July 17, 2019 19-311 #21
On Wednesday July 17, 2019, the Team was called for an overdue party of 4 mountain bikers who departed Tom’s Place with the intent of descending the Lower Rock Creek Mountain Bike Trail. The party had been dropped several hours earlier, but had not arrived at the terminus.
Team One was assigned to ascend the trail from the bottom terminus, and quickly located two of the riders, and then the other two shortly thereafter. The riders were escorted out; there were no injuries.
IC: Hansen. Ops Leader: Beck. Responders: Wallace, Mulligan, Bush, Senior, Kaufman, Quiring, Zila, Haugh, Cowan, Torrence, Hennes, and Kallemeyn.
July 15, 2019 19-302 #20 OES 3594
Inyo County Mutual Aid for missing camper in the Grandview Campground
IC: Hansen. Responders: Bush, Wallace
July 13-14, 2019 19-305 #19
At 11:51 pm on Saturday, July 13, the Team was called for a report of a 28 year-old female hiker from the Bay Area who had fallen down a steep snow-filled gully in the vicinity of the Incredible Hulk and had slid out of sight of her hiking partner.
The pair between them had one pair of crampons and one pair of snow traction devices, and they split the gear so that each had a crampon on one foot, and a traction device on the other. They then attempted to cross a steep snowfield above several steep snow-filled gullies, and the subject slipped and slid/tumbled down the gully out of sight of the reporting party (RP).
The RP hailed her partner several times, and no response was received. She realized she was not equipped to safely descend the gully to attempt to locate her friend, and with no mobile phone service available, immediately set out for help.
The RP hiked out approximately 2 hours to Mono Village and from there called 911 via landline for assistance. The Team responded to the Barney Lake Trailhead, just outside of the Mono Village resort.
Three field teams comprised of nine rescuers (including 3 EMTs) left Rescue Base at approximately 12:30 am (technically now Sunday, July 14) and the RP accompanied the field teams to guide them to the PLS (Place Last Seen). Navigating in the dark by headlamp, the field teams arrived at the PLS in approximately 2.5 hours.
Hiking the Barney Lake Trail enroute to the subject
Searching for the subject on the steep snowfields via roped belay. Image by B. Beck
The subject was quickly located, but was found to be in critical condition with traumatic head injuries, numerous broken bones, hypothermia, and likely internal damage. The subject was non-responsive throughout.
Treating subject while awaiting air extraction. Image by B. Beck
Prior to leaving Rescue Base, the field teams had requested air resources, due to extremely difficult travel conditions between the Barney Lake Trail and the base of the Incredible Hulk. CHP H40 stated that they would begin flight preparations and preflight at 0430, and would be on station by 0600.
CHP H40 arriving with the Bowman Bag for subject extraction. Image by B. Beck
The subject was treated and packaged, and her condition continued to deteriorate. The filed teams initiated rescue breathing to maintain vitals. CHP H40 arrived overhead at approximately 0700, assessed the situation, and departed to drop excess gear. At 0740 CHP H40 lowered the bowman bag, and the titanium frame litter was loaded into the bag, and H40 raised the package.
Packing up for the hike out. Image by B. Beck
Heading out. Image by B. Beck
Gathering the tag line for CHP H40. Image by B. Beck
CHP H40 then flew the subject directly to Bridgeport International Airport, and the subject was transferred to Care Flight and flown to Renown Medical Center in Reno, NV.
The field teams packed their gear, and hiked back to Rescue Base, arriving at approximately 0930, for a total of about 9 hours in the field. The Team displayed extraordinary team work, competence, and professionalism in successfully effecting this extraction and rescue. The Team continues to perform outstanding work. As this is written, our subject remains in critical condition.
IC: Hansen. Ops Leaders: Beck/Wallace. Responders: Hammack, L, Creager, Evans, Knight, Kaufman, Quiring, Patterson, Hansen, T.
July 12, 2019 19-302 #18 OES 3594
Mutual aid to Inyo County for a missing hiker from the Grandview Campground.
Searching the back roads near Grandview Campground. Image by J. Wallace
IC: Minder. Team Leader: Wallace. Responders: Kaufman, Bush, Buchanan, Patterson, Quiring, Case
July 6, 2019 19-292 #17
On Saturday, July 6 at 1520, The Team was called for a reported 44 year-old female hiker with a fractured ankle near McLeod Lake. The Team responded to the trailhead at Horseshoe Lake, and a field team of 4 SAR members left the trailhead in search of the subject.
A group of hikers interviewed on the hike in stated that they had seen a woman with an ankle injury carried out in the direction of the trailhead.
It was then determined that the subject had been rescued by an unknown group of persons, and was at Mammoth Hospital for treatment. The field teams returned to base, and the operation was terminated at 1627.
IC: Minder. Ops Leader: Wallace. Responders: Buchanan, Thompson, Guffey, Quiring, Torrence.
June 28, 2019 19-269 #16
On Friday, June 28th 2019 at 1950, the Team was called assist a 55 year-old female hiker with leg cramps on the Sherwin Lakes Trail. A single large field team left the Sherwin Creek trailhead to locate and assist the subject.
Arriving at the trailhead with our subject. Image by J. Bush
At the end of the ride. Image by J. Bush
The subject was located a short distance from the trailhead, and was treated and packaged into the wheeled litter, and transported to base. The subject and her companion departed SAR base via personal vehicle.
IC: Pelichowsky. Ops Leader: Bush/Beck. Responders: Torrence, Evans, Mulligan, Zila, Anderson, Knight, Dunne, Cucura, Patterson, Buchanan, Creager, Cowan, Case, Guffey.
Image by J. Bush
June 24, 2019 19-264 #15
On Monday, June 24 at 9:39 pm, the Team was called for a 17 year-old male fisherman reporting himself lost in the vicinity of Starkweather Lake. The Sheriff’s Office was able to get a good location from the subject’s mobile phone.
The Reds Meadow road was cleared, but not yet open, so the field team assigned to locate the subject was able to access the area via the paved road. The location coordinates indicated that the subject was approximately 600 yards from the road.
There were several creek crossings along the way, and the crossings were hazardous due to cold, swift water from the peak of the spring runoff season. The subject was located and escorted back to the rescue vehicle, and Mono County deputy provided transport to the subject.
IC: Pelichowsky. Ops Leader: Beck. Responders: Wallace, Bush.
June 19, 2019 19-253 #14
At approximately 7 pm, Wednesday June 18, Two female hikers from Mission Viejo called 911 to report that they were lost in the vicinity of Valentine Lake. The Mono County Sheriff’s Office was able to obtain a ping from their mobile phone, and provided the ping coordinates to the Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team.
The Team responded with 16 searchers to the Sherwin Lakes trailhead. 3 field teams trekked up the trail, and soon had aural contact with the subjects via whistle, and shortly thereafter had visual contact. The subjects were provided with headlamps and escorted down the trail and back to the trailhead. They suffered no injuries or duress.
Image by J. Bush
Ops Leaders: Beck, Wallace. Responders: Torrence, Bush, Mulligan, Quiring, Carlson, Kaufman, Patterson, Evans, Senior, Pavlovsky, Buchanan, Hammack, L, Anderson, and Hennes.
June 18, 2019 OES ###, 19-248 #13 Mutual Aid
The Mono County Sheriff’s Office was contacted for a mutual aid request in support of the search for a 47-year-old Virginia hiker in the Mt. Whitney area missing since June 12. 4 Team members responded, and were assigned a search area to the north of Mirror Lake.
Image by J. Wallace
The field team accessed their search area via the Mt. Whitney trail, and then by cross-country travel. The field team concluded the search of their area without any evidence of the missing hiker. They returned to base via the Mt. Whitney trail.
Image by J. Wallace
Image by J. Wallace
The subject was located that same day on the north side of Mt. Whitney. Unfortunately he was deceased.
IC Pelichowsky. Responders: Quiring, Creager, Wallace, and Kaufman
June 10, 2019 19-236 #12
On Monday, June 10, the Team was called to respond to a report of a 68 year old male from Chalfant, CA, injured in a fall on the south side of Mt. Morrison, at an approximate elevation of 11,200’. The RP had activated a PLB, and a good location was acquired. In addition, the RP had a satellite phone, so the IC had communication with the group. The Team staged on the east side of Convict Lake. Air resources were requested.
Two field teams left Rescue Base and began the climb up to the subject’s location. In addition, the CHP called in a crew for helicopter H40, which was just finishing up routine maintenance. H40 responded to the coordinates provided by the PLB, and quickly located the subject on steep talus terrain.
H40 landed at the Mammoth-Yosemite airport, stripped extraneous gear, and onboarded a Team member, who was down-hoisted to the subject’s location. H40 returned for another SAR member and the titanium litter and Bowman Bag, which were also down-hoisted to the subject’s location.
H40 returned to the airport for fuel and to wait for the subject to be packaged, then returned to the scene and hoisted out the subject and delivered him to Medic 3 back at the airport. H40 then extracted the two SAR members on scene.
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Field teams 1 and 2 had been put on standby and requested to hold their position upon the arrival of H40. Once H40 successfully retrieved the subject, the field teams were advised to return to base.
Field team holding for helicopter extraction of the subject. Image by J. Bush
The subject indicated that he had been walking on snow, with crampons, when he tripped and began sliding down the steep snowfield. He slid out of sight of his companions on a steep rollover, and then his momentum was subsequently arrested by exposed rocks, though he tumbled approximately 30’ over the rocks before coming to rest.
The SAR medical team indicated that the subject had a 2” laceration to the back of his head by a sharp rock that penetrated his helmet, and a possible skull fracture, though not displaced. The subject likely had a fractured shoulder and scapula, as well as other lacerations and contusions.
Medic 3 delivered him to Mammoth Hospital, and he was subsequently flown to Renown, current condition unknown.
IC Pelichowsky, Ops Leader Beck/Cowan. Responders: Blackman, Buchanan, Bush, Creager, Dunne, Kaufman, Knight, Patterson, Pavlovsky, Senior, Torrence, Evans, and Wallace
May 31, 2019 19-217 #11
On Friday, May 31 at 3:57 pm, the Team responded to a call for a 55-year-old female with a possible ankle fracture approximately one mile in on the Parker Lake Trail in the June Lake Loop. The Team had 18 responders for the call. Several field teams went in with medical gear and the wheeled litter at approximately 4:30 pm.
Field teams leaving the trailhead. Image by M. Quiring
The subject was treated by members of her own party prior to arrival of the field teams, and her party had been attempting to help her our on their own, but were concerned about the length of time passing.
The Jeffrey Pine splint applied by the subject’s hiking companions. Image by M. Quiring
Preparing the subject for transport via wheeled litter. Image by M. Quiring
The Team packaged the subject for transport in the wheeled litter and quickly rolled her out to the trailhead; she arrived at 5:56 pm and she was transported by her party to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. The hospital verified that the injury was in fact a fracture, and surgery was pending a reduction in swelling at the time this narrative was produced.
Easy roll out to the trailhead. Image by M. Quiring
IC Pelichowsky, Ops Leader, Beck/Wallace. Responders: Evans, Kaufman, Anderson, Patterson, Quiring, Carlson, Cucura, Torrence, Endo, Creager, Hennes, Zila, Cowan, Hartstrom, Lambert, Padilla.
May 18-19, 2019 19-200 #10
Saturday evening at 7:37 pm we had a call for a skier with a possible broken leg near the entrance to the North Couloir on the Incredible Hulk. A party of 3 had hiked in from Mono Village, waded across Robinson Creek (which as expected for spring time was running fast and cold), and continued up Little Slide Canyon. About 30 minutes after crossing the creek, they hit the snowline, and put on their skis and skins and continued up the canyon.
As the terrain became steeper below the entrance to the couloir, they removed their skis and bootpacked up the couloir. On the descent, one of the skiers fell from about 3/4 height, and tumbled and slid down the couloir, and when the fall ended, he found he had multiple left leg fractures, but most notably an open tib-fib with considerable bone exposed. The accident occurred at approximately 5 pm.
One of the group activated a PLB, and they waited for a helo to collect them (it was later learned that no PLB activation was recorded). The helo did not arrive, and one of their party hiked out to Mono Village and reported the accident to the SO. The Team was activated, and 3 large field teams were sent out. The weather was cold, and as the field teams were gathering gear, it began to snow. All teams departed well after dark; it is about 3 miles in on the trail, and just past the wilderness boundary, the field teams left the trail and found the downed tree crossing.
There is a use trail on the south side of the creek that leads into Little Slide Canyon, and all field teams used this and the downed tree bridge instead of wading the creek. At base the decision had been made to send the field teams with snowshoes as few folks had skis, skins, and ski crampons. Little Slide Canyon was covered in deep snow, and is quite steep in places, and the Team's technical snowshoes were well suited to the terrain.
The field teams arrived at the subject's location at approximately 12:42 am and found him to be in tremendous pain, and his injury grievous, with considerable blood loss. He was packaged in a SKED litter, and a long series of lowerings commenced at 1:35 am.
One of the many litter lowerings on the way out. Image by Mitchell Quiring
The SKED litter was lowered approximately 800’ via anchored belays, and then carried/dragged over the snow to the snowline.
The wheel and titanium litter had been left at snowline; there was moderate snowfall all night, over 6" in all, and the uptrack was obliterated, making it difficult to retrace the route, and to find the litter and wheel. Eventually they were located, and the entire package of SKED litter and subject were loaded into the wheeled litter. The descent had many snow-covered sidehills, and these were very difficult to cross with the wheeled litter. In addition, there were sections of thick brush, willows, boulder fields, and dense trees.
The use trail was regained, and it was entirely different than it was on the ascent, due to the continuous overnight snowfall. There were very narrow, precipitous sections, and many smooth granite slabs now covered in fresh snowfall. Air resources were requested, but the weather was still a limiting factor. CHP H40 stated that they could not cross the Sierra, and Fallon was not sure what they could do.
Daybreak, still a ways to go. Image by B. Beck
Considering our options. Image by Mitchell Quiring
Multiple belays were built to safeguard the Team and the subject as they continued the sketchy descent. The belay teams were leap-frogging to keep the litter moving, while preventing falls into the abyss. After many, many belayed sections down the marginal use trail, the field teams arrived on the valley floor.
Preventing the litter and attendants from going over the side. Image by Mitchell Quiring
Belay number 1,043 or so… Image by B. Beck
The last series of belayed lowerings. Image by B. Beck
It was not feasible to cross the downed trees with the litter, so the litter team hopped in the freezing cold 2-foot deep creek (after spending the entire night out in the cold and snow), and waded the litter to the other bank. From there it was 3 miles on the snow-covered trail back to the trailhead, and urgency was indicated as the steady blood loss continued unabated.
Refreshing creek crossing. Image by Mitchell Quiring
Creek crossing. Image by Mark Zila
Gaining the trail immediately after the creek crossing. Image by B. Beck
Nearing the trailhead. Image by Mark Zila
The subject was handed off to Mono County Medics, and was then flown out on Care Flight. The subject’s ski partner indicated that after surgery, it is likely that the subject will not lose his leg; that is amazing considering the severity of the injury, and the time it took to get him out due to extremely difficult conditions.
The Team displayed extraordinary team work, competence, and professionalism in successfully effecting this extraction and rescue. At one point there were 18 personnel out in the field, and 16 of those were out for the entire duration from 7:37 pm on Saturday night until 9:14 am Sunday morning, a tremendous effort. The Team continues to perform outstanding work.
IC Pelichowsky, Ops Leader Beck/Wallace. Responders: Patterson, Torrence, Hansen T, Zila, Buchanan, Bush, Creager, Hammack L, Hartstrom, Pavlovsky, Quiring, Anderson, Montgomery, Mosher, Mulligan, Evans, Senior, Padilla
April 28, 2019 19-167 #9
The Team was called for a carry out of an injured climber in the Owens River Gorge. The staging area was to be the 3rd (upper) parking area. Based on initial reports of the severity of the injury, Care Flight was called, as well as Mono County Medic 3 unit. Numerous bystanders, including a physician, RN, and others with medical training rendered aid, and transported the subject to the trailhead, most likely via one of the in situ litters stationed in the Gorge, where they were met by Medic 3.
Medic 3 stated that no further assistance was needed, and most of the responders turned around prior to arrival at the trailhead.
IC Pelichowsky, Ops Leader Beck. Responders: Patterson, Kaufman, Quiring, Buchanan, Wallace, Case, Cowan
March 23, 2019 19-113 #8
In the late afternoon of March 23, 2019, the Team received a report of a snowmobile accident near the summit of Bald Mountain. It was reported that the subject had a very serious ankle injury. The Team responded to Deadman Summit, and a field team of 8 rescuers and 7 snomos departed rescue base.
The Reporting Party was located, and he led the responders to the subject, who was nearby. The subject had a severely broken ankle/leg, with an open fracture and significant blood loss. The subject was packaged and transported via Rescueboggan to rescue base, where he was delivered to Mono County medics. The medics transported the subject to Mammoth Hospital for treatment.
IC Pelichowsky, Ops Leader Beck. Responders: Wallace, Patterson, Rea, Kaufman, Bush, Hammack, L, Carlson, Quiring, Fernandez
March 14, 2019 19-086 #7
On March 14, 2019 two MOSAR members were deployed to assist Inyo County Sheriff's Office with an area search and RECCO search of the Kearsarge Pass area.
On the flight to Kearsarge Pass. Image by Mitchell Quiring
2 SAR personnel were deployed with 2 additional Inyo County SAR members and 4 additional Marine Corp searchers to the Big Pothole Lake area near the top of Kearsarge pass via helicopter.
All 8 personnel skied from the top of the pass to the bottom of the canyon to their vehicles. No clues were located. 2 Mono County SAR Personnel were on scene from 0500 to 1800 hours.
IC: Pelichowsky. Responders: Quiring, Cucura
Preparing for helo transport to Kearsarge Pass. Image by Mitchell Quiring
Preparing for helo transport to Kearsarge Pass. Image by Joey Cucura
March 13, 2019 19-086 #6
On March 13, 2019 two MOSAR members were deployed to assist Inyo County Sheriff's Office with an area search and RECCO search of the Onion Valley Trail head parking lot and campground. Both SAR members were deployed and retrieved via Seahawk helicopter. No clues were located. SAR members were on scene from 0600-1800 hours.
IC: Pelichowsky. Responders: Quiring, Hammack L.
The LZ is a little soft… Image by Luke Hammack
Seahawk transportation to the search area. Image by Mitchell Quiring
Image by Inyo SAR
March 8, 2019 19-086 #5
On March 8, 2019 seven (7) Mono County Search and Rescue members deployed to the Bishop Airport for an Inyo County mutual aid request/standby for aerial searching in progress for Kraft.
SAR personnel were tasked with ground searching the area of Onion Valley Road and all other possible trailheads in an attempt to locate Kraft's Jeep. The Jeep was not located until the following day.
7 SAR personnel were on scene from 0500 hours to 1800 hours. IC: Pelichowsky. Responders: Torrence, Beck, Wallace, Leyen, Buchanan, Hammack L, Quiring
Inyo County snowcat attempting to reach the trailhead. Image by Inyo SAR
February 24, 2019 19-071 #4
The Team was called for an overdue snowboarder after closing at MMSA. After the Team’s arrival, MMSA Ski Patrol was able to located the subject.
IC Pelichowski, Ops Beck, Responders Hammack L.
February 23, 2019 19-070 #3
Skier overdue at closing time, MMSA. After the Team arrived MMSA Ski Patrol was able to locate the overdue skier using coordinates provided by the Sheriff’s Office, acquired from the subject’s mobile phone.
IC Pelichowski, Ops Hammack, L. Responders Beck,
February 17, 2019 19-063 #2
On Sunday, February 17, the Team received a call for a disoriented snowshoer near Earthquake Dome. Two team members drove to the Cinder Shed, and launched two snowmobiles on the trail system. The subject was located on the trail system, 2-3 miles from the Cinder Shed. She was returned to the trailhead via snowmobile.
IC Pelichowski, Responders: Quiring, Bush