December 25, 2025 25-736 #47
Stranded hiker on Highway 120 east near Sagehen Summit.
At 1216 hourstThe Team was called to assist a stranded hiker who was planning to walk from Bridgeport to Bishop. The hiker vastly underestimated the severity of the atmospheric river storms that were moving through the area, and became stranded and asked for assistance. The team staged near the Panum Crater turnoff as 120 East had not been plowed and was gated at the winter closure near Navy Beach. A field team of two rode mountain sleds east on 120, went around the winter closure gate, and continued toward the subject's marked location.
After passing Mono Mills, and starting the climb toward Sagehen Summit, the snow became noticeably deeper. The top 18" were somewhat supportive, but below that was 4' or more of completely unconsolidated snow. Both mountain sleds are 800s with a 155" track and are very capable machines, but as the grade steepened, both sleds became stuck in 6' of snow. After mulitple excavations and tries, the Sheriff's Office was contacted, and their snowcat requested. The field team returned to base.
A sergeant and deputy arrived at the staging area with the snowcat, and it took approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes to travel just less than 11 miles to the subject location through very difficult snow conditons. The subject was located and transported back to the staging area. The return trip was much quicker as the path was packed in from the approach. The operation was terminated at 2212 hours.a
Travel was difficult in deep unconsolidated snow
On Highway 120 east just past the winter closure gate
There was 18” of somewhat supportive snow over 4-6’ of unconsolidated low quality snow
Often the snow was so deep it was pushing over the sled cowling
The Sheriff’s Office snowcat following the trenches left by the mountain sleds.
The Sheriff’s Office snowcat breaking trail
The snowcat with a Sergeant and Deputy aboard locate the stranded subject.
IC: Pelichowski, Belcher Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Leyen, Carlson