Quesnel Canadian Rangers establish SOPs for mounted GSAR during July exercise
August 16, 2021 - Canadian Ranger Lindsay Chung, 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group
What would it look like if Canadian Rangers were asked to support a Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) operation using horses to get through difficult terrain?
Members of the Quesnel Canadian Ranger Patrol (CRP) in British Columbia's Cariboo region set out to answer that question during their July exercise.
The purpose of Exercise GOLDFIELD SOJOURN, which took place from July 15 to 18, was to run a rehearsal for the eventuality that the Quesnel CRP deploys on horseback to assist in a GSAR.
“The exercise was to put all of the moving parts into play and establish patrol-level Standard Operating Procedures,” said Canadian Ranger Sergeant Paul Nichols, Patrol Commander of the Quesnel CRP. “I can say with confidence that it was a success. I think the major success for this exercise was the fact the emphasis was placed on the scheme of manoeuvre versus just getting out and riding horses.”
To be an effective asset to a search, the patrol needs to be able to quickly move from its home location and self-sufficiently stage out of a new area, and mobility and communications were a focus of the exercise. Ex GOLDFIELD SOJOURN also gave Quesnel CRP members a chance to familiarize themselves with the terrain and facilities within their area of operations and to continue building a good rapport with local managers and protective services personnel in the community of Wells.
Members of the Quesnel CRP loaded their trucks and trailers and drove in a convoy from Quesnel to Wells, where they set up a reception area and met with village residents, community officials and members of the local RCMP detachment and the Wells Volunteer Fire Brigade. From there, they drove to a new location and set up an administration area and camp in the village and spent the night.
“From assembling, loading equipment, forming our convoy and vehicle packets to a road move and creating a reception area in Wells, the entire move was broken down into its component parts and rehearsed until we got it right,” said CR Sgt Nichols.
In the morning, the Rangers departed on horseback and rode through Barkerville Historic Town and Park and up to Groundhog Lake, riding a rocky, steep trail that leaves Barkerville and follows the old Cariboo Wagon Road and a historic ditch line. At Groundhog Lake, everyone tied their horses and set up another admin area and camp. After spending the night in their shelters, the Rangers rode back down from the mountain and back through Barkerville and returned by vehicle convoy to Quesnel.
“As a patrol, we had taken the lessons we practised with our vehicle convoy, applied it to horses and moved every member of the Quesnel CRP on horseback to establish a new HQ area at Groundhog Lake,” explained CR Sgt Nichols. “From Groundhog Lake, we broke down into smaller dets [detachments] and did a recce of the area, and we lived and operated out of our everyday carry as if we had been asked to extend the duration of a GSAR patrol.”
CR Sgt Nichols says the big takeaway from the exercise is the patrol is able to operate unsupported on horseback to a high level and be an asset to an operation.
“The horses can be mobile and self-sufficient while being an asset,” he said. “We can operate in difficult terrain and be a readily-deployable, self-sufficient asset.”
For this exercise, the Quesnel CRP brought 11 saddle horse and five pack horses, who carried horse feed and patrol stores up to Groundhog Lake.
Caption
Canadian Ranger Sergeant Paul Nichols (left), Patrol Commander of the Quesnel Canadian Ranger Patrol (CRP), and Canadian Ranger Instructor Warrant Officer Kirk McColl lead the Quesnel CRP through Barkerville Historic Town and Park on July 17 as part of Exercise GOLDFIELD SOJOURN.
Photo by Canadian Ranger Lindsay Chung, 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group
Caption
Canadian Ranger Master Corporal Terry Nichols, second-in-command of the Quesnel Canadian Ranger Patrol, leads Saber and Merlin for a drink at Groundhog Lake on July 17 during Exercise GOLDFIELD SOJOURN.
Photo by Canadian Ranger Lindsay Chung, 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group