Search & Rescue in the blood for Adams

Proudly accepting the Toni Foster Award for his outstanding contribution to the Jefferson County Search and Rescue program (SAR) last month, Matt Adams reflected back on a childhood exploring the trails and rivers of the West with his family.

For nearly 12 years, his abundant enthusiasm and diehard commitment to the SAR program has been an inspirational force to countless team members and trainees. Adams began participating with the Camp Sherman Hasty Team in junior high school through the Explorer Program developed by Foster. In recent years he has become a valued instructor, devoting long hours to honing the skills of the volunteer search and rescue unit.

"I guess it's in the blood," said Adams. "My grandfather founded MORESCO, a precursor to the Mountain Rescue Association, and was very involved in the early beginnings of mountain rescue in Oregon. So he brought my dad up hiking and climbing all the time. Both of my parents were avid outdoor people and since I was 10 we started doing these long three-week adventures every summer, like 70-mile canoe trips on the Bowron Lake circuit in Canada, hardcore hiking up at Denali or sometimes just driving across Oregon to see what lay in the territory ahead."

The Toni Foster Activist Award honors the late Toni Foster, a passionate activist and educator in the Metolius Basin.

"Toni was my seventh-grade teacher in Camp Sherman and she asked me, my brother and sister if we wanted to join the team as a Venture Scout with her explorer program," Adams said. "I did all my training and skills acquisition, was state certified in first aid, rope rescue, search techniques, winter survival and whitewater rescue.

"I love the satisfaction that comes with the job, with helping people. I really like my teammates and the idea that people can accomplish something as a team they can't do individually. It's very rewarding to be useful in a unique way and being out in God's creation."

Adams attributes much of his success to the guidance and support of Toni and Mark Foster. Being recognized by his peers was a great honor.

"When they gave me the award I was completely speechless and deeply honored," he said. "To be recognized by such an elite group of Search and Rescue experts is amazing. These are the friends I've worked alongside in the middle of the night, in the middle of a river, on the tops of mountains and bottoms of brush-filled gulleys. This award is not only for me but my whole team. When the chips are down we're there for each other, and I enjoy being a part of that. We spur each other on and it brings out the best in us."

Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff Dave Blann is the incident commander for the Camp Sherman Hasty

Team.

"Matthew is a born teacher and incredibly patient with the rest of the team. He works with complicated rope systems and can water them down for people who don't work with them on a daily basis," said Blann. "We're very fortunate for him to return to us after college and bring those talents back to Sisters-Camp Sherman. It's a young man's game and it's nice to have someone his age, as active as he is in the program."

Each component of the Hasty Team brings with them particular areas of expertise and experience, all blending together to comprise an effective working unit. Adams feels a deep bond and commitment to his craft and is glad to pass on these nuggets of knowledge to aspiring rescue personnel and Forest Service employees.

"Mark (Foster) told me once: 'You're going to be hanging out with people on the worst day of their life and its important to keep that in mind when you interact with them.'"

Adams remembers a difficult rescue early in his deployment with the Hasty Team.

"We had to transport a body off a moraine about nine years ago," he recalled. "He was only 21 years old and was tragically injured with a group of friends in a fatal climbing accident. I remember interacting with them and in the midst of absolute tragedy, they still thanked us for what we had to do. This was a kid about my age and it really stuck me."

In compiling a list of Do's and Dont's when venturing out into the wilds and what to do when trouble finds you, Adams pauses for a moment to choose his top

tip.

"Stay put is my number one piece of advice," he said. "Next would be to do something that differentiates yourself when lost or injured. Use a sleeping bag as a flag, break off tree branches. But stay put. The farther you walk, the farther we have to go. Don't worry; we'll find you."

Adams and the Camp Sherman Hasty Team will be at Sisters High School Wednesday, speaking to students about an Explorers Program and what Search and Rescue is all about. For more information visit http://www.co.jefferson.or.us.