September 11, 2019 #42

On Wednesday, September 11, at 2 am, the Team was requested to assist in the search for an 88-year-old male subject with dementia, last seen at a condominium in the Snowcreek I/II/III development. Mammoth Lakes Police Department was coordinating the search, and mixed field teams of officers and SAR team members searched the area.

Upon inquiry, Mammoth Hospital stated that a person matching the description of the subject had been delivered to the hospital, but he had since left. The focus of the search was moved to Mammoth Hospital, and the subject was located soon thereafter sitting in an unlocked vehicle in the Mammoth Hospital parking lot. This operation concluded at 4:19 am.

IC: MLPD. Ops Leader: Beck. Responders: Creager, Kaufman, Knight, Evans, Buchanan, Hartstrom, Patterson

September 9, 2019 #41

On Monday, September 9 at approximately 9:45 am, the Team was advised of a male climber with a lower leg injury at the base of the Incredible Hulk in Little Slide Canyon. Rescue Base was staged at Mono Village, and field teams were dispatched from this location. CHP H40 was requested due to the difficulty of litter carry-outs in Litlle Slide Canyon, particularly in the absence of snow cover.

CHP H40 arrived at the accident locations ahead of the field teams, and was able to extract the subject and fly him to Bridgeport Metropolitan Airport, where the subject care was transferred to Mono County medics. The operation was terminated at 2:19 pm.

IC: Hansen. Ops Leader: Hammack/Buchanan. Responders: Evans, Kallemeyn, Leyen, Kaufman, Blackman

August 28-29, 2019 #40

At 9:31 pm on Wednesday, August 28, the Team received a report of a hiker who had fallen off the side of the stairs that approach Rainbow Falls. It was reported that the hiker had been seated, and when he attempted to stand, he was dizzy, lost his balance, and fell backward over the edge. A witness estimated his fall to be 30-40 feet, on mostly vertical terrain. The extent of injuries was unknown.

Packaging the subject for transport. Image by J. Bush

Field teams made the short hike to the subject’s location, stabilized him, packaged him in a full-body vacuum splint, and them transported him in a wheeled litter. Upon arrival at the trailhead, subject care was transferred to Mono County Medics, who then transported the subject to Mammoth Hospital. It was learned later in the day of August 29 that the hiker had escaped with very minor injuries, and was released from Mammoth Hospital.

Moving the subject from the SAR litter to the medic’s gurney. Image by J. Bush

IC: None. Ops Leader: Thompson/Bush. Reponders: Buchanan, Carlson, Evans, Kaufman, Patterson, Pavlovsky, Quiring, Senior, Torrence.

August 28, 2019 #39

At 5:41 pm on Wednesday, August 28, the Team received a report of a 29-year-old male climber who had taken a lead fall on the Red Dihedral of the Incredible Hulk. The lead fall occurred around 10 am and resulted in a fractured ankle. The climber and his partner were able to self-rescue from the wall, and then the subject began working his way out through the talus and large blocks toward the use trail with assistance from his climbing partner.

A pair of climbers descending overtook the subject, and stopped to render assistance. They were able to construct a carrier from a climbing rope, and carried the injured climber on their backs. Eventually they tired, and called for assistance.

The Team responded to Mono Village, and two field teams hiked in with a wheeled litter. The group was encountered less than a mile from the trailhead, and the subject was splinted and packaged into the litter. The litter was rolled out to the trailhead, and the subject was transported via personal vehicle to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. The field teams arrived at the trailhead at approximately 8:45 pm.

Assembling the 2-piece litter in preparation for wheel attachment. Image by J. Bush

Preparing to load our subject into the wheeled litter for transport. Image by J. Bush

Transporting our subject toward the trailhead. The image is blurry due to the speed of the litter team on the trail. Image by B. Beck

IC: Hansen. Ops Leaders: Beck/Torrence. Responders: Buchanan, Bush, Creager, Evans, Godshalk, Hartstrom, Hodges, Kaufman, Patterson, Pavlovsky, Quiring, Senior

August 26-27, 2019 #38

At approximately 7 pm on August 26, 2019, the Team was requested by Mammoth Lakes PD to assist with an evidence search. 3 field teams searched the vicinity of 357 Grindelwald, in the Mammoth Knolls, the location of suspected arson. The field teams completed one pass up and down a steep pumice slope in search of evidence, a reported gasoline can, prior to darkness.

Evidence Search in the brush. Image by J. Bush

The suspected arsonist reported that he went up to the top of the hill to watch the sunrise and left a gas can somewhere along the way. The search was postponed at darkness, and resumed briefly on the morning of August 27, 2019.

No evidence here… Image by J. Bush

Or here. Image by J. Bush

IC: D. Hansen. Ops Leader: Bush. Responders: Quiring, Evans, Knight, Buchanan, Patterson, Godshalk, Wallace, Endo, Cucura, Anderson, Senior

August 17, 2019 #37

At 10:23 pm on Saturday, August 17, the team was called for two 18-year-old overdue hikers who had intended to summit Mt. Conness. They had called in at approximately 2 pm and reported that they were near the summit at that time. They had expected to be back by 6 pm, 7 pm at the latest, but by their stated return time there had been no further contact. As the Team began response, the overdue hikers showed up at the trailhead in good condition, having taken a while longer to complete their trek than expected. IC: Hansen. Ops Leader: Beck. Responders: Evans, Fernandez, Wallace, Kaufman, Creager, Dunne, Torrence

August 16, 2019 #36

On Friday, August 16 at 4:38 pm, the Team received a report of a missing 9-year-old girl, last seen near Badger Lake. The Team prepared to send field teams out from Agnew Meadows and Rush Creek, but shortly thereafter there were reports from the trail that the girl had been located near the dam on Gem Lake, a considerable distance from her place last seen (PLS). CHP H 40 was able to land nearby and pick up the girl, and deliver her to the June Mountain Ski Area parking lot. IC: Pelichowsky. No Ops Leader. Responders: Hartstrom, Wallace, Quiring, Fernandez

August 14, 2019 #35

At 1:01 pm on Wednesday, August 14, the Team received a report of a 15-year-old male with a diabetic emergency between Barney Lake and Peeler Lake, above Twin Lakes Bridgeport. The Team responded to the Barney Lake trailhead, and assistance was requested from CHP H40.

CHP H40 was able to respond quickly, and extracted the subject, and delivered him to a waiting medic unit at Mono Village. The subject was transported to Mammoth Hospital for treatment.

Mono Village meadow LZ. Image by M. Quiring

IC: Pelichowsky. Ops Leader: Beck. Responders: Hammack, L, Patterson, Quiring, Buchanan, Wallace, Cucura, Torrence, Dunne, Firer, Evans.

August 13, 2019 #34

On August 13, 2019, the Team received a report of a 68-year-old male who had activated an SOS on a satellite device for general malaise, lethargy, and other symptoms of AMS near Agnew Lake. The Team responded to the Rush Creek Trailhead.

Two field teams left the trailhead in anticipation of a litter carryout, but Field Team 1 located the subject and his traveling companion on the trail below Agnew Lake where they were slowly advancing down the trail. Field Team 1 escorted the subject down the trail, meeting with Field Team 2. All field teams and the subject and his companion walked under their own power to the trailhead. A Mono County medic unit transported the subject to Mammoth Hospital for treatment.

Enjoying the Rush Creek Trail on a warm afternoon. Image by M. Quiring

IC: Hansen. Ops Leader: Wallace. Responders: Blackman, Buchanan, Cowan, Creager, Cucura, Evans, Knight, Quiring.

August 12-13, 2019 #33

On Monday, August 12, 2019, at 11:59 pm, the Team received a report of an SOS activation from a one-way Spot device (the device could not accept incoming messages) that was registered to an 87-year-old male. None of the emergency numbers provided for the Spot device was answered.

The device indicated that the location was near the shore of Greenstone Lake, just west of Saddlebag Lake. The Mono County Sheriff’s Office provided a boat and a deputy to pilot, and transported the field teams across Saddlebag Lake.

On the boat ride across Saddlebag Lake inbound to our subject. Image by B. Beck

The subject was located, and his wife reported that he had suffered seizures, and the subject complained of muscle cramping. The subject was assessed, and transported to the shore of Saddlebag Lake via wheeled litter, and then by Sheriff’s Office boat to the Saddlebag Lake Resort, where he was transferred to the care of Mono County Medics. The medics transported the subject to Mammoth Hospital.

Rolling the litter down the dark and quiet trail back to the lake and the return boat ride. Image by B. Beck

Team debrief after the medics accepted responsibility for our subject. Image by B. Beck

IC: Pelichowsky. Ops Leader: Beck, Torrence. Responders: Carlson, Creager, Evans, Kallemeyn, Mulligan, Quiring, and Wallace.

August 11, 2019 #32

On August 11, 2019, at approximately 2:37 am, the Team received a report of a 37-year-old male with a lower leg injury near Cascade Lake. The Team responded to Saddlebag Lake, and from there hiked in with the wheeled litter to Cascade Lake.

The subject was assessed, packaged in the litter, and transported back to Saddlebag Lake via wheeled litter.

Transportation across Saddlebag Lake provided by the Mono County Sheriff’s Office boat. Image by M. Quiring

IC: Pelichowsky. Ops Leader: Hammack, L. Responders: Pavlovsky, Quiring, Kaufman, Evans, Case

August 10, 2019 #31

On August 10, 2019, at approximately 5:32 pm, the Team received a report of a 28-year-old male who had fainted on the John Muir Trail near Minaret Falls. The location was about 2 miles from the ranger station at Devils Postpile National Park.

Two field teams composed of 11 team members responded to the subject location with medical gear and the wheeled litter. The subject was assessed, and there were indications of possible Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) as well as possible High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).

The subject was packaged in the wheeled litter and transported to the ranger station at Devils Postpile, and then the subject was transferred to the care of Mono County Medic 3. Medic 3 transported the subject to Mammoth Hospital.

A creek crossing on the litter carryout. Image by M. Quiring

On the trail outbound. Image by J. Bush

Image by J. Bush

Image by J. Bush

IC: Hansen. Ops Leader: Beck. Responders: Zila, Mulligan, Anderson, Bush, Torrence, Kaufman, Quiring, Fernandez, Frolio, Cucura, Hartstrom, Evans, Pavlovsky, Bush.

August 10, 2019 #30

On August 10, 2019 at approximately 3:40 pm, the Team received a report of a 49-year-old male climber with an open fracture at the Dreamers bouldering area near Sherwin Summit. In addition to MOSAR, Long Valley Fire and Medic 3 also responded, and due to their proximity arrived on the accident scene first.

The subject was assessed, splinted, packaged in the wheeled litter, and transported a short distance to the medic unit, and was then transported to Mammoth Hospital for treatment.

IC: Pelichowsky. Ops Leader: Beck. Responders: Pavlovsky, Bush, Quiring, Frolio, Fernandez, Zila, Evans

The short transport from the Dreamers to the parking area and the waiting medic unit. Image by J. Bush

Image by J. Bush

August 8, 2019 #29

On August 8, 2019, at approximately 2:16 pm, the Team received a report of a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) in Little Slide Canyon. The Team responded to the trailhead at Mono Village, and field teams hiked toward the location. Prior to the arrival of the field teams, CHP H40 was able to extract the subject.

Hiking on the use trail in Little Slide Canyon. Image by M. Quiring

On the use trail. Image by J. Wallace

Image by J. Wallace

IC: Ops Leader: Hammack, L. Responders: Cowan, Cucura, Fernandez, Hartstrom, Kaufman, Thompson, Wallace.

August 7, 2019 #28

On August 6, 2019, at approximately 10:43 pm, the Team received a report of a 60-year-old male hiker with an injured leg near Barney Lake. The Team waited for first light, and then field teams hiked in from Mono Village with a wheeled litter.

Prior to the arrival of the field teams, CHP H40 was able to extract the subject.

Mono Village meadow LZ. Image by M. Quiring

IC: Ops Leader: Hammack, L. Responders: Buchanan, Cowan, Cucura, Evans, Fernandez, Hartstrom, Kaufman, Patterson, Quiring, Thompson, Wallace.

August 3, 2019 #27

Madera County requested assistance with recovering the remains of a male hiker who had fallen down a snowfield near Iceberg Lake, at the toe of the Minarets. His fall was arrested by rocks, and was unfortunately fatal.

CHP H40 transported a 2-member field team to the location, and the field team packaged the remains, lowered the package to a suitable LZ, and the remains were flown out. CHP H40 returned to extract the field team.

IC: Pelichowsky. No Ops Leader. Responders: Hammack, L, Kaufman, Thompson, Endo.

July 27, 2019 #26

On Saturday, July 27 at approximately 9 pm, the Team received a report of a 20-year-old female who was dehydrated and having seizures near Waugh Lake. Two field teams responded to the Rush Creek Trailhead to hike in to render assistance.

The Seahawk helicopter from Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.used just previously in the evening was re-tasked to Waugh Lake, and arrived prior to the ground team. The Seahwak was able to extract the subject and fly her to Mammoth-Yosemite Airport; from there Mono County Medics transported her to Mammoth Hospital, and then she was transferred to Renown in Reno, NV.

IC: Hansen. Ops Leader: Wallace. Responders: Kaufman, Quiring, Hodges, Godshalk, Guffey, Dunne, Blackman.

July 27, 2019 #25

On July 27, 2019, at 1:04 pm, the Team was called for a reported climber with back, ankle, and pelvic injuries on the third pitch of the 10-pitch 3rd Pillar of Dana. The reporting party called in on a mobile phone and stated that the injured party had taken a lead fall of 25-35 feet, and had impacted a ledge.

Rescue base was established at the Lee Vining airport. There were no air resources immediately available, so 7 field teams drove to the trailhead at Tioga Lake and began the steep hike to the summit. The route that the climber fell off of is approximately 700’ tall, and the reported location of the injured party was on the third pitch, so it was anticipated that two 600’ ropes would be indicated.

Building the 5:1 mechanical advantage. Image by B. Beck

As the field teams arrived on the summit, rope systems were constructed to lower the litter attendant and litter down to the subject, and then to raise both back to the summit. Upon arrival at the subject’s location, a medical assessment was performed, and the subject was found to be stable, but unable to lie on his back.

Manning the belay before conversion to twin-tension system. Image by B. Beck

The mechanical advantage system ready for raise. Image by J. Bush

For the raise, the Team had initially constructed a mechanical advantage of 5:1, but the haul team was struggling to raise the rescuer and subject, and the mechanical advantage was modified to a 7:1. The raise was approximately 300’, and the subject shortly arrived at the summit with the litter attendant.

The litter attendants view back to the summit from the subject location. Image by N. Endo

The litter attendant and subject nearing the summit. Image by B. Beck

The litter was carried approximately 1/4 mile through rough, boulder-strewn terrain to await the arrival of the air transport. A Seahawk (Sikorsky UH60 variant) arrived from Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. The subject was transported to Fresno Community Regional Medical Center.

Transporting the subject away from the edge to the helo pickup area. Image by J. Bush

The China Lake Seahawk looking for a spot to set down. Image by B. Beck

Helo extraction complete, packing up the gear for the hike out. Image by N. Endo

IC: Minder. Ops Leader: Beck/Buchanan/Wallace. Responders: Bush, Creager, Endo, Godshalk, Hammack, Hansen, Haugh, Hodges, Kaufman, Lambert, Padilla, Pavlovsky, Thompson

July 26, 2019 #24

At 2:50 pm on Friday, July 26, the Team was called for a reported 56 year old male mountain biker with an injured ankle on the Mammoth Rock Trail. Three field teams responded, two from the lower trailhead and one from the upper trailhead.

The subject was treated, packaged into the litter, and transported via wheeled litter to the upper trailhead along Old Mammoth Road. The subject was transferred to the care of the Mono County medics, and was then transported to Mammoth Hospital.

IC: Hansen. Ops Leader: Bush. Responders: Kaufman, Quiring, Buchanan, Patterson, Zila, French, Senior, Cucura, Thompson, Haugh, Blackman, Anderson, Guffey

July 23, 2019 19-323 #23

On Tuesday evening, July 23, 2019 at approximately 1740, the Team was called for a 68 year-old female hiker with reported altitude sickness on the Rush Creek Trail. She was approximately 1.5 miles from the Rush Creek Trailhead.

4 field teams departed the trailhead at 1830. The field teams encountered the subject about a half-mile from the trailhead and she was assessed, treated, and transported to the trailhead. The subject was transferred to the care of Mono County Medic Unit 2, and transported to Mammoth Hospital for further treatment.

IC: Hansen. Ops Leader: Bush. Responders: Beck, Pavlovsky, Senior, Quiring, Kaufman, Wallace, Buchanan, Mulligan, Firer, Hodges, Godshalk, Anderson, Endo, and Patterson.