July 27-28, 2021 Op 21-404 #17

Yosemite National Park requested mutual aid assistance in the search for 72-year-old hiker in the vicinity of Red Peak Pass. A field team of three departed Mono County and arrived at the Crane Flat Helitack Base around 700 hours for the NPS SAR briefing.

Preparing for helicopter insertion. Image by M. Quiring

At approx. 1000, the team was flown into Lower Merced Pass Lake in 551, the NPS contract helicopter. The Mono Team was assigned to a 2 day, 1 night in-the-field operational period to increase search efficiency. In the assigned search areas, the team found conditions to be rough, steep, bush-laden and generally arduous. After a thorough search of their assigned search areas for the day, Park Operations advised the team to head back to basecamp at Lower Merced Pass Lake for the night.

A sampling of the search area. Image by M. Quiring

Early the next morning, on 7/28, the team was assigned new search zones from NPS operations. At approximately 0715 the team began to cover their assigned areas— again in equally rough, steep, and brushy terrain. By roughly 11:30, severe weather began to move into the area. Park Operations made the call to have the MOSARl field team removed by helicopter, 551, back at Lower Merced Pass Lake. 

Back at Crane Flat Helitack, A debrief was conducted and the Mono team’s operational period came to a close.

IC: NPS Responders: Quiring, Endo, Kaufman

July 16-17, 2021 Op 21-376 #16

At 2244 hours the Team was called to assist the crew of Longhorn 02, a Navy MH-60 Knighthawk helicopter from Naval Air Station Fallon. The crew reported a “hard landing” near Mt. Hogue, in the White Mountain Range at approximately 1700 hours on July 16, while conducting search and rescue (SAR) operations for an overdue hiker/peak bagger in Esmeralda County.

The aircrew consisted of four personnel - a pilot, co-pilot, and two crewmen. The landing site was at 11,700 feet, in very rugged terrain in Mono County. The crew were able to communicate following the impact, but a follow-on helicopter mission launched Friday evening from NAS Fallon was unable to retrieve them. At some point the incident was upgraded from a “hard landing” to a crash. An overnight kit was dropped to the survivors, who spent the night on the mountain.

A field team of four Mono SAR team members were called to standby Friday evening at 2244. On Saturday morning. an additional MH-60, Longhorn 01 , launched from Naval Air Station Fallon, and provided on-scene coordination, but could not effect a rescue. A CH-47 Chinook from Mather Air Force Base was called in for its superior high-altitude performance characteristics.

At approximately 1115, the CH-47 dropped off four Mono SAR team  members on the summit of Mt. Hogue, who hiked down  a 500 foot scree field to the crash site where two of the survivors were waiting. The other two survivors were 250 feet further down the mountain.

One subject was suffering from for Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). The helicopter crew were given food and water and hiked back to the landing zone at the top of Mt. Hogue, at 12,400’.  The CH-47 flew to the Mammoth-Yosemite airport for fuel and returned to the scene. 

At  approximately 1400 hours, the crew of Longhorn 02 were safely recovered aboard the CH-47.  The original incident of the overdue hiker was resolved earlier when he encountered other hikers.  The call was terminated at 1453 hours.

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck/Bush Responders: Endo, Case, and Quiring.  The Team volunteered 20 man hours for this call.

Epilogue

A CH-53K prototype from Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron VMX-1 recovered a US Navy MH-60S Seahawk that suffered a hard landing last July on Mount Hogue in the White Mountains of California.

Departing the impact zone. Image by Cpl Therese Edwards.

CH 53K completing its design mission, lifting the 15,200 pound MH60 at almost 12,000’. Image by Cpl Therese Edwards.

Delivering the MH60 to the Bishop airport. Image by Cpl Colton Brownlee.

July 14, 2021 Op 21-369 #15

At 1058 hours the Team was called to assist Mono County medics in the recovery of a deceased hiker on the Duck Pass trail. A field team was dispatched with a litter and litter wheel approximately 1/2 mile up the trail. The subject was located and packaged, and transported to the custody of the Coroner at the trailhead. The call terminated at 1310 hours.

IC: MLPD Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Evans, Wallace, Buchanan, and Dunne.

July 10, 2021 Op 21-359 #14

At 1159 hours the Team was called to assist 2 climbers stranded on Laurel Mountain. The climbers stated via text message on their Inreach satellite device that they had climbed terrain they were unable to downclimb, and the terrain above was too difficult. The climbers did not have a rope, harnesses, or any gear to build anchors for a rappel.

Rescue base was established at the Convict Lake Dayhiker’s Parking Area, and a field team of 4 were boated across the lake to hike in and climb the Northeast Gully to reach the stranded climbers. Air resources were requested to expedite the rescue as there were thunderstorms in the area.

A field team was sent to establish a radio relay on a nearby ridge, and another team took the spotting scope to the southeast side of Convict Lake to attempt to locate the climbers. The climbers were located by the spotting team and determined to be one gully to the north of the Northeast Gully.

Shortly after the field team began their ascent, moderate rain began, and the rain-slicked rock was difficult to climb, so the climbing team was on hold until the rain stopped. In the interim, a UH-60 variant helicopter from Lemoore Naval Air Station arrived in the area. The spotting team guided the Seahawk to the stranded climbers via radio directions. The Seahawk off-loaded some gear, consumed some fuel, and tucked into the gully above the stranded climbers for a successful extract via winch. The rescued party was delivered to the Mammoth-Yosemite airport. The call was terminated at 1832 hours.

Lemoore Naval Air Station aircraft at the Mammoth-Yosemite airport after climber extraction. Image by J. Bush

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Buchanan, Bush, Case, Creager, Cucura, Dunne, Endo, Evans, Hartstrom, Kaufman, Patterson, Quiring, Senior, and Wallace.

July 5, 2021 Op 21-347 #13

At 1025 hours the Team was called to assist in the search for an overdue hiker traveling from Horseshoe Lake to Sotcher Lake via Mammoth Pass. Prior to the Team's arrival at the trailhead, the subject walked out on his own. The callout concluded at 1113 hours.

IC: Hansen, D MLPD Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Torrence, Dunne, Endo, Buchanan, Patterson, Evans, Kaufman, Cucura

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.