search number 2 was conducted between 30 Oct and 7 Nov. We eliminated another chunk of the Keene Ranch, but found no more clues regarding Ron. The model of setting up base camp in the Keller Valley, searching from sun up to sun down, and leaving only footprints is pretty much set and worked quite smoothly this time. We continued the excellent relationship we
established with the Kern The core of the team consisted of CAP trained Rangers myself, Ralph “Croker” Jones, Jeff Riley, Billy Gibbons, and Alex Hanna. New to the field team this time was Ron’s son Chris, TSgt Tom Powers from the Ohio Air National Guard, and SSgt Keith McMillian from the New Jersey Air National Guard. Fuzzy Zeller was medically unable to search so he was our primary logistical support guy. Deb Rosepink worked as the base camp manager. Except for Deb and Chris, the team traveled to CA on Saturday 30 October and all were picked up by Ron Tucker from the Bakersfield CAP squadron and driven to Fuzzy’s house. Last minute equipment procurement continued until Sunday morning and all equipment was check and packed Saturday afternoon through Sunday. We reached the Keller Valley site before noon and by night fall had everything we needed up and running. There were two days of rain was predicted but we had clear skies every day. Temperatures were cool in the mornings and pleasantly warm in the afternoons. The wind was just about relentless and one day easily topped 50 mph. We daily woke around 0500 and were out the door approximately an hour later. On two days we drove to our jump off point, otherwise we hiked to the beginning of each day’s grid. On two of the days were picked up, including the last day of searching, otherwise we hiked back to base camp. We intended to only search Monday through Friday, but we were efficient enough to pack up and break down camp so we could get in over 6 hours of searching on the last Saturday. As to the search, frankly it was incredibly difficult. Though we didn’t have snow this time, it didn’t make it any easier since we used the lack of snow to cover more territory. Our concentration was on the northern slope of the Bear Mountain ridge south of Keller Valley and most of the time the pitch was an average of 65-70 degrees. In some spots had you not been hanging on to the sage brush you would have fallen down the face. I’ve taught rappelling on less steep inclines. Most of the time in addition to the steepness we were in vegetation so thick and intertwined, we spent much of the time on hands and knees (or lower) to get through. When upright it took controlled crashing through the thick brush which often even then would not yield to our efforts. The soil on the hill side was usually very loamy causing a non stop effort to maintain elevation and often took multiple steps to push off just one pace. The vegetation was very dry and the sage brush created a permanent cloud of pollen around each searcher as they pushed through it resulting in a continuous symphony of hacking coughing, sneezing, and eyes tearing along the line. All equipment and clothing was permeated with the dust and flowers bits from non-stop swimming in the sea of vegetation. At the end of each day everyone would dump large amounts of stuff out of every nook and cranny of gear. It was like last December, times 3. Several times searchers doffed their packs and spelunked their way through the gaps between root structures of the brush. There were no serious injuries, though countless cuts, scratches, strained muscles, tendons and ligaments. Croker did his doctor best to relieve searchers of their aches and pains. The lack of injuries was again related to the incredible professionalism and expertise of the searchers and just plain luck. Steve Asche sent over a CAP plane RTB from and ELT search and Jeffy was able to contact them. They got quite an education when they saw the mountain side with the search grids marked in flowing white toilet paper. They were quite amazed at exactly what we were doing and the angry terrain we were covering. Packs becoming one with your body and walking upright was such a pleasant change that at the end of the day we would just stand at the watering spot with all our gear on to slowly decompress. Jeffy and Alex were the ones planning each day’s search and served as the primary navigators. Their entire evening after the team meeting was spent downloading GPS coordinates, updating the search map, and planning the next day’s grid. Tom Powers was key to keeping all the equipment running and the tent warm. Again we ate well thanks to camp mom Debbie Rosepink. Nightly we had a hotwash, at least one positive and one suggested improvement input required from everyone. Safety was the most constant reminder. Again had a movie of the night, most every night someone or two crashed before that got going. Debbie and Fuzzy went to Bakersfield to meet with KCS and Debbie finally received the whole post search briefing they gave in July 03 and Jeffy and I received in Dec 03. Other than that, there wasn’t much up and down from the valley floor to civilization, except when Fuzzy would visit. Comedy abounded just through doing our jobs. Keith and Croker were supposed to link up at Dulles for the trip out, except Keith went to Baltimore instead. He called Croker to find out where he was and the big light bulb came on. He had to travel the next day and we had Tom pick him up and proceed direct to base camp on Sunday. So Keith and Tom got quite a baptism of fire. Keith took grief the whole trip. On the arrival Sat I put Croker I in charge of checking out the tent. It was obvious we were missing more than half of it. Luckily, the guy who works at DP is a friend of Fuzzy’s and gave him the key to the office on base. He and Croker went to the base to get the tent. After getting there, they realize they left the keys at the house and had to come all the way back (1 hour round trip). They went back, got the rest of the tent, and came home only to realize Croker dropped his cell phone while loading the tent. Back Fuzzy went again to get the phone while we check and packed up the tent. Fuzzy left Sam’s gate open the first day, prompting a call from Sam and triggering my accusing newbies Alex and Tom of doing so, they denying of course. No cows got out as Sam caught it early enough. On the last day as Fuzzy and Deb moved the equipment down to the main road, they teamed up to kill one of Sam’s ornamental plum trees at his front gate causing another phone call from Sam, a flurry of apologies and a promise to replace the tree. We took it home and spiked it in Fuzzy’s front yard. Croker answered so many questions on the bones we found and usually when we were literally trapped in the thick brush, we tried saving time by just taking a GPS mark and logging a bone find and then sorting them out back at the camp. 100% edibles. When we struck the tent we left a decent pile of bones. The day of the 50 knot winds blew out part of the tent, sending cots and gear flying across the valley floor. Debbie chased everything down and hauled it back and then did her level best securing the rest of the tent before it too blew away. This with stakes put in the ground with sledge hammers. We didn’t get a vocal visit by the local mountain lion, but did get to see a fresh print (in the photos) on the hill side. Tom and Keith did get to clear a cat cave, which was a combo of entertainment or trepidation, depending if you were the ones poking heads inside or watching and heckling. TSGT Tom Powers had the job of mentoring, guiding, and hounding our new Academy grad butter bar. It was a true test of his NCO abilities. Alex was an energy sink as on several days his GPS just ran out of power. He also pulled his hose out of his camel back losing all his water (no bottled spares) and had to be rescued. Lost his lunch one day as well. Sized up Black Mountain as the next area to search in the Spring, planned for time between snows and heat, dormant and active snakes. Need to finish up some of Ranch with regular searching, but mostly will be high angle ropework, bouldering, and cave clearing. Will need about 18 guys to make that happen efficiently. We really expected to find him on the Bear Mountain hillside. The Black Mountain area is a possibility because of his previous logbook entries. If we do not find him there we will begin again on the outside of Sam’s Ranch on the south face of Bear Mountain ridge and the east face of the Black Mountain ridge, most probably in the fall of 2005. Saturday night at Fuzzy’s, we were quite efficient unpacking, doing laundry, and arranging transportation to the airport for Sunday. After everyone showered we hit the local Mexican Cantina and though we didn’t find Ron, the camaraderie was outstanding. |
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