Monrovian Runs Triathlons, Rescues People in his Spare Time

Jon Pedder cannot resist throwing himself wholeheartedly into every activity he pursues. It makes him an invaluable member of the Sierra Made Search and Rescue Team.

The team, which celebrates it’s 60th anniversary this year, is composed of about 26 unpaid volunteers, and one-fifth of the team is from Monrovia.

"We’re called Sierra Madre Search and Rescue but we search Monrovia. We search all the cities from the 60 Freeway to Highway 39, to Michillinda to Highway 2. Anything that the Temple Sheriff’s station is responsible for, we’re responsible for," Pedder said.

In the 1960s and 70s, SMSR was called to places as far away as Mexico. They flew to places outside of Mammoth, and they still go to Yosemite, Sequoia, the Sierras, Death Valley, and other places.

"The team’s motto is, ‘Anywhere in the wilderness, someone needs help.' It’s a huge, diverse group that comes together for one thing—to help other people," he said.

As a part of their Preventative Search and Rescue program, the group gives presentations to churches and schools on what to do if someone gets lost in the wilderness. "Hug A Tree" focuses on what to do when kids get lost in the wilderness.

"It’s something the team believes in immensely," Pedder said. "Ultimately it’s all about people being safe and enjoying the outdoors."

Pedder works a drastically different job by day, serving as an IT manager at a law firm during the day. Originally from Southampton, England, he came to California in 1987 when he was 20. He thought he was coming for a six-month vacation, but wound up staying permanently.

"I decided it was sunny here and it wasn’t at home," he said. Pedder, who has lived in Monrovia for two years, has been a citizen of the U.S. for 10 years.

"Figured I pay taxes; might as well vote," he said.

He found out about the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team when he went on a trail run one morning and saw a recruiting poster. After repeating the phone number in his mind over and over as he ran home, he immediately called Larry Smith--the current president, who was then the recruiter--to find out how he could join.

To be a member of SMSR requires a commitment of about 1,000 hours and $2,000 to $3,000 to pay for your own equipment. In 18 months of required training, Pedder learned navigation and tracking, technical rescue skills with ropes, high angle rock rescue, and how to deal with snow and ice. The team also taught him how dress for the wilderness, how to behave on a hike, and how to camp in the mountains in all weather conditions.

"I was no accomplished outdoorsman when I joined. The team taught me what I needed to know," he said.

"If you’re willing to put in the effort and the hours, the team will teach you," he added. He said it also was good if you were willing to go beyond the required work.

"Everything in life is about the extra mile," he said. "Anyone can reach for mediocrity."

Team members also go through a semester of medical training, and every team member is a qualified EMT. They also have to hike three miles, 3,000 feet up with a pack, in 1 1/2 hours. Pedder’s group completed the hike in 57 minutes.

"I was exceptionally fit at the time. I’m fairly fit now. I was ludicrously fit," he said.

Although you wouldn’t know it, the former Ironman World Championship triathlete said he used to have a hard time even jogging down the street a hundred yards.

"I was fat, out of shape, and a smoker," said Pedder. "My idea of exercise was getting up before the 10 o’clock NFL game started."

Pedder decided to quit smoking in 1999 after two of his friends died of cancer. He weighed 250 pounds in the beginning of 2000, but began following the "12-week challenge" in a book called The Body For Life by Bill Phillips. He exercised and dieted, but one day per week he was allowed to have his "free day," and eat anything he wanted.

On his first "free day," he ordered a giant Dominos pizza with wings and a six pack of beer. He laid out a bathroom towel on the floor and devoured his feast in front of the TV. But by the end of the 12 weeks, his "treat" consisted of eating chicken and leaving some of the skin on it.

A friend who noticed his progress suggested they sign up to run a triathlon as a way to get in shape. Pedder enthusiastically agreed.

"So then I asked him, ‘what’s a triathlon?" Pedder said.

Shortly thereafter Pedder bought a bicycle, joined the Inland Inferno Triathlon Club, and participated in 12 short triathlons his first year. He did better than he expected at his first Ironman in California in 2001, and decided he wanted to qualify for the World Competition in Hawaii. But he was disappointed with his performance at his next Ironman in Wisconsin. He still hoped to go to Hawaii, so he began training with Rick Strauss, a local triathlon trainer.

In the three months before the triathlon, he would get up in the morning and ride 50 miles or run 10 miles before work. He would swim 3,000 yards on his lunch break, and run 10-14 miles in the evening. On Saturdays, he biked 140 miles and ran 3-4 miles. On Sundays he either biked 100 miles or went for a 20 mile run.

Sometimes, he would bike from Los Angeles to San Diego and then take the train back.

He also became a certified cycling and triathlon coach.

"The thing that connects me to most people is that I wasn’t an athlete," he said. "I coached people to their first triathlon because I wasn’t a freak athlete. But that was good."

In 2003, he placed 19th at the Ironman in Cour D’Alene, Idaho, and qualified for the World Championship. That same year, in Kona, Hawaii, he finished in 299th place.

"That kind of burned me out on triathlons," he said.

"I’m a very Type A driven person," he added. "No one’s ever said ‘Jon Pedder likes this a little bit.’"

Before he ever competed in the Ironman, he would also set work or financial goals. Every time he met a goal, he increased it by increments. He also sets goals when he finds new hobbies. When he began to enjoy fishing, he went on trips for three days, then five days, then 10 days, and eventually 17 days. He didn’t want to catch just any fish; he wanted a 200-pound tuna.

"I can’t fish a little bit," he said. "I have to get to the best I can possibly be at whatever I do."

In his 18 months of training for SMSR, Pedder developed a love of mountaineering. After he reached the summit of Mt. Rainier on his 40th birthday, Pedder climbed many other mountains, including Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Orizaba in Mexico.

Pedder has also climbed Denali with members of SMSR and Tacoma Mountain Rescue. On their first attempt, they made it to 17,000 feet, but had to turn back because of a storm. They slept four nights in a snow cave. In 2010, Pedder and another team managed to summit Denali on May 5; they were the first team that year to summit the mountain.

"I’m looking for a sponsor to get me to the Himalayas," he said.

But Pedder also enjoys climbing local mountains.

"The San Gabriel Mountains are filled with the most beautiful canyons," Pedder said.

His experience is beneficial to SMSR, and knowing local mountain ranges is particularly advantageous because the team often works in non-daylight hours.

"I’ve had to come down canyons at 3 o’clock in the morning in the dark, " he said

After they’ve completed their training, the prospective SMSR team members get what they call "on the hill."

"’On the hill’ is a big moment," said Pedder. "It’s pretty awesome."

When a team member is "on the hill," he or she is issued a pager and begins participating in rescue missions.

"And we do all the sexy stuff. We get rappelled out of helicopters. But, the reality is, we hike a lot; we get dirty; we get wet," Pedder said.

SMSR responds to 50-60 calls per year. In addition to people, they’ve also rescued animals, including dogs, mules, and in one case, a bear. But a sobering part of being on SMSR have been those occasions when the team has recovered bodies. In one instance, someone Pedder had known through running triathlons died from falling 1,000 feet. That was a particularly difficult mission, and the team had to deal with snow, sleet, and a landslide at the top of the mountain. But they were prepared for the conditions because of their training.

"It makes me far more aware. I’m a more cautious human being in the mountains," he said. "Every time I go on a rescue, my wife’s like, ‘Be safe.’ Of course I’m going to be safe. I’m with the team."

One of the things Pedder loves is knowing the team can help someone on the worst day of their life.

"That’s my adrenaline rush," he said. "We don’t charge a penny for our services because we’re all volunteers. No one should ever be afraid to dial 911 in the mountains."

The team is even on call at odd hours.

"If you need us anywhere a page will go out to the team day or night. Within one to two hours, the team can go anywhere to do anything," he sid.

Pedder said he feels "naked without" his pager, which he carries with him everywhere. He's been on at least 200 rescue missions and has responded to calls for SMSR from work because his coworkers have told him "Just go."

"It’s guaranteed to go off at any inconvenient time whatsoever. And you will respond," he said.

Sometimes the people who have been rescued even end up becoming a part of the search and rescue effort. On one mission Pedder recognized a guy he helped rescue on another mission.

"The last time I saw you, you were really cold!" Pedder said to him

After four years with SMSR, he was asked to train the new recruits.

"I was quite honored," he said, and added, "I didn’t realize how much work it was!"

In the past year, Pedder has put in about 1,250 volunteer hours. He and Eric Trimblett, SMSR’s vice president, are joint trainers for a group of people that includes ex-Army rangers, engineers, an M.D., a rocket scientist, a CEO, and a tattoo artist.

Being a part of a diverse group of people who are willing to donate so much time to the rescue effort creates strong bonds among the team members.

"You end up trusting someone to hold the rope when you’re dangling on the end of a rope 500 feet down the cliff, " Pedder said.

"You end up so super close to them. It’s amazing. You end up with brothers and sisters, and you end up with dads and moms, too."

One member who passed away a few weeks ago, Dick Sale, had been on the team for 39 years.

"He was like my grandpa, you know?" Pedder said. "What happens is you become a search and rescue person. It becomes part of your soul. It’s who you are. You sign up for one thing. What it turns into is much better." he said.