October 2-3, 2021 Op 21-557 #30

At 2212 hours, the Team was requested to assist with a female hiker in the Mt. Baldwin area who was benighted and claimed to be suffering from a panic attack. The Team staged at Convict Lake, and a field team departed to attempt to locate the hiker.

After searching until approximately 0200 hours on October 3, the field team was unable to locate the distressed hiker, and returned to base. The hiker later reported that she was with a friend, and no further assistance was needed.

IC: Way Responders: Evans, Kaufman

October 1-2, 2021 Op 21-556 #29

At 1825 hours the Team received a request to assist a climber on the 3rd Pillar of Dana who had fallen and injured his ankle, and the ankle was unable to bear weight. The climber and his partner rappelled to the base of the climb, but were unable to hike up and out on the approach trail. Due to impending darkness, the Team advised the injured climber to remain in place, and advised that rescue would occur at first light on October 2.

A Sikorsky UH-60 variant from Lemoore Naval Air Station (call sign Lasso) accepted the mission, and the intent was to transport Team members to the base of the 3rd PIllar and extract the subject. Lasso approached the landing zone and a power check determined that they were unable to complete the mission as designed, so plan B was implemented.

Lemoore Naval Air Station departing the drop zone.

The drop zone on the Dana Plateau.

Lasso landed at the Lee Vining airport and transported team members to the top of the 3rd PIllar in 3 round trips. As personnel and equipment arrived, the Team constructed a lowering system and lowered a litter and attendant approximately 700’ to the base. The subject was packaged, and the Team converted to a technical raise with a 5:1 mechanical advantage to transport the attendant and subject to the summit.

Rigging team on the skyline atop the Dana Third Pillar.

A 600’ rope was not long enough, adding on 300’ more, and passing the knot on the lower.

Lasso landed on the Dana Plateau and transported the subject to the Lee Vining airport. The subject declined medical attention. The operation terminated at approximately 1400 hours on October 2.

IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Hammack Responders: Beck, Buchanan, Patterson, Quiring, Zila, Godshalk, Creager, Kaufman, Hartstrom, Kallemeyn, Case, Endo, Evans.

August 29, 2021 Op 21-474 #28

At 1559 hours assistance was requested to aid a 28-year-old female climber with a reported open ankle fracture in the vicinity of Emerald Lake. The Team responded, and staged at the Coldwater Campground. Three field teams hiked in to Emerald Lake, and the subject reported that she was bouldering and landed awkwardly after her dismount.

Preparing the subject for transport. Image by J. Bush

The subject was treated and packaged in a titanium litter, and carried across the boulder field with assistance from other hikers in the area. After intersecting the trail, the trail wheel was attached to the litter and the subject was transported to the trailhead. The subject refused medical transport, and the team litter was loaded into her brother’s vehicle, and her brother transported her to Mammoth Hospital for further treatment. The call was terminated at 1934 hours.

IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Haugh, Torrence, Evans, Kaufman, Anderson

August 20, 2021 Op 21-463 #27

At 1730 hours assistance was requested from the Team for a 79-year-old male on the Pacific Crest Trail in the vicinity of the highway crossing at Sonora Pass. The subject was complaining of chest pain and a shortness of breath, and has a history of cardiac issues.

The Team responded to Sonora Pass, and in the interim the hiker had continued toward the highway assisted by other hikers he met on the trail. The Team met the hiker approximately 1/4 mile from Sonora Pass, escorted him out, and released him to the care of his wife. No medical assistance was provided. The call terminated at 2131 hours.

Debriefing a very short operation. Image by J. Bush

IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Kallemeyn, Hartstrom, Patterson, Buchanan, Creager

August 16, 2021 Op 21-457 #26

At 1147 hours, the Mono County Sheriff’s Office received a request from Madera County to assist with a possible carryout from Rainbow Falls. A 70-year-old female on horseback became dizzy and briefly lost consciousness after dismounting her horse.

Since she still felt slightly dizzy upon standing the decision was made to transport the subject to the trailhead via wheeled litter. A Madera Deputy, 2 Mono County Paramedics, National Park Service personnel and 3 MOSAR volunteers wheeled the subject back to the Reds Meadow Pack Station. She was taken to Mammoth Hospital via ambulance for follow up care. The call was terminated at 1537 hours.

IC: Madera County Sheriff’s Office Ops Leader (MOSAR): Buchanan Responders: Patterson, Evans

August 7-8, 2021 Op 21-437 #25

At 1651 hours the Mono County Sheriff’s Office received a request for assistance via the California State Warning Center via an Inreach satellite device. The Inreach message indicated a back injury, with a location initially reported at Tower Lake in Tower Canyon, eventually moving a couple miles down the trail toward Upper Piute Meadows.

The reported location was approximately 11 miles from the closest trailhead, and air resources were requested from the Air National Guard at Mather. ANG Mather accepted the mission and expected to be airborne within an hour. The Team staged at a location close to the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center on Highway 108 and prepared for a quick flight in and an extraction.

Shortly thereafter ANG Mather terminated their response due to poor visibility attributed to dense wildfire smoke. Without air support, and with the subject in possession of overnight gear, the operation was suspended until 0715 hours on Sunday August 8.

CHP helicopter H40 arrived at the staging location at approximately 0730, and a field team of 2 with a litter and a litter wheel were transported to Upper Piute Meadow. H40 landed and shut down, and the field team hiked the litter in to the subject’s location.

The view of Tower Peak on the flight in. Image by B. Beck

Upon arrival and assessment, the subject felt that he could slowly walk out without the weight of his pack, so the field team brought out the pack, and subject slowly made his way back to the helo. The subject was flown out to Bridgeport International Airport, and H40 took on fuel and returned to pick up the MOSAR field team and return them to the staging area before departing the area. The operation terminated at 1251 hours.

CHP helicopter H40 in the meadow LZ waiting on the arrival of the field team and subject. Image by B. Beck

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Hartstrom, Creager, Quiring, Wallace, Torrence

August 6-7, 2021 Op 21-434 #24

At 1902 hours the Team was asked to assist an injured climber in Lakes Canyon near Mt. Scowden. A pair of climbers reported ascending the 6-pitch 5.10a route Electric Lundyland, and on the 6th pitch the lead climber was establishing a belay for the second, but the second began climbing before the belay station was complete, and before the lead climber had begun belaying the second. The second fell, and without the belay, the fall was an estimated 90’, hitting the cliffside on the way down. It was reported that the fallen climber had a possible pelvic fracture, and possibly fractures in both legs.

The uninjured climber called for assistance, and then was able to lower his injured partner 5 pitches back to the ground, and then to move him 100’ from the base of the cliff. MOSAR responded and established rescue base at the Lundy Lake Dam (Lakes Canyon Trail trailhead). Beginning in the dark, a field team of 9 hiked up the Lakes Canyon Trail, and were able to locate the party when they spotted their headlamp a few hundred yards up the talus field.

The injured climber was assessed, treated, and packaged in the titanium litter. Air resources were requested from Lemoore Naval Air Station, and a Sikorsky UH 60 variant and crew accepted the mission, with the call sign Lasso 03.

Lasso 03 arrived just prior to the first ground team members, and flew overhead while the subject was packaged for transport. Lasso 03 hovered overhead and lowered a crewmember to the subject, clipped the litter harness to the hoist hook, and both were both were hoisted on board the helo. The subject was flown direct to Fresno for immediate treatment at a trauma center.

Preparing for the hoist. Image by B. Beck

Hoist in progress, just prior to Lasso 03’s departure. Image by B. Beck

The field team gathered all of the Team gear, as well as the subject’s pack, and began the hike out. The field team was accompanied by the injured climber’s partner. All arrived safely at rescue base, and the operation was terminated at 0128 hours on Saturday morning.

IC: Way Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Quiring, Patterson, Wallace, Bush, Torrence, Hartstrom, Creager, and Senior.

August 6, 2021 Op 21-431 #23

At 1011 hours the Mono County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a PLB activation near Donohue Pass and the boundary of Yosemite National Park and Mono County. CHP helicopter H40 was already in Mono County working on our previous call in the Banner Peak area, and flew to the reported coordinates. Two hikers were on the trail in the area, and they indicated to H40 that they were not in need of assistance. The PLB transmission ceased soon after. H40 was not able to land due to tree cover.

IC: Pelichowski

August 6, 2021 Op 21-430 #22

At 0858 hours the Mono County Sheriff’s Office received a mutual aid request from Madera County to assist in the search and eventual rescue of a 14-year-old youth on Banner Peak, 12,942’. The subject had been reported missing on the evening of August 5 after he became separated from his party.

MOSAR responded to the Mammoth-Yosemite airport, and a field team of 2 was transported via CHP helicopter H40 for an aerial search, but the winds and density altitude caused this aircraft to be unsuitable for this task. H40 landed at the subject’s camp to interview the reporting party, and it was learned that he had been located on the west side of Banner Peak, and that he had sustained injuries. H40 then returned to the Mammoth-Yosemite airport.

A CH 47 Chinook helicopter from Mather Airfield responded to the Mammoth-Yosemite airport, and a field team of 6 was loaded for the flight to the Banner Peak area.

Preparing for departure from the Mammoth-Yosemite airport. Image by B. Torrence

Mr. Ritter (left) and Banner Peak. Image by B. Beck

The subject’s party reported that they had assisted the injured youth to an area just above Lake Catherine. The CH 47 made a precarious 2-wheel landing/hover on the south side of Lake Catherine, and offloaded 4 of the 6 team members, but then departed the LZ unexpectedly, leaving with 2 team members on board, and stranding one of their crew members. Due to unsuitable LZ,the crew member was hoisted back aboard the aircraft.

Looking for a suitable LZ on the shores of Lake Catherine. Image by B. Beck

Looking for the elusive flat area to set down. Image by B. Beck

The CH 47 tried several times to land on the north side of the lake closer to the subject, but was unable. The subject was also hoisted into the aircraft. The CH 47 then found a suitable LZ on the west side of the lake, and the field team and one member of the subject’s party quickly hiked around the lake to rejoin the aircraft.

Found a flat area on the west side of Lake Catherine. Image by B. Beck

The aircraft returned to the Mammoth-Yosemite airport, and the subject was united with his father, and provided medical services and transport from Mono County medics. The mutual aid call resolved at 1548 hours.

Arrival with our subject at Mammoth-Yosemite airport. Image by B. Beck

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Bush, Thompson, Torrence, Wallace, Senior, Quiring, and Hartstrom.

August 4, 2021 Op 21-423 #21

At 1040 hours, the Team was called to respond to a report of a 17-year-old male with a gunshot wound to his hand and thigh, in the vicinity of Alger Lakes. Rescue base was established at the Rush Creek Trailhead near Silver Lake, and a request for air resources was made due to the life-threatening nature of the reported injury.

A field team of 2 left base for a hasty response, followed by field teams of 3 and then 2 to carry additional gear. CHP helicopter H40 responded to the subject’s location, but due to the high altitude, hot temperatures, and strong, gusty winds was unable to land or extract the subject.

Further air resources were requested, and an Air National Guard UH 60 Blackhawk from Mather Field in Sacramento accepted the mission and began prepping the crew and aircraft. In the interim, field team one reached the subject’s location and began an assessment and treatment of the injuries.

Shortly thereafter the Blackhawk arrived on scene as was able to land nearby. The subject and field team one were on-boarded and flown to Mammoth-Yosemite Airport. A waiting Mono County Medic unit transported the subject to Mammoth Hospital for treatment of his non-life threatening injuries. Field team 4 left base to assist the other field teams in their return.

Arriving at Alger Lakes to transport the subject. Image by J. Bush.

Sikorsky UH 60 at Alger Lakes. Image by J. Bush

Filed team 3 returned to Agnew Lake at the Southern California Edison (SCE) maintenance tram station, and field teams 2 and 4 joined them shortly thereafter. SCE provided 2 tram operators, and field teams 2, 3, and 4 were transported from Agnew Lake to the SCE power station near Silver Lake, where they were picked up and returned to rescue base. The operation terminated at 1827 hours.

Field teams 2, 3, and 4 arriving at the SCE power station via winch tram. Image by B. Beck

Disembarking form the tram at the destination. Image by B. Beck

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Blackman, Buchanan, Bush, Endo, Godshalk, Hodges, Kaufman, Knight, Torrence, and Wallace.

August 2, 2021 Op 21-418 #20

At 1207 hours the Team was called to assist a 10-year-old youth with reported Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) on the Mammoth Crest above Crystal Crag. The reporting party, which is the father of the subject, was advised to hike downhill on the trail.

The Team responded to Wood’s Lodge at Lake George where Rescue Base was established. Two field teams started in on the trail a few minutes apart, and field team one encountered the subject and his father about one-half mile in on the trail. The field teams escorted the party back to the trailhead. The subject did not seek medical attention.

Descending the trail above Lake George. Image by J. Bush

The operation was terminated at 1348 hours.

IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Buchanan, Torrence, Kaufman, Thompson, Pavlovsky, and Cucura.

July 30, 2021 Op 21-410 #19

At 0850 hours the Team received a request for assistance with a 60-year-old male reported to have a possible tib-fib fracture. The Team staged at Saddlebag Lake, and a field team of 8 members was organized for the rescue. The Saddlebag Lake Resort provided boat service to deliver the field team to the west end of Saddlebag Lake.

Boat service from Saddlebag Lake Resort. Image by B. Beck

Hiking in. Image by B. Beck

Beautiful North Peak in the background. Image by B. Beck

The reporting party traveled with the field team, and provided guidance to locate the subject. The subject was assessed, determined to have a possible dislocated ankle and tib-fib fracture, and packaged for transport in the wheeled litter.

The subject had traveled off-trail to his injury location, so the litter extract was fairly difficult with a steep, off-trail descent to reach the abandoned road that now serves as the access trail to Steelhead Lake.

A member of the subject’s party assisting with the litter on a steep descent. Image by B. Beck

On the way back to the dock. Image by B. Beck

When the field team reached the west shore of Saddlebag Lake, the boat crew from the Saddlebag Lake Resort was waiting at the dock, and our subject was loaded, floated across the lake, and given to the care of Mono County medics upon arrival at the east end of Saddlebag Lake. The operation terminated at 1352 hours.

On the return to the Saddlebag Lake Resort for hand-off to the Mono County medics. Image by B. Beck

IC: Way Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Bush, Patterson, Evans, Dunne, Torrence, Hodges, Godshalk, Endo, and Cowan.

July 27, 2021 Op 21-403 #18

At 1645 hours on Tuesday July 27 the Team was requested to assist a 37-year-old female climber stranded between the 5.6 North Arete and a sport route on the north face of Crystal Crag. The climber's intent was to free solo the North Arete, but she climbed off-route into terrain that caused her anxiety. She downclimbed to a ledge below the top of pitch 1, and called 911 to ask for assistance.

The Team responded to Wood's Resort above Lake George, and a field team of 3 departed the resort for the short hike to the base of Crystal Crag. Team One carried 2 ropes, a museum-quality trad rack, and various other gear. Shortly after their departure a second team of 3 with additional gear departed for the same location.

Team One reached the start of the North Arete and separated into a climbing team of 2, and a support team of 1. The climbing team quickly ascended to the top of the first pitch, set an anchor, and 1 climber rappelled to the stranded climber. Though she was free soloing, she did have various climbing equipment, some of which she used to construct an anchor. She also had a gri-gri in her pack, and with the rope provided and a fireman's belay from below, was able to rappel to the ground.

Pitch 1 Crystal Crag North Arete. Image by J. Bush

The second climber on the first pitch. Image by J. Bush

First pitch Crystal Crag North Arete. Image by J. Bush

The subject on rappel with a Fireman’s Belay. Image by J. Bush

Field team 2, which had arrived while the climbing team was enroute to the subject, escorted the subject to base, and her vehicle was parked nearby. Both climbers from field team 1 rappelled to the ground, pulled their ropes, and hiked back to rescue base. The operation terminated at 2016 hours.

Climbing team rappelling from the top of the 1st pitch at the conclusion of the rescue. Image by J. Bush

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Bush, Torrence, Evans, Cucura, Senior, Thompson, Dunne, Patterson, Haugh, Anderson

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.