According to the comments I receive, people love pictures, especially ones that have some kind of personal story.  I guess it helps them relate to who I am and what I have done.  The literary agents say that this sort of thing helps to build a bond with the reader.  Sort of like the movie "Misery" where Kathy Bates (the reader) breaks James Caans (the author) ankles I guess.  Well, OK, but this doesn't mean that we will be taking long showers together.
 

Deputy Chief Jesse Loksa presents me with an 'atta boy for my work with the Aviation Division in developing the Airborne Search And Rescue (ASAR) program.  I was Commander of MCSO Mountain Rescue at this point but later transferred to Aviation as the SAR Training Coordinator and SAR Tech EMT. 


I could do no wrong this night.  I was awarded the Medal of Valor for Life Saving and a couple of commendations by "Americas Toughest Sheriff".  You know, it is funny how the recognition train rolls around.  I know guys that have spent careers doing amazing, heroic things and got zip for it.  Shoot, I have done things that I thought were a bigger deal than what got me these.  That is Operations Chief-Paramedic Tim Kovacs (left) and Operations Chief-EMT Chuck Clover with me.     


Me and my rescue daddy, Tom Pendley, after a few days of alpine training on a very snowy Mt Humphreys.  This is the famous "that's precious" trip where I couldn't get my stove going...because it was upside down.  All around good guy and master outdoorsman, Gary Weesner, is behind the camera.


Mountain Rescue Teammate Brad Parker and I pose for a Public Service Announcement piece for the Dial Corporation.  Brad was also my Gracie Jujitsu instructor for a couple of years.  He is a super nice guy in civies but a nasty human being on the mats.  Brad once invited me to a work out with UFC champion Royce Gracie who used me as a demonstration dummy and elbowed me in the nuts so hard they still hurt. 


On the trail up to Camp Muir at Mt. Rainier.  Since this was my first trip there, I decided to go with the pros at Rainier Mountaineering.  Great folks, great guides.   


Just above the Cleaver on another Rainier trip.  It is a little hard to see in this old tech pic but we are about to be sandwiched between two separate storms, one coming up from the bottom and one closing in from the top.


Technical Sector Officer (TSO) on an underground mine operation outside of Phoenix.  This particular shaft was the supposed dump site for evidence from the Hyder train derailment case and we had 11 federal, state and local agencies on scene.  We were the ones going down the hole, so we were in charge.  I don't remember how many cars we pulled out of there but it was a bunch.  I don't like mines.   


Me and Cooper D at the hangar, aka my second home.  Actually I think I spent more time there than I did at my real home.  Maricopa County has a deal with the Central Arizona Project that lets the Aviation Division operate out of this sweet facility.


I was invited by the Arizona National Guard to go on a three day VIP trip to Eglin AFB on a KC-135E Stratotanker.  I took this picture while laying down next to the "gas passer" in the tail section of the plane.  Very cool.  Go Copperheads!



The A Team.  MCSO Helicopter Fox 1 and a great bunch of guys.  I would fly with them anywhere.  Come to think of it, I did.  Left to right.  Loren Leonberger, me, Kevin Kraayenbrink, Mike Arend, Josh Johnson, Chris Shivers, and Jim Andrysiak. 


Teaching a Rope Rescue 2 class for Superstition Search And Rescue in Pinal County.  These are the guys whose first due area includes the famous Superstition Mountains and, according to legend, the Lost Dutchman mine.  It has to be the most rugged country in the lower 48.  And no, I didn't find the gold.  

There you go.  That ought to hold you for a while.   

Wade Nelson
Editor