California Region

Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue would like to invite our many friends in the SAR community to join us as we celebrate our 50th anniversary. We've put together two free, family-friendly events designed to educate the public about who we are and what we do, and one event to kick back, have fun, and raffle off $4,000 in prizes from popular local merchants. We hope to see you there!

Congratulation to the Douglas County Search and Rescue team in the successfully completion of their Snow and Ice accreditation test. Photo by Antonio M. Arizo.

DCSSAR SNOW & ICE ACCREDTATION REPORT 4-14-2012

On Sat April 14 Douglas County SAR tested in the Snow and Ice discipline at Echo Summit, El Dorado County, California, in the El Dorado National Forest at 7000 to 8000’ of elevation on a North aspect.

The Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team honored long time member Dick Sale with a memorial service held at Chantry Flats. Members from the SAR community and family members attended the event. Mountain Rescue Association Honor Guard Roy West officiated the event. Several speakers told moving stories about Dick's life and times with the Sierra Madre team. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Air Rescue 5 did a fly-over. After the memorial service, the attendees headed down the hill to the Sierra Madre team's station for lunch and to remember the good times with Dick.

Montrose SAR
Cindy England
Dan Land

The avalanche danger in the June Lake area is low (extremely low). Unfortunately this is the good news. The snow level has not improved. The recent storms have only added inches to the snowpack, not feet. The 10 day forecast for precipitation is low.

Recent on-site observations by Montrose team members have not been favorable.

Based on this information, it has been decided to call off the Snow and Ice Reaccreditation for March 3, 2012. It will be rescheduled for March 2, 2013 at June Mountain.