CORVALLIS MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT
Post Office Box 116
Corvallis, OR  97339-0116
 
 
 
 

JANUARY TRAINING -- snow The snowpack in Oregon's Cascades is running at 130% of "average" (whatever that is) and this month's training subjects are oriented around snow. Most of us have already taken several trips into the snowy backcountry but if you haven't gotten out yet, get your gear prepared -- for missions as well as this month's practice(s).  And when packing your pack, remember -- leave room for mission gear. If your pack is completely filled with just your personal gear, either you need a bigger pack (ugh!) or you need to review your equipment. Also, if you plan to participate in next month's (tentative) McKenzie Pass Ski Trip, this month's Snow Practice will be a good "shakedown" for your gear -- including skis or snowshoes. DUES -- now (past) due If you have not paid dues to the Unit Treasurer (Anne Greenwood), please contact her within a couple of days.  Membership may be terminated for failure to pay dues and your name will be removed from the Call List. Annual dues are still $15 plus if you have been issued a Unit pager, there is an additional $5. 1998 MISSIONS -- in review During 1998, we were on Standby for or participated in 14 missions assisting Benton, Deschutes, Marion, Linn, and Skamania (WA) counties with SAR missions. Five of these were climbing related SAR missions. We had operations on Mt. Jefferson, Three-Fingered Jack, Mt. Washington, and North Sister. Most of the remaining missions were "low land" missions related to overdue persons. NEW EQUIPMENT -- update For over a year, we have had mapping software called Fugawi on the unit's computer, but it has been of limited value since we had not loaded maps to work with the program.  Over the holiday weekend, USGS quad maps in digital raster graphic format (.drg) were copied from CD ROM onto the computer.  Currently resident on the computer are the following 7.5 minute quads: South Sister, North Sister, Mt. Washington, Three-Fingered Jack, Marion Lake, and Mt. Jefferson along the Cascade spine; and Alsea, Marys Peak, Corvallis, and Wren in Benton County.  We can now overlay GPS track information directly onto these software maps. The Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit Newsletter is published monthly to keep friends and members of the Unit informed of our activities. Editor: Bob Freund