June 13, 2026 26-271 #19

Hikers in Distress Near Rainbow Falls

At 1318 hours the Team was called to assist with a pair of female hikers in distress while the Team was participating in a scheduled helicopter training exercise with California Highway Patrol Helicopter 42.

The two hikers, a mother and daughter, were reported to be suffering from heat-related illness and exhaustion after hiking in the warm conditions. Training immediately concluded as team members transitioned to an active rescue. Rescue base was established at Minaret Vista.

CHP H42 operating from the Mammoth-Yosemite Airport

Working alongside CHP H42, operations deployed a team of two rescuers to be inserted directly to the subjects’ location to begin patient assessments. Several teams were also deployed on foot from the trailhead. One patient was hoisted by CHP H42 and flown to Mammoth Yosemite Airport, where she declined further medical evaluation after being assessed.

Hiking in with the titanium break-apart wheeled litter

The second patient was assisted by rescuers and National Park Service (NPS) personnel as she continued toward the trailhead. As her condition worsened due to exhaustion, additional team members responded with a rescue litter. She was packaged and transported by litter to the trailhead, where she was reunited with her family. She also declined further medical care.

Packaging one of the subjects for litter transport

Transporting a subject to the trailhead via wheeled litter

The operation terminated at 1711 hours.

IC: Rhoads Responders: Ackerman, Barker, Campbell, Creager, Glessner, Huizingh, Knight, Lipman, Mathison, Quiring, Romanova, Salay, Schildge, Senior, Tardy, M. Thompson, Wallace Wojciechowski, Zila

On-Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue