All,

  Because of some request\complaints I've pared down who gets copies of this email.  Please use discretion on forwarding.

      We have about 12 field guys tentative, darn near a full CAT I team.

      Jeff Riley, Brian Bonner, DeEtte, and I worked 8 hours Sunday analyzing imagery, maps, and models of the search area.  We also read the final police report supplied by Deb Rosepink via Fuzzy.  With that, we laid out potential search areas, how we'll search them and logistical resupply for the west\north sides of Bear and Black Mountains.  The other primary search area are the ridges and ravines supplied by Mark Stucky.  They are conveniently blocked off in seven sections, the same number of days we have.  We didn't plan it that way, it just worked out that way.

      Right now, plan on a Ranger School type field problem with a base camp set up in the Keller Valley, probably moved once during the week as we progress.  It should be able to be resupplied by vehicle daily and we'll need a mayor, so if you know a woodsy Ranger type who can't search but who can watch the camp, ask them to go along.  It can't be just anyone for the legal and liability reasons you're familiar with.  

      CAWG's level of support is stunning.  DeEtte and the Tehachapi Squadron commander have talked at length on the food support required, guests coming, and facilities at the airport.  They have offered two vehicles, radios, and suggested a high cover aircraft airborne during our time there since normal radio and cell phone communications in the valley may be impossible.   Sqdn Commander says this is a good time for their folks to log needed time in a productive way.  I've also spoken with  the Group 6 commander, also enthusiastic with assisting us.  Herb is in charge of the CAWG-PAWG link and is working with Steve on that.  They are preoccupied right now since they lost a PA-28 with two CAP members on board on Friday night.

      We are one step closer to property owner approval, but stress we aren't there yet.  The legal negotiations continue with the mutual intention of approval, but we've had to make some intelligent changes to the waiver package.

      Jeff Riley and I are going to CA the second week of Dec.  We plan on meeting with the land owners, the leasee rancher who cowboys the property, the CAP folks, check out the vehicles and facilities, meet with the DO\Sqdn deputy CC on operations support details, and get Jeff a flight over the search area.  Then he and I will spend 1-2 days doing a foot on the ground\eyes on of the area.  We will walk the trail network in the valley, up the west side of Black Mountain and in the divide between the Black and Bear Mountain ridges.  We'll be scouting out areas for the base camps, checking the corners of the search grids, and taking photos of the vertical terrain for John to analyze.  

      Commander Rocky Lacertoso is also, I would characterize, now 100% supportive of the Expert Ranger effort and has offered some useful suggestions.  I've kept him informed of every detail, good and bad.   At his suggestion, before I had a chance to propose it, told me he will travel anywhere in the county to meet Jeff and I and get briefed on the planning.  As I told you all at the weekend, I fully hope we will be able to have him and his approved certified teams involved during the search.  I suggested this in our phone conversation and it will depend on what we show him, I'm sure.  I'll also try to get his interest in having CAWG's ground teams involved, because right now they are not authorized at any level.

      DeEtte has figured that AirTran from Pit to Las Vegas is relatively cheap around Christmas and is almost the same driving time to Fuzzy's house.  That is where Jeff and I first and DeEtte and Jeff as Advon are going.  Benefit is it is positive space and you won't get bumped, won't have a baggage problem, won't have to wait around.  Herb and PAWG are working VERY hard for airlift, which would solve lots of problems.

      We have about $1500 in donations so far.

      Billy has graciously offered his company's liability insurance for us during the effort.  We have some reservations, both on the liability and his risk, and are still looking at one time event insurance so we can compare both.  He is also working on an ad hoc team made up of adventure racers, some with SAR credentials.  He and I talk regularly because of the sensitive nature of this type of group for a litany of reasons. This is a very delicate issue.  We are progressing and I hope to have something really definitive on this to show Rocky at out meeting.

      Jeff Smith has the website almost done.

      Balloon community has offered manpower to help DeEtte and I've asked Gary Eaton, our lawyer and balloonist, to organize them with a schedule for the week.

      I've given Fuzzy about a million things to do, and he is gracious in his acceptance of the load.

      If you aren't climbing stairs with your pack on, start.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Davey