July 3, 2026 26-317 #23

Injured Paraglider Pilot in the Vicinity of Sonora Pass

At 1235 hours the Team was called to assist an injured paraglider pilot after an InReach SOS activation was received from a paraglider who had crashed in the vicinity of Sonora Pass, along the upper portion of Brownie Creek. The medical status of the paraglider pilot was unknown.

Rescue base was established at a pullout on Highway 108, due south of the subject’s GPS coordinates. The Mountain Warfare Training Center Fire Department (MWTCFD) responded from the MWTC Marine Base and immediately requested Careflight. Once Careflight was overhead, the crew requested another helicopter with hoist capabilities.

Immediately after the Sheriff’s Deputy Incident Commander arrived on scene, more appropriate air resources were coordinated, and CHP Helicopter H42 accepted the mission and responded from Fresno. Personnel from MWTCFD made contact with the subject, including a paramedic, while a team from North County, via Rescue 1, deployed to make contact with the subject.

Once all team members were on scene, Operations deployed two additional teams with medical equipment, including a full-body vacuum splint and the Team’s wheeled titanium rescue litter, to assist with the evacuation of the subject. After spending considerable time assessing the subject, the on-scene paramedic and the subject determined together that the externally observable injuries were less serious than originally believed.

Hiking out with the injured pilot.

With occasional assistance from the large number of rescuers on scene, the subject began moving down the mountainside under their own power. Eventually, all teams and the subject met up with Ranger 1, and the subject was ferried the remainder of the way to an awaiting Careflight helicopter. Given the mechanism of injury, even though the subject was able to move themselves downhill under their own power, Careflight departed for Renown Hospital in Reno out of an abundance of caution. H42 was then released from the scene and returned to Fresno. All teams exited the field and conducted a debrief in Pickel Meadows. The operation was terminated at 1752 hours.

The subject arriving at the ground transportation.

Marine Warfare Mountain Training Center Fire Department equipment and personnel were first on scene.

Loading the subject into the Careflight helicopter for transfer to Renown Medical Center in Reno, NV

IC: Belcher Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Arndt, Beck, Campbell, Cucura, Huizingh, Irving-Ruffing, Kelly, Knight, Leyen, Quiring, Salay, Tardy, Wojciechowski

On-Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue