Racing to Find Steve Fossett: Adventure Racers Go Where Technology Can’t

In his article on adventure racers searching for Steve Fossett, Jon Billman literally follows the story of one man’s mission to put adventure racers to the task of finding Steve Fossett. His story reads as fast-paced and intense as the effort must have been. He introduces us to Simon Donato, leader of Team Adventure Science and founder of the Canadian Adventure Racing Association. His idea was to "use hyperfit dudes on the ground, where technology turned up nil." Adventure Science was born out of the idea that adventure racers are physically fit enough to cover ground that ATVs have difficulty with, and that they can do much faster than traditional searchers on foot. And being on foot would give searchers a better chance of catching the details. When he began to think about matching adventure racers to the search effort for Fossett, it seemed to make sense, especially since the high tech method, which we've reported on in SARNews in the past, had not been successful. What made most sense was to put people on the ground in the most difficult areas. And thus, his greatest challenge was to determine a search area. To do this, he studied maps and talked with pilots, aeronautical engineers and SAR experts. He came pretty close. The whole story is absolutely worth reading - it is a great read, compelling and riveting, and reaffirms the value of people on the ground in search and rescue.

http://outside.away.com/outside/destinations/200810/steve-fossett-search_2.html

The SnapShot Hiker Profile

Backpacker Magazine’s recent issue contains a snapshot profile of a hiker. Data to build this profile was taken from the International Search and Rescue Incident Database (ISRID). More details about Hiker behavior and statistics on where lost hikers are most likely to be found are described in Lost Person Behavior by Robert Koester. In addition to Hiker, there are 40 other behavior profiles of lost persons, based on age (e.g., children), mental status (e.g., dementia, despondent), and activity (e.g., camping, mountain biking, skiing, water-related).

http://www.backpacker.com/how_where_when_hikers_get_lost/destinations/13120

River Rescue 4^th Edition Is Hot off the Press

This edition boasts 106 illustrations and 144 photographs in 292 fact-filled pages which feature:

• new photos and first-hand accounts of rescues
• expanded material on big-water rescue-new gear and methods
• self-rescue and rescue of others-by hand, boat, rope, and other ways
• tools and techniques-rope work, throw bags, boat handling, high- and low-tech gear to use when seconds count
• rescue organization-leadership, teamwork, patient care, evacuation, and more.

River Rescue, by Slim Ray, has been the reference book for canoe, kayak, and raft, from beginner self-rescue to big river teamwork, since 1985. It is now available from www.dbs-sar.com.

Remember to Search the Residence … At Least Twice

This unfortunate story, in which an elderly woman was found buried in rubble seven years after she went missing, probably does not come as a surprise to seasoned urban search and rescue professionals, but it is shocking none the less. This story can be a reminder to all search and rescue efforts to search a missing person’s residence thoroughly at least twice.

http://www.bittenandbound.com/2009/03/27/eunice-workman-missing-woman-lay-dead-in-her-home-7-years/

SAR Research in New Zealand