Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 02/08/2010 02:30 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 03/08/2010 11:48 AM
Expires: 01/01/2015 12:00 AM
Lost Snowshoe'er Rescued
Dorrington, CA...On Sunday, February 7, 2010 at approximately 12:15am, the Calaveras County Sheriffs Office received a report of a missing or lost person in the Camp Connell area of Calaveras County. Deputies responded to the area of Summt Level Road in Camp Connell and learned that Kyle Briggs, age 29 of Auburn CA had departed from the Summit Level Road area at about 10:30am Saturday morning with the intentions of taking a short snowshoe hike. He was reported to be wearing adequate clothing, however, he carried no supplies...
When he did not return by dark hours, residents of the area began a search for him using snowmobiles. At about midnight, the local residents were still unable to locate Mr. Briggs, and contacted the Sheriffs Offce.
The Calaveras County Search and Rescue team in combination with the Calaveras County Sheriffs Office immediately launched a search in the area using several snowmobiles, a snow cat, and several skiers. The Alpine county Sheriffs Office also provided three searchers on snowmobiles.
At daybreak Mr. Briggs had still not been located, and a request for helicopter assistance was made.
The search managers were fearful that Mr. Briggs could be in need of immediate medical attention due to the heavy snow and low temperatures which he would have endured through the previous day and night.
The California Highway Patrol was not intermediately available due to heavy fog, and with the assistance ofthe California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA), two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were dispatched to the area from Moffett Field.
By mid morning, the CHP was able to break through the fog bank and join in the search. At approximately 1:30pm, Mr. Briggs was spotted by one of the helicopters, and a search team traveled to his location via snowshoe. Mr. Briggs was found to be in relatively good condition and the search team led him to an area where he could be extracted from the forest by helicopter. Mr. Briggs was flown to the Columbia airport where he was met by ambulance personal.
He declined any medical attention, and was released.
In total, the search effort involved approximately 12 Calaveras County Searchers and Sheriff Deputies, three Alpine County Searchers including one Alpine County Deputy, numerous residents of the area, a large amount of over-snow machinery, and three helicopters.
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