June 15, 2021 Op 21-305 #12

At 1247 hours the Team was called to assist with a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) activation on the Laurel Lakes Road below the Laurel Lakes. The Team responded to the intersection of the Sherwin Creek Road and the Laurel Lakes Road, and a field team began the approach to the coordinates provided by the PLB.

The field team and the Polaris Ranger returning to base.

Due to the difficulty of the road, the field team used the 6-wheel drive Polaris Ranger UTV for transport. The field team encountered two motorcycle riders in the vicinity of the reported coordinates, and learned that one of the riders was carrying a PLB, and that he had inadvertently activated it. It was determined that the rider did not need assistance, and the field team returned to base. The rider apologized for the trouble caused by his inadvertent PLB activation. The operation was terminated at 1408 hours.

The motorcycle riders checking in at rescue base on their way out.

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Thompson, Buchanan, Patterson, Quiring, Evans, Knight, Cucura, and Endo.

June 11, 2021 Op 21-297 #11

At 1152 hours the Team was called to assist a 35-year-old female hiker who had fallen near Crystal Lake resulting in head lacerations. The Team responded to Wood’s Lodge at Lake George and a field team began hiking to the subject’s last reported location.

Assessing our subject near the trailhead.

The field team encountered the subject hiking out on her own about a quarter mile from the trailhead. An assessment was conducted, and the subject continued her hike out accompanied by the field team. The subject opted to seek treatment on her own, and the operation was terminated at 1343 hours.

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Evans, Torrence, Cucura, Senior, Haugh, and Endo.

June 9, 2021 Op 21-2## #10

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

May 30, 2021 Op 21-237 #9

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

May 16, 2021 Op 21-224 #8

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

May 10-11 Op ##-### #7

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

May 9, 2021 Op ##-### #6

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

May 8, 2021 Op 21-203 #5

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

April 25, 2021 Op 21-179 #4

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

March 28, 2021 Op 21-133 #3

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

March 14, 2021 Op 21-104 #2

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

January 30, 2021 Op 21-045 #1

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

October 28, 2020 Op 20-### #19

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

October 17-18, 2020 Op 20-491 #18

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

September 21-22, 2020 Op 20-455 #17

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.

September 3, 2020 Mutual Aid to Yosemite Search & Rescue #16

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

August 27, 2020 Mutual Aid to Yosemite Search & Rescue #15

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

August 22-23 Op 20-392 #14

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

July 31, 2020 Op 20-343 #13

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.

July 24, 2020 Op 20-326 #12

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