Stranded Climbers, 3rd Pillar, Dana Plateau
At 2133 hours the Team was called to assist a pair of climbers stranded on the final pitch of the Regular Route on the 3rd Pillar of Dana.
Rescue base was established at Tioga Lake, just east of the Yosemite National Park entrance. For unknown reasons, initial reports described the party as backpackers potentially stranded or cliffed out on the Dana Plateau.
Rescue operations sent in a field team of two, which departed the trailhead with warm gear and light rigging equipment. A second team of two (Team 2) departed shortly afterward with a single rack of rock protection and a 70-meter static rope.
When Team 1 arrived at the initially reported location, the subjects were not present, and a search of the surrounding rock walls and ledges began. A steady, cold wind on the plateau made communication difficult. After some searching, Team 1 requested that Operations attempt to reestablish contact with the subjects to clarify their location.
Searching for the stranded subjects.
Operations reported back that the climbers were actually at the bottom of the 5th pitch of the Regular Route on the 3rd Pillar. Team 1 requested additional rescuers and rigging equipment. A second call went out to the Team, as well as a mutual aid request to Tuolumne SAR.
Team 1 eventually established verbal contact with the climbers from the top of the 3rd Pillar and confirmed that a rescue was in order. The climbers reported no injuries, but were cold and unable to continue. They were securely anchored approximately 30 meters below the top.
Team 2 joined Team 1, and together they established a two-tension raising system. Given the limited personnel, night conditions, and absence of injuries, it was determined that no rescuer would be lowered over the edge. Instead, a lightly weighted rope bag and coiled rope, deployed by the edge attendant, was lowered to deliver the rescue lines to the stranded climbers. After several attempts, the ropes were successfully delivered to the waiting subjects.
Protecting the ropes from damage over the sharp edge.
Building the mechanical advantage for the raising system.
They were instructed to clip the provided carabiners to their harnesses and assume a seated rappel position. One at a time, they were raised to the top by three rescuers. Upon raising the second subject, all additional responders, including Tuolumne SAR, were cancelled.
The subjects were assessed and provided food, water, and warmer layers. They also assisted the team in breaking down the rescue site. The field teams and subjects began descending around 0400 hours.
Two additional MOSAR team members, already en route via the Glacier Canyon Trail, opted to continue to meet the descending subjects and team members. All parties regrouped and completed the hike out together. The call was terminated at 0609 hours on Monday August 4.
On the trail back to Tioga Lake.
Just about to drop into the final descent section.
IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Quiring, Kelly, Glessner, Carlson, Irving-Ruffing, Thompson
On Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search & Rescue