What’s up, Doc?

If you just happen to be driving over Rabbit Ears Pass, March 17, 2007, you might have noticed something strange going on at the West Summit parking lot.  On this bright snow sparkling, winter morning, the parking lot was serving double duty as a staging area for what looked like a major operation of some type.  Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadets and senior members were lined up in formation and preparing to head off into the wilderness.  Carrying survival packs and wearing snowshoes, the expedition hike into the Routt County National Forest to test their fortitude and survival skills in the snow-covered Rocky Mountains.

No one has seen a gathering of this size before.  Had there been an accident?  Was this a major search and rescue operation?  No, not this time, thankfully.  This event was the brainchild of CAP C/2d Lt Crystal Fry.  Cadet Fry is a Steamboat Springs local and four-time overnight snow cave training survivor who wanted to expand this squadron event into a wing wide activity, for more cadets and seniors to enjoy.

Operation White Rabbit was planned, organized, and run by cadets. This activity would not have been possible without the Cadet Staff. Kudos and great thanks go to the following people: Activity Director C/2d Lt Crystal Fry, Cadet Commander C/1^st Lt Jason Steed (cadet medic), Sno Rangers C/Maj Josh Wepman (also cadet Medic), C/Capt Cass Sisto, and C/Capt Michael Head, Public Affairs Officer C/Maj Nathan Hardy, and Cadet Transport Officer C/2d Lt Adam Campbell.

Operation White Rabbit 2007

Steamboat Springs Composite Squadron hosted a Winter Environment Survival Training (WEST) activity March 16-18, 2007 on Rabbit Ears Pass near Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  42 cadets and 16 senior members, from 13 different squadrons in Colorado, participated in and graduated from Operation White Rabbit 2007. 

Everyone arrived at the Steamboat Springs airport on either Friday night or Saturday morning and went through a brief check-in process including a full baggage inspection. During the check-in process all cadets and senior members were assigned to their Sno Ranger and cave.

At around 0930, we all, cadets and seniors alike, crowded, piled, pushed, shoved, and otherwise finagled ourselves into 17 vehicles to start the 35 minute drive up to the West Summit parking area. After encountering a few glitches on the way (pickup truck with radiator problems) everyone arrived safely and unloaded. 

Participants were divided by cave assignment and then each group hiked in by cave number. As soon as everyone arrived at the designated survival site (approximately ¼ mile) we gathered around to watch a demonstration of how you begin the construction of a snow cave.  Cave groups dispersed to start the construction of their respective caves. Throughout the afternoon, we constructed 12, 4 to 5 person capacity snow caves, gathered firewood and almost everyone got wet and cold.  It was recommended that we not wear cotton, now we know why, (because it absorbs moisture.)  We started a nice sized fire to gather around and get warm and dry.

At approximately 1500 hrs (3 pm), a senior member from the Steamboat squadron flew a plane in a search pattern over the area and we had to signal him using mirrors and lots of orange. The signaling class was taught by C/Maj Josh Wepman. Also, during the signaling class we learned whistle signals. Following the signaling class we had a fire building class as well. After the classes everyone went back to their caves, finished up anything that was left, and started eating dinner.

Everyone packed in all their food for the activity.  We continued to collect firewood and gather around the fire for survival discussion. Everyone had to be in their caves by 2100 (9pm) with the exception of the cadet staff members and the 2 cadets on fire watch. 10 cadets had the privilege of serving on a fire watch shift during the night. On one of the shifts cadets actually spotted coyotes around the campsite but none of them came near anyone.  We will know better than to leave food outside next time.  Even though the temperature dropped into the high 20s during the night, the average temperature in the snow caves was 31°F.

Sunday morning everyone woke up early.  Some were cold and shivering, but we all survived the night.  We packed up our stuff, hiked back out to the parking area and loaded up the vehicles to travel back to the airport for a warm breakfast of pancakes, courtesy of Mrs. Connie Fry. 

We had our final check out.  We all graduated and received activity t-shirts with a picture, on the back, of a white rabbit in arctic camouflage sporting a pair of snowshoes strapped on its pack.  On the front was the logo for “Operation White Rabbit 2007”, very cool I might add.

When we were asked, most survivors said that even though we were cold, we learned a lot and still had a good time.  If I ever have to spend a night in the cold, I know I could survive the night with minimal equipment, and the right attitude.  I hope the Steamboat Squadron host this event again next year.

Anonymous survivor of Operation White Rabbit 2007