Mutual Aid with the Freson County Sheriff’s Office for a Disoriented Hiker at Duck Lake Saturday, June 14th, 2025, 25-315, #10
At 1606 hours, the Team was called for a mutual aid request from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office regarding a 53-year-old male hiker of unknown status between Duck Lake and Pika Lake. The request came via satellite text-to-911, and few details were available. Rescue base was established at the Duck Pass Trailhead.
Rescue Operations deployed a hasty field team of three, including two Wilderness EMTs, equipped with medical gear and satellite communications, to proceed up the trail toward the subject to assess the situation. A second field team of two was deployed shortly after to clear the Emerald Lake Trail. Rescue Operations also requested assistance from CHP Helicopter H40, and H40 accepted the mission pending completion of another call.
Nearing Duck Pass
Subsequent phone pings showed no movement from the initial coordinates, and no additional follow-up information was received from the subject. Just as Team 1 crested Duck Pass from the Mono County side into Fresno County, H40 flew over the subject’s location, landed nearby, and made contact.
The subject reported departing Duck Pass Trailhead early that morning but became tired and chose to rest at camp. Upon waking, he was highly confused and disoriented, prompting the call for help. By the time help arrived, the subject’s disorientation had resolved, and he declined any further assistance.
H40 departed, and all field teams returned to base.
Descending the west side of Duck Pass
The operation was terminated at 2017 hours.
IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Quiring, Lipman, Kaufman, Wallace, Huizingh, Cucura, Dickau, Zila
On-Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue