St Louis County Rescue Squad

Friends, we were dark last night as teams rehabbed and decompressed from a very challenging and stressful call. Local media has the story, so we'll refrain from elaborating here.

Tonight's photo features (from left) KK (callsign 7353), Jordan (7365) and Arika (7320), all members of our North End contingent. The trio has logged a ton of woods time as well as public outreach work over the last couple of weeks, and we'd be lost without them. Be safe out there, eh?

The Northern Lights have been frisky this week. North Pete captured this stunning display from a location in suburban Iron.

Old Guy Rick (callsign 7111) is captured by Rescue Squad photographer Ron Lorentz (7284) puffing a fine Perdomo while catching his notes up during the Curtain Falls operation. That rock behind Rick's back provided a great vantage point for overwatch of the river, and seemed to offer slightly better radio reception than other places in Base Camp. It must be chilly this morning, or Rick is just exposing less skin for the blackflies and mosquitos to chew on.

A cool aerial shot of Garden Lake, east of Winton, looking southeast through the narrows at Farm Lake and the Kawishiwi River beyond. (Julie King photo)

Rooster casually watches from the jonboat as two swans launch off the water. He's in search mode, so the big birds don't impress him much. (Droz photo)

The height of the summer greenout always makes for the most challenging search conditions. In a sea of tansy and raspberry brambles, KK (callsign 7353) pops her head up above the foliage during a search sortie in the backcountry. (Arika photo)

Arika (callsign 7320) stands with DNR pilot Grace Zeller in front of her MD-369E "Little Bird" helicopter. Grace received a well-deserved lifesaving award for her superior airmanship in rescuing two survivors from the canoe party who were swept over Curtain Falls in the BWCA. She maneuvered her ship in darkness to land in a very tight LZ to deliver medics and evac the injured patients. We are deeply indebted to Grace and her team for "airing it out" under difficult conditions to help people in need out of a very big jam.

Tired but still smiling, Sophie (callsign 7350) allows someone to steal a ham shot of her in the shotgun seat of command vehicle 602 during a SAR operation. Sophie gets more done by accident than most people get done on purpose, and we'd be lost without her.

KK (callsign 7353) and Jordan (7365) pause for a ham shot in front of LA-21 during a National Night Out gathering in Mountain Iron this evening. Rescue Squad members visited more than a dozen sites for NNO (in addition to rolling on a SAR mission). It was a very good night!

Jesse (7358) keeps an eye on swimmers during the Brewhouse Triathlon at Island Lake. (Marcia photo)

Can you see it?

One of the most unique and interesting classes of human sign is "shine." Shine is created by light reflecting differently from vegetation that has been compressed by human footfalls, presenting as a lighter shade as if someone has cast a fine powder on the grass. Contrary to almost all other classes of sign, shine is best viewed "down sun"--that is, with the light source behind you. Tonight's photo is the same individual we posted on an earlier Photo O' the Day a couple of weeks ago. The first print is visible bottom center, but the line of sign becomes more apparent as your eye moves toward the top of the photo. The Rescue Squad rosters over two dozen certified human trackers, and it's a skill we have saved lives with. Thanks for tagging along as we share our story, and be safe out there, eh? (Slatto photo)

As a professional photographer, Grizzly Alex (callsign 7219) spends most of his time behind the lens. This time Ronin instructor Arnold Pena caught Alex in front of the camera going cliffside into the number 4 cargo hold of the laid-up laker Edward L. Ryerson. Point of control is two clutches anchored to an overhead beam down the catwalk, and an Aztek focuses the change of direction (CD) at the rail. The black and yellow edge protection is our new Strep that arrived just in time for the class and will replace heavier, bulkier fire hose scraps. Showing excellent body position, Alex will slowly rotate to an almost inverted position to keep his face from hitting the steel, then gracefully slide off into the void space. Once on the bottom, topside folks will "rig for raise," and haul Alex back up before breaking for lunch. It was a very good day!

Some honkin' good training last night at our weekly meeting. Extrication instructors constructed a nifty all-hands-on-deck T-Bone with rollover scenario involving two critical patients plus a simulated helicopter evac. You can't see it in the photo, but that silver Hyundai is Jarrid's car (callsign 7267), donated to be turned into scrap metal. It was a very good night! (Slatto photo)

With a smile on her face, Mandy greets a pair of future rescuers at the Northland K9 Foundation event in Superior this evening. It was a good day! (Jewels Fogarty photo)

Significant higgledy-piggledy this afternoon during the Snowbirds airshow when a blustery storm front blew in. Several boats from Duluth to the Iron Range found themselves in difficulty that required rescue. Tonight's photo shows "Mike Squared" (Colonel Mike and Airborne Mike) at the helm of Lund-21 just outside the Duluth Ship Canal. They later towed a disabled boat into the harbor before heading for shelter themselves. It was a busy day! (Alaina photo)

Feet up to prevent foot entrapment and hands protecting the face, Aaron (callsign 7195) executes a perfect "Superman Skip" into the St. Louis River at Thomson Gorge during swiftwater training. He'll perform an "aggressive swim" to reach mid-current, then switch to a "defensive swim" before catching a throwbag line from rescuers on shore. (Alex "Grizzly" Messenger photo)

KK is either holding food, treats, or a walk outside is in the offing. (Left to right) Ted, Ike, Rooster.

Andy (callsign 7369) goes cliffside to rescue simulated patient Carter (7268) during last week's Ronin class. An F-16 pilot with the 148th here in Duluth, Andy brings an endless supply of energy and enthusiasm to the team, and we are extremely glad he found us. (Alex "Grizzly" Messenger photo)

Our summer training blitz continues with Boat Day '24 on Island Lake. Members practiced boat handling on various craft as well as a variety of water rescue techniques. In tonight's photo, truck 610 awaits the trailering of Lund 21 at the conclusion of operations.

We'd like to thank our friends at the United Northern Sportsmen for allowing us access to their beautiful grounds and docks. UNS is the Rescue Squad's oldest benefactor, having donated our very first rescue truck (nicknamed "Messy Bessy") back in 1958. (Slatto photo)

Ronin Day 5: When we set up this course, one of the things we asked the instructors was to "throw scenarios at us that make our hair hurt." Ryan and Arnold did not disappoint. The grand finale of the five-day advanced course was to build a counterbalanced system on an asymmetrical hanging tripod over Soudan Mine's 320-feet deep West Tower Pit. Tonight's photo captures simulated patient and instructor Ryan Allen (center) heading for the bottom between edge personnel Jose (left, callsign 7270) and Deadhead Alex (7310). This system involved eight ropes and emptied our equipment bags of hardware, challenging our team members to employ concepts we've never seen before. It was an outstanding day!

Opened in 1883, the West Tower was fully underground by 1902. Hardy miners pulled rich hematite (Fe2O3) from the ground; some of it assaying as high as 74 percent iron. The mine closed in 1962 and is now a state park that is well worth the drive to Soudan to visit. West Tower is one of the most surreally beautiful places on the planet, and we can't thank Ranger Jim and his team enough for allowing us access to hone our skills and elevate our capability in this gorgeous location!

Ronin Day 4: Every rope rescue evolution we perform, from a simple pick-off to a more elaborate trackline system is sure to require at least two edge transitions...one going over and another coming back. Today we opted to pass on the drive up to Palisade Head and instead returned to the Thomson Gorge to work on complex edge transitions under sketchy conditions, topped off with an outstanding English Reeve evolution to rescue a simulated patient injured and trapped on rocks in the middle of the river.

Tonight's photo shows Avery (callsign 7361) grinning as he pauses while standing on the litter for a Been There Done That shot after he and simulated patient Jose (7270) complete a nifty "Pikeozontal" transition to the cliffside. The deployment and the anchor system it's attached to are enough to make your hair hurt and your eyebrows itch, but we got 'er done and it was a wonderful day of learning and hardcore practice.

The Ronin course finishes up tomorrow with a trip to the Soudan Mine for operations over the 320-foot-deep West Tower Pit. It'll be hot, but it's been a fun and fulfilling week dumping gallons of sweat on the forest floor (and inside a ship!). Friends, thank you for tagging along with us as we share our story, and be safe out there, eh? (Arnold Pena photo)

Ronin Day Three: A unique cliffside view looking up at the team on the catwalk above from the bottom of number 4 cargo hold inside the lake freighter Edward L. Ryerson (730 x 75 x 39). Today we practiced more complicated edge transitions, working in dark, cramped quarters, and capped off the day with a honkin' guided skate block evolution off the stern masthead. We are tired and sore, but it was an outstanding day!

The Ryerson, nicknamed "Fast Eddie," was launched in 1960 and quickly set new records for speed and tonnage carried. She is considered by many to rank among the most beautiful freighters on the Great Lakes. Not equipped with self-unloading equipment, she's been in long-term layup since 2009. We want to extend our deepest thanks and gratitude to the folks at Fraser Shipyards and Central Marine Logistics for allowing us unfettered access to this incredibly versatile training venue! (Slatto photo)

Sixty feet above the St. Louis River in the Thomson Gorge, Jose (right, callsign 7270) rescues simulated patient Sammi (7275) while practicing innovative patient / rescuer positioning and edge transitions during Ronin Day Two. Ronin instructor Ryan (left) coaches the pair as they prepare to cross the rail to the bridge deck above. This evolution is unique, as there are actually FOUR people cliffside in this photo: Sammi and Carter's first child is due in September. It was a very good day! (Slatto photo)

In a driving rainstorm, training mannequin Rescue Randy found himself in a bad way, dangling 40 feet below the bridge deck in the Thomson Gorge suffering from a major bleed. Carter makes contact with the simulated patient to treat the injury while six squadmembers above configure a hauling system to take both cliffside personnel up and over the rail to definitive care. Ronin is in town this week instructing an advanced rope rescue class for twelve Rescue Squad folks. We're back in the gorge tomorrow, then on to other venues for more challenging rescue evolutions. Despite the thunderstorm-shortened day, it was a very good one! Be safe out there, eh? (Alex "Grizzly" Messenger photo)

Friends, last night the Vista Star declared an emergency after striking the outer breakwater in 5-foot swells at the Superior Entry. We had a team on Park Point close to Lakehead who heard the call on Marine Channel 16, and Whaler-25 was underway in moments. Another team stayed behind at Lakehead to coordinate inbound resources via radio, phone, and laptop. Together with the US Coast Guard and Duluth Fire, one injured patient was taken off and brought to Loon's Foot (the old Northern Pacific dock), while other patients remained on board. All injuries were non-life-threatening. The Star had good propulsion and did not appear to be taking on water, so the decision was made to maneuver the boat through the Superior Entry into calmer water to better assess the situation. Ultimately the Star was able to cruise back to Minnesota Slip under her own power.

Tonight's excellent Josh Berndt photo, taken from LA-28, shows the Vista Star making the turn at the Superior Harbor Basin for the run up the Superior Front Channel. Escorting the ship off the starboard quarter is Whaler-25, and slightly off-screen right is Duluth Fire Marine-19. Props, kudos, and many, many thanks to all the agencies who came together, who weathered the "fog of war" of initially sketchy intel and occasionally ratty comms to get it done under challenging conditions. It was a very good night!

A magnificent Dawn Rask shot of Whaler-25 coming home from a rescue mission. We’ll have more to say about some higgledy piggledy we responded to, but it’s not our story to tell yet. Stay tuned, and be safe out there, eh?

"Beaver One," a 1956 DeHavilland Beaver DHC-2, glides on final into Iron Lake. The sustained mission at Curtain Falls would not have been possible without the support of the US Forest Service, namely pilot Jeremy. He flew 37 sorties carrying 79 passengers and almost 10,000 pounds of gear in and out of the Boundary Waters, logging 26 hours of off-the-water time. Despite the continuous threat of rain, low ceilings, thunderstorms and fog, Jeremy got 'er done, and we are eternally grateful to him and mechanic, loadmaster, and all-around go-to guy Tim for their undying dedication to accomplish the mission and bring two loved ones home. You da best! (Aaron Albs photo)

Thirty squadmembers participated in Boat Night in the Duluth Harbor, featuring practice on many of our watercraft as well as completion of our maritime navigation course. Tonight’s photo captures the jet boat returning to Rice’s Point under a waxing gibbous moon. It was a very good night! (Slatto photo)

An interesting sonar image of the wreck of the whaleback freighter Thomas Wilson. Laden with Mesabi Range iron ore, the Wilson was involved in a collision with the George Hadley on June 7, 1902. She sank in minutes, killing nine of her twenty-person crew. The ship rests in 70 feet of water about a mile off the Duluth Ship Canal. The bow of the ship is top left; stern at bottom center. (Ron Lorentz photo)

Simulated patient Jenny found herself in a bad way, becoming a victim of foot entrapment in the Thomson Gorge. Six rescuers demonstrate a wedge rescue, each one supporting the other to maintain stability in the swift current. Upon reaching Jenny, they free her foot and incorporate her into the wedge for a safe return to shore. It was a very good training evolution, and a very good day! (Alex "Grizzly" Messenger photo)