U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Sierra Division 11

Author: Jack Leth-Auxiliary Liasion to CG Station Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is a winter wonderland but the Sierra Division of the Auxiliary keeps busy all 12 months of the year. Last Saturday (05MAR2011) was a good example of things we do during the winter.

Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe is located just outside of Tahoe City, CA.

Every year, usually in early March, the town has a two week celebration of winter called SnowFest.  Because the Coast Guard Station is looked on by the locals as "one of their own" they are always included in the SnowFest Parade (and the Auxiliary with them).

The parade is a fun local event with most of the locals in attendance.  It's a real Norman Rockwell event.

The organizers have us get there and lined up in our parade positions about an hour and half before the parade actually begins. 

As long as we're there with plenty of time the Auxiliary puts on a tailgate breakfast for the our participants, including active duty members of the CG Station and their families.

Good looking group!

Our chef is Auxiliarist Bill Stolz from Flotilla 11-01 (North Lake Tahoe)-

Once the omelet is ready, breakfast is served-

11-01's Flotilla Commander (Tom Henderson) seems to be lecturing the active duty but I think they are a little more interested in the breakfast!

This is BM2 Macri, the Station's Auxiliary Liasion Officer with the Station Mascot, Tahoe Tessie. Note that Tessie is properly equipped with a life jacket and whistle.

Good fellowship (one of the cornerstones of the Auxiliary). It was also a nice chance to spend some time with the active duty members of Station Tahoe.

It's finally time to get the parade underway so Chef Stolz and his wife Cameran get in line behind the CG boat and we're off.

After the parade one of the local waterfront restaurants (Gar Woods) was having it's 21st annual Polar Bear Swim, so it was off to Carnelian Bay for this event.

The water is 41°F which is quite a challenge to the swimmers, so we have done a lot of preparation to be ready for the event. If a swimmer gets in trouble they are brought to the end of the pier. You can see two of our members at that point. (Bill Stolz is in an international orange "Mustang" suit and he is standing next to Tom Henderson in ODUs; both are from 11-01, North Lake Tahoe.) The swimmers go from the beach to the two orange balls, turn around, and swim back. It's a little over 200 yards total.

Because going in amongst the swimmers with a boat is dangerous the basic rescue craft are PWCs (Personal Water Craft...jet skis).

The one in the foreground is equipped with a sled to transport the swimmer to the end of the pier. Incline Fire provided two such sleds. The one in the back is from the CG Auxiliary but does not have a sled. They will be used to spot swimmers in trouble and provide them with a stable place to hold on to until they can be transported to the end of the pier.

This event involves various agencies as well as the Coast Guard and the CG Auxiliary. Here we are talking to the Placer County Sheriffs Patrol Boat (Marine 6) confirming  last minute details. Marine 6 will be on scene with a diver in case one is needed.

Here is the start of the men's race..."They're off!"

Here's what it looks like from the pier. We have safety observers on the pier and one of them (Dee Dee Kincade from 11-01 NLT)  took this picture.

In the background., just beyond the turning buoys, you can see CG Auxiliary facility Following Sea (Tom Komadina, 11-03 Reno, Coxswain and Owner). To the right of his boat is one of the AUX PWCs.

This view gives you a look at where the PWCs and Marine 6 were located.

The following sequence of pictures shows an actual rescue as it occured-

Swimmer (in orange cap) is in trouble and elects to hold on to the mooring buoy.

You can also see another one holding up his arm to signal he needs help.

The CG Aux PWC moves in to assist as one of the Incline Fire PWCs picks up the other swimmer.

The Aux PWC Operator (Jim Kremsner 11-03 Reno, NV) gives the swimmer a Type IV cushion to hold on to.

The CG 25 foot Defender comes over as backup.

The Aux Operators signals he needs a pickup and one of the Incline Fire OWCs comes over to assist.

Once the swimmer is on the sled it heads for the pier.

With the swimmer safely on the pier it's time to pick up the type IV cushion and start getting ready to call it a day. In "coastie"  talk, it's RTB (Return to Base).

Good planning and execution assisted seven swimmers. In the Sierra Division of the CG Auxiliary we work with other agencies at these types of events. If you'd like to join us, we're always looking for more volunteers. Just get in touch with us.