Swan Mission Search & Rescue trains on frozen lake
Ryan Gembala, front center, is pulled out of “danger” as he trains with other member members of the Swan Mission Search and Rescue Sunday Morning, including Charles McCallister, back center, also in the water, Carol Fields and Chad Potts, walking toward the water.
Carol Fields, left, and Ryan Gembala, both members of the Swan Mission Search and Rescue, participate in training Sunday morning at Swan Lake.
Members of the Swan Mission Search and Rescue took turns in various scenarios Sunday morning for training exercises. (Photos by Ashley Fox/Lake County Leader)
On a damp Sunday morning, overcast skies and rolling fog added to a somber feeling that hung heavily in the air, over Swan Lake and up into the mountains.
The only sound besides the calming silence was snowmobiles racing in the distance.
All of a sudden, a man was heard thrashing in water and yelling for help, his head bobbing up in the water, although he was surrounded by ice.
“I was ice fishing,” he remarked.
Within moments, a group in yellow safety suits made their way to the man, named Ryan Gembala.
Closer to the frozen shoreline, men were waiting for a signal to start heaving Gembala and his rescuers to safety.
The scenario, along with a dozen others, played out for two hours, as the group, including Gembala, applied their skills for training with Swan Mission Search and Rescue.
Once a month the Swan Mission Search and Rescue team meets at its headquarters on Montana Highway 83, just past mile marker 71, practicing their life-saving skills.
Meetings are typically held on the first Monday of each month, while trainings are on the third Sunday.
Thirteen active members make up Swan Mission SAR, each of who answer calls when they can, regardless of the instance.
President Carol Fields said that it’s difficult to gauge how many calls the group responds to each year, because the calls range during each season.
“We had two river rescues in one day (last year); one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and then we’ll go for a period of time where we have nothing,” she said.
Fields said she would estimate Swan Mission SAR answers six to 12 calls a year.
The kinds of calls the members respond to vary, although Vice President Ira Edwards said that the volunteers see “a lot” of river calls.
Members had different opinions as to which type of rescue call is most exhausting.
Edwards said the higher-elevation calls are difficult, while Fields said the river calls are hard.
Referring to a call where they were asked to look for a hiker in the Lost Creek area, Edwards said, “that made people who’d been on (Search and Rescue) for quite a while say, ‘Oh wow. I might be a victim myself.’”
Coordinator Scott Sciaretta added that packing up flat boards and other gear for the steeper terrain calls adds levels of difficulty.
Regardless of which members can answer a call, Fields said that every member is trained in every aspect of searching and rescuing.
“No matter which people you get, they’re all trained to save you,” she said.
The bottom line, Fields said, is that each rescue “has the chance to go south” in terms of danger.
The search and rescue group, though, does help where and when it’s needed, including with mutual aid.
Edwards explained that a dangerous section of river is the source of calls because of log jams underneath the water.
There was a gentleman who travels rivers and lakes around the world, Edwards said. The man not too long ago visited the Swan River and told Swan Mission Search and Rescue that they have the “scariest” river he’s ever seen.
To ensure their safety efforts, Swan Mission Search and Rescue have a garage filled with two SUVs and various winter mobiles, some of which Sciaretta explained belong to the members while others have been donated.
Board member Amanda Edwards said that through the years, SAR has built its catalog of vehicles, but still doesn’t have many.
“The stuff we do have, we’re very proud of it and we do take care of it,” she said.
When the weather gets warmer, Sciaretta said that the summer equipment, including jet skis, will be transferred from a large garage behind the building and the winter equipment will be stored until next winter.
Funded mostly through a levy, SAR also receives donations and grants.
Most recently, SAR was awarded a grant from Flathead Electric for $1,360, which puchased avalanche transceivers.
Prior to the SAR making use of its current location, Edwards said equipment was stored at members’ houses and neighboring fire departments.
Now, the building, the old two-room school house, is filled with life-saving apparatus equipment.
Going forward, Sciaretta said more volunteers can help with responses from Swan Mission SAR.
“If you can build your membership up, who will be dedicated to training and be available, you aren’t sending just one or two people on a call,” he said.
More information on Swan Mission SAR can be found at https://www.facebook.com/SwanMissionSAR/