At 1619 hours, the Team was called to assist in the search for an overdue 80-year-old male hiker last seen near Lake George with an intended destination of TJ Lake. As the Team rallied a response, a pair of Team members staging at Lake George learned that the subject had walked out on his own. He was reunited with his family, and suffered no adverse affects from his adventure. The call was terminated at 1646 hours.
IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Thompson Responders: Beck, Quiring
At 1931 hours the Team was called to assist in a search for an overdue hiker in Lundy Canyon. The subject left his party to continue a short way up the trail to view a cascade, and the remainder of the party continued back to the trailhead. When the subject did not arrive promptly at the trailhead, and darkness was near, the subject was reported as overdue.
The Team responded with 7 members, but the subject walked out on his own prior to the arrival of the Team at the trailhead. The call was terminated at 1941 hours.
IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Buchanan, Creager, Wallace, Torrence, Patterson, Quiring
At 1001 hours, the Team was called to assist with the extraction of a hiker in the vicinity of Green Lake and West Lake who was reportedly incapacitated by overnight snowfall, hypothermia, possible AMS, and dehydration. Location coordinates were provided.
The Team responded to the Green Creek trailhead, and 4 field teams began the hike in. The subject was located near the provided coordinates, and field team members provided water, carried the camper’s gear, and escorted him back to the trailhead where his personal vehicle was located. Upon arrival at the trailhead, the subject opted to decline medical, and departed in his personal vehicle.
IC: Way Ops: Beck Responders: Cowan, Creager, Haugh, Kaufman, Quiring, Senior, Thompson, Torrence
At 1238 hours, the Team received a request from Inyo County Sheriff SAR requesting assistance with a search for a lost person in Saline Valley, Death Valley National Park. Two MOSAR members and a Mono County Sheriff’s Office SAR coordinator responded to the Inyo SAR base at 0600 on May 11, and were flown to their search assignment in a Navy Seahawk MH60S helicopter. After completing a search assignment with approximately 8 miles traveled in temperatures topping at 96 degrees, the MOSAR team members were flown back to the Inyo SAR facility in Bishop. The search remains unresolved as the subject has not been located as of May 17, 2021.
Way and Senior at the LZ in Saline Valley, ready to commence searching. Image by J. Wallace
Wallace departing the LZ for a search assignment.
Responders: Sheriff’s Office: Way. MOSAR: Wallace, Senior
At 1956 hours, the Team was called to search for an overdue mountain biker in the vicinity of Silver Creek Canyon near Bishop, CA. The Team responded, but the mountain biker came out under his own power prior to the arrival of the Team at search base.
IC: Pelichowski Ops: Beck Responders: Hartstrom
At 1319 hours, the Team was called to search for a missing fisherman, an elderly male with dementia, last seen near the hydro intake on Lee Vining Creek in Lee Vining Canyon. Shortly after the arrival of the Team at search base, the fisherman was located by a Mono County Sheriff’s Deputy in a campground a short distance upstream from the place last seen. The deputy delivered the fisherman to a family member who was present at search base.
IC: Pelichowski Ops: Beck Responders: Bush, Cowan, Endo, Haugh, Kaufman, Patterson
At 1443 hours the Team was called to respond to a missing child in the Walker area. The subject was located prior to the arrival of the Team to the search area, though 11 team members were on the way.
IC: Pelichowsky Ops: Beck Responders: Buchanan, Bush, Case, Creager, Guffey, Hammack, L, Haugh, Kaufman, Patterson, Quiring
At 1205 hours on Sunday March 28, the Team was called to assist a skier with an injured right knee in the Tele Bowls. Rescue base was established at the parking area on Sherwin Creek Road. Field teams were transported by snowmobile to a location below the subject, and the field teams ascended the snow slope to reach the subject.
Constructing deadman anchors for the litter lowering. Image: E. Kaufman
The subject was located, and a medical assessment indicated a dislocated patella. The subject was packaged in a thermoplastic litter, and was lowered down the snow slope via rope attached to snow anchors. When the litter reached lower-angled terrain, the subject was loaded into a rescue toboggan towed by a snowmobile, and was transported to base.
Working on lowering the subject to less steep terrain for transport. Image: E.Kaufman
The subject’s view of the lowering. Image: E. Kaufman
The subject refused treatment by Mono County Medics, and was transported by friends to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. The callout was terminated at 1700 hours.
IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Buchanan Responders: Torrence, Patterson, Creager, Quiring, Endo, Knight, Haugh, Zila, Kaufman, Evans
On March 14, 2021, at 1416 hours the Team was called for assistance with a 58 year old female who had fallen while ice climbing in Lee Vining Canyon. The reporting party advised that the subject had a possible femur or pelvis fracture. Air resources were requested, and CHP H20 initially accepted the mission, but was unable to complete the mission due to weather.
The Team responded to the Poole Power Plant (the trailhead for access to Lee Vining Canyon ice routes), and Care Flight was requested and was standing by at the Lee Vining airport. Field teams began the trek into the canyon at 1603 hours, but met a group of spontaneous volunteers transporting the subject in a wire litter about 300 yards from the trailhead.
This group continued the carryout to the trailhead, and delivered the subject to Mono County medics, who transported the subject to Mammoth Hospital. The subject declined Care Flight.
IC: Way, Pelichowski, Gillespie Ops Leader: None Responders: Senior, Quiring, Anderson, Endo, Kallemeyn, Knight, Zila, Evans, Hartstrom
On the afternoon of January 30, 2021, the Team received a standby notice that a 42-year-old male skier had been caught and carried in an avalanche at Punta Bardini. The skier was not buried, but suffered varioius moderate injuries, and members of his party were present and able to assist him in evacuating the area.
Shortly after the standby call, the Team was requested to send one field team of two snowmobiles with riders to assist with the evacuation. A deputy from the Sheriff’s Office was able to ride one of the Sheriff’s Office snowmobiles to the victim and transport him to the road head.
When the MOSAR team arrived, they were directed to assist a Mono County medic with snowmobile transportation, and to assist the Mammoth Lakes Fire Department in retrieving 2 snowmobiles that had become stuck in the deep untracked snow.
Assisting MLFD in digging out their buried sled. Image by J. Bush
Those missions were completed, and the field team returned to base. The subject was transported by POV to Mammoth Hospital for treatment.
This is how deep you sink if you step off the sled… Not a ‘kneel to make it look deep’ image. B. Beck
IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Bush Responder: Beck
On October 28 at 3:41 pm, the Team was called to assist a 77-year-old male who was reported to be lying across the McGee Creek Trail in a semi-responsive state due to possible cardiac issues. The Team was enroute when the call was cancelled. A Mono County Deputy had hiked in, located the subject hiking out, and was advised that no assistance was needed or wanted. All Team members discontinued their response at 3:55 pm.
IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Quiring, Kaufman, Buchanan, Senior, Patterson, Evans, Torrence, Blackman, and Creager
On Saturday, October 17, and 3:14 pm, the Team was called to assist Mono County Animal Control and a pet owner to retrieve an injured dog in the bottom of the Upper Owens River Gorge, a short distance below the Crowley Dam. The Team staged on the rim of the gorge, and a field team descended 800’ of loose scree to the bottom to attempt to locate the injured animal.
The dog, a large (80 lbs!) Husky/Shepherd mix, was located, assessed, and found to be unable to walk. The dog was packaged in a full-body vacuum splint, and the field team began the long climb back to the rim. Another call was put out to the Team for assistance, and more team members joined the field team to help with the carryout.
Preparing for the carry out…
The new field team members brought a titanium litter with an all-terrain wheel, and the dog was re-packaged in this litter. The reinforced field team eventually reached the rim, and returned the animal to its owner. Animal Control later stated that the dog had a sprained leg, bruises, and internal bleeding, but was expected to make a complete recovery.
An upgrade to the titanium litter
At the top…
IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Torrence, Buchanan, Case, Senior, Cucura, and Kallemeyn
The Team was called to search for an 83 year old female with early stage dementia, last seen on the bike path near Snowcreek. Field teams searched the golf course area and local law enforcement searched in the Town limits. The subject was located at the Motel 6 in good condition.
IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Hammack Responders: Wallace, Kaufman, Evans, Mulligan, Haugh, Patterson, Zila, and Hartstrom.
Yosemite SAR requested mutual aid in a search for a 50-year-old overdue hiker. The hiker's stated intentions were to hike from Yosemite Valley to the summit of Half Dome, and then join the JMT and continue to Reds Meadow. The hiker had planned for 6 days, but after 9 days no one had heard from him, and he had not arrived at Reds Meadow.
Yosemite SAR was requesting that a team cover the portion of the trail from Reds Meadow to Donohue Pass, which is on the eastern edge of Yosemite National Park. This portion of trail covers 21 miles and 7,000' +/- in elevation gain, one way. A field team began preparing for departure, but shortly before they left, Yosemite was able to establish communications with the missing hiker and determine that he was at Ireland Lake, and not in need of assistance.
Ops Leader: Yosemite Search & Rescue Responders: Beck, Buchanan, and Senior
Yosemite SAR requested mutual aid for assistance in a search for a 67-year-old male with a history of dementia, missing in the Little Yosemite Valley area. The subject was located prior to the arrival of any MOSAR personnel.
Ops Leader: Yosemite Search & Rescue Responders: Beck
The team received a call shortly after 11 pm on Saturday August 21st for a 57-year-old hiker who departed Rock Creek Canyon and was exhibiting symptoms of heat exhaustion. A party of two hikers discovered the subject, and one of the party hiked out to cell service to call for help while the other stayed behind and administered fluids. The subject appeared to be dehydrated and had difficulty rehydrating orally.
Inyo SAR was also activated as it was initially unclear if the subject was in Inyo or Mono County. Inyo SAR arrived first, treated and packaged the subject, and were transporting him out prior to MOSAR arriving on scene. MOSAR drove up in the Ranger to meet Inyo on their way out, but no assistance from MOSAR was necessary.
IC: Minder Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Torrence, Haugh, Evans, Anderson, Wallace, Quiring, Case, Mulligan
At 0042 the Team was called for assistance to locate a missing, high functioning autistic 16-year-old male from Apple Valley, CA, who was last seen at the Hartley Springs Campground, at approximately 1600 on July 30, 2020. The subject was reported to be driving a yellow Suzuki ATV, and was thought to be somewhat familiar with the area.
Base was established at the Obsidian Dome Parking lot, along Highway 395. Four field teams were deployed in a pickup, a Polaris 6-wheel Ranger, and two Polaris RZRs. The field teams searched the west and east sides of Highway 395 completing multiple search assignments. CHP helicopter H40 joined the search after sunrise, as did a motorcycle field team.
At approximately 1015, it was reported that the subject was at his campsite in the Hartley Springs Campground. All four field teams were recalled. Mono County Paramedics responded and and found the subject to be in good condition. The subject reported that he was driving on the east side of Highway 395 when he became lost and his ATV ran out of gas. He began walking back, but was still unsure of the location of his camp. The subject encountered another off-road traveler and was offered a ride back to his camp. After a debrief the call was terminated at 1057.
IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Wallace, Buchanan, Evans, Torrence, Patterson, Quiring, Hartstrom, Case, and Creager.
The Team was called to assist Mono County Medic 3 personnel in the extraction of a 70-year-old hiker with a head laceration in the vicinity of Rainbow Falls. Several team members responded, and brought the hiker out to the Rainbow Falls Trailhead.
Rolling our subject up the Rainbow Falls trail to the medic unit. Image: J. Bush
IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Torrence, Wallace, Evans, Knight, Zila
At 1127, the Team was called to assist a climber on the 3rd Pillar of Dana who had taken a lead fall and was reporting various injuries. The Team staged at the Lee Vining airport and began assembling gear. CHP helicopter H40 was requested as an aerial resource.
Several field teams drove to Tioga Lake and the trailhead for Glacier Canyon, which leads to the use trail to the top of the Dana 3rd Pillar. Hefting fairly light packs, the field teams made their way to the top of the 3rd Pillar, and built a lowering system to lower a team member and litter to the subject at the top of the third pitch, approximately 300 feet below the summit.
Image of the Team in action, from the Lee Vining airport. Image by J. Pelichowski
The subject was assessed, treated, packaged in the litter, then the rigging team at the top converted the lowering system to a 7:1 mechanical advantage raising system and hauled the subject and attendant back to the summit. CHP H40 had arrived, and was able to land on the Dana Plateau. The subject was carried to the A-Star, and CHP delivered the subject to Mono County medics waiting at the Lee Vining airport who transported the subject to Mammoth Hospital.
Just below the summit, on the way down to treat and retrieve the injured subject.
The rigging team converted back to a descent configuration, and a team member was lowered to assist the injured climber’s partner. The rigging team converted to a raising system and hauled both to the summit. The injured party’s partner hiked out with the Team, who departed after dismantling their rigging systems. The call terminated at approximately 2200.
IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Hammack, L Responders: Anderson, Zila, Kaufman, Knight, Haugh, Torrence, Kallemeyn, Endo, Patterson, Firer, Case, Hodges, Creager
At 1200 the team was called to assist a 19 year-old female from La Mirada, CA with an injured right ankle. The subject was on the trail to Rainbow Falls, about 1/2 mile from Rainbow Falls. Rescue Base was established at the Devils Postpile Ranger Station. Four field teams, consisting of nine team members, went to the aid of the subject.
Team 1 arrived at the subject’s location and performed a medical assessment, and packaged the subject for transport in the wheeled litter. Teams 2, 3 and 4 joined team 1 to assist with the litter carry-out.
After arrival at the Devils Postpile Ranger Station the subject declined treatment, signed a release of care form, and elected to take a personal vehicle to Mammoth Hospital. After a debriefing, the call was terminated at 1425.
IC: Hansen Ops Leader: Buchanan Responders: Evans, Torrence, Firer, Knight, Wallace, Thompson, Senior, Hodges, and Godshalk.