About ESAR
Washington Explorer Search and Rescue Pierce County Unit (PCESAR) is an organization of volunteers ages 14 and up founded to assist local law enforcement in the search for missing persons in urban and wilderness settings, natural disasters, recovery of evidence, and evacuation of the injured.
Missing woman in Gig Harbor
Fri, 02/08/2013 - 8:00pm — Tom Hayward
After fielding teams from GSSD, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department decided more resources were needed to find a lost woman in Gig Harbor. PCESAR was called to assist, and minutes later two members of PCESAR's hasty team were on scene. GSSD found the woman around the same time and other PCESAR resources were cancelled.
Lost Hiker on Rattlesnake Ridge
Thu, 02/07/2013 - 10:00am — Tom Hayward
King County called us to assist with a search for a lost hiker on Rattlesnake Ridge. They exhausted their resources on Wednesday so we arrived Thursday morning to continue the search. Three PCESAR teams searched the logging roads and trails west of Rattlesnake Ridge. The snow-level was about 2400 feet so we spent most of the day in snowshoes.
Mt Si Skydiver
Sun, 01/06/2013 - 7:00am — Libby Hayward
Met at 0600 to carpool up to King County to assist
in the search for a missing skydiver. We thought we would have a low turnout
since many of our members were tied up in a training course, but 22 people
responded. Five teams hiked up the main Mt Si trail to 3200' where we split off
and did type 3 grid searches. The snow level was at 2500', so we were searching
in deep snow. The terrain was fairly steep, 20-35% grade at times. It was after
dark before most teams finished up their assignments and hiked back to the
trail head.
Search for Mushroom Picker in Skamania County
Thu, 12/06/2012 - 9:00am — Tom Hayward
PCESAR was called to assist Skamania County with a search for a missing 60-year-old mushroom picker. She went missing Dec 1 and after exhausting their local resources, we were called to help search on Dec 6. PCESAR grid searched an area north of where she was last seen, looking for any clues of her whereabouts. Also searching were teams from many other Washington and Oregon counties. Our area yielded no clues, however a PNWSAR team located a crashed plane missing since the 1970s. The terrain was steep with heavy underbrush and the rain was consistent--a reminder of why we train and test our gear in the winter rain.
Missing woman on Vashon Island
Sat, 11/17/2012 - 9:00am — Tom HaywardCall out for missing female on Vashon Island. PCESAR responded with 16 people. Three teams in the field at 11:20. Subject found deceased by Jerry Harmon at 12:55. All teams back to base by 13:15.
Missing man in Tacoma
Sat, 10/20/2012 - 12:00am — Tom Hayward
Missing 56 year old male in Tacoma. He was found by Tacoma Police Dept. in Downtown Tacoma. He was OK.
19 personnel
125.5 hours
12 vehicles
364 miles
Savings of $3.460.85
Search in Sedro Wolley
Mon, 10/01/2012 - 12:00am — Tom Hayward
Request to assist Skagit County with a search in Sedro Wolley. Subject was found before we arrived.
1 personel,
3 hours,
1 Vehicle,
60 miles
Savings $123.96.
Search for elderly female in Lakewood
Mon, 08/27/2012 - 5:00pm — Tom Hayward
Request from Pierce County Sheriff to assist in the search for a 76 Y/F missing since 1700 hours. Subject was located about 2200 hours in St. Clare Hospital.
19 member responded,
39 manhours,
11 vehicles,
310 miles driven,
savings $1,502.53
Search for boys in Tacoma
Wed, 08/15/2012 - 12:52pm — Tom Hayward
Request from Tacoma Police Dept. to search for 2 young boys missing from home that day before. It was called later that evening that the boys were runaways.
19 members responded,
80 manhours,
14 vehicles,
471 miles driven,
savings $3,610.04
