January 22, 2023 Op 23-021 #2

At approximately 1218 hours the Team was called to assist a 41-year-old female skier with a reported lower leg fracture. Mono County medics were initially called, but due to the location of the subject, MOSAR was called to assist with the extraction.

The subject was located just southeast of Mammoth Rock on the lower slopes of the Sherwins. The Team staged at the propane storage tanks on Sherwin Creek Road. The subject ws only a very short distance from flat terrain, and the Sheriff’s Office requested a limited callout. Three team members departed base on snowmobiles towing the Rescueboggan, an over-snow patient transport device..

The subject was quickly located, and was assisted to the Rescueboggan and transported back to base. Mono County medics took over her care and transported her to Mammoth Hospital. The call terminated at 1601 hours.

IC: Belcher Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Senior, Carlson

January 7, 2023 Op 23-001 #1

At approximately 1430 hours, the Team was called to assist a 43-year-old male snomobile rider from Georgia who was stuck east of White Wing. At the time of the request, several members of the Team were engaged in a snomo training at Smokey Bear Flat, and these team members and the team snomos were pressed into service to respond.

7 snomos and 6 personnel responded to the Crestview Maintenance Station, and staged between the travel lanes in the paved crossover. A field team of 6 left the trailhead and navigated to the coordinates provided by the subject. shortly before arriving at the coordinate location, the subject was located hiking on Deadman Creek Road.

The subject declined the offer of the field team to assist him in retrieving his machine, stating that it would not be possible to retrieve it until Deadman Creek Road was groomed. The subject was transported to rescue base on a 2-up trail sled, and then was transported to his vehicle by a Mono County Sheriff’s Sergeant.

The operation terminated at approximately 1600 hours.

IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Bush, Kaufman, Kelly, Cucura, Evans

October 21-22, 2022 Op 22-575 #37

At 2315 hours the Team was called to assist in locating a 52-year-old male hiker on the Fern Creek Trail who had become separated from his hiking party. The Team staged at the June Lake Fire Station #2, but before the operation could commence, the two hiking companions located the missing hiker, and they hiked out togeher. No team personnel went into the field. The call was terminated at 0100 hours.

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Evans, Quiring, Patterson, Wallace, Endo, Mayernick, Brownlee, Roos-Collins, and Haugh

October 9, 2022 Op 22-252 #36

At 1246 hours the Team was called to assist a 31-year-old female with unspecified ailments between Barney Lake and Peeler Lake in the Hoover Wilderness. Air resources were requested, and CHP helicopter H20 from Auburn, CA accepted the mission. The Team responded, and a field team of 4 staged at the Barney Lake trailhead and began the hike in.

Helicopter H20 arrived on scene, and was able to land nearby, pick up the subject, and transport her to the airport in Bridgeport. The operation was terminated at 1531 hours.

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Beechan, Buchanan, Burnett, Evans, Hartstrom, Kelly, Lipman, Patterson, Quiring, Wallace

October 5-7, 2022 Mutual Aid Madera County, #35

At 1303 hours, the Team was called to assist Madera County Sheriff Search and Rescue in the search for an overdue hiker/scrambler in the area of the Minarets. The subject was traveling solo with the possible objectvie of summiting Clyde Minaret, 12,281’ elevation.

For the first afternoon, the Team was on standby as CHP helicopter H40 conducted an aerial search of the area. The search was postponed as darkness descended.

Search Base at Minaret Vista. Image by J. Lipman

Helicopter departing the LZ. Image by J. Lipman

Along the shore of Minaret Lake. Image by J. Lipman

On October 6 at 0800 hours, Teams from Mono, Madera, Marin, and Fresno staged at Minaret Vista, and an Air National Guard Blackhawk helicopter arrive just after 1000 hours to begin inserting field teams into the search areas. Four field teams were inserted, and shortly thereafter a spontaneous volunteer (a local outdoors professional) located the subject after hiking in and checking various locations that he thought were likely.

Madera was unable to extract the subject before darkness, so arrangements were made to have the National Guard Blackhawk return at 0800 hours the next morning.

Due to mechanical difficulties and other delays, the Blackhawk did not arrive at rescue base until after noon, but were able to insert their own personnel, extract the subject, and transport his remains to rescue base for transfer to the Madera coroner.

IC: Madera Sheriff Search and Rescue Mono Ops Leaders: Thompson, Beck Responders: Brownlee, Burnett, Creager, Endo, Evans, Godshalk, Hartstrom, Haugh, Kaufman, Kelly, Knecht, Knight, Leyen, Lipman, Mayernick, Pavlovsky, Quiring, Wallace.

September 29, 2022 Op 22-### #34

At 0931 hours the Team was called to assist with a 65-year-old injured hiker west of Waugh Lake. Due to the distance from the nearest trailhead, the Team was placed in standby status while CHP helicopter H40 from Fresno attempted to locate and retrieve the subject.

H40 was successful, the Team was released from standby, and the operation terminated at 1207 hours.

IC: Belcher Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Beechan, Buchanan, Evans, Kelly, Torrence, Lipman

September 26, 2022 Op 22-516 #33

At 1542 hours the Team was called to assist a 71-year-old injured hiker in the Sand Canyon area. Base was established in Swall Meadows, and a UTV and 4WD vehicle left base to search for the subject. The subject and her hiking partner were located, and declined to be treated.

They were transported back to their vehicle, and they declined medical assistance once again. The operation terminated at 1854 hours.

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Buchanan, Knecht, Childers, Evans, Torrence, Anderson, Brownlee, Senior

September 21, 2022 Op 55-506 #32

At 2008 hours the Team was called to assist a 25-year-old hiker who was unprepared for nightfall on a return hike from Rainbow Falls. The hiker did not have a headlamp or other light source in his possession.

The Team staged at the Rainbow Falls trailhead near the Reds Meadow Pack Station, and a field team was assembled and began the hike in. The hiker was encountered approximately .3 of a mile from the trailhead, and was escorted back to their vehicle. The operation was terminated at 2216 hours.

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Evans, Quiring, Bakas, Beechan, Lipman, Knight, Haugh, Mayernick

September 4, 2022 Op 22-474 #31

At 1538 hours the Team was called to assist a 60-year-old female near the outlet of Valentine Lake with an ankle injury. The Team staged at the Sherwin Lakes trailhead, and 4 field teams, spaced a few minutes apart, hiked to the subject location to assist.

Field Team 1 with subject party. Image by J. Lipman

The subject was assessed, treated, and packaged in the wheeled litter for transport to rescue base. It was determined that the Valentine Lake Trail was a better descent option, and the field teams, the subject, and members of the subject’s party were picked up at the Valentine Lake trailhead and transported to rescue base. The subject opted to seek medical attention via personally owned vehicle. The operation terminated at 2151 hours.

Wheeled litter transport. Image by J. Lipman

The call went well into darkness. Image by J. Lipman

Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Bush, Creager, Hartstrom, Lipman, Quiring, Senior, Thompson, Torrence, and Wallace.

August 29, 2022 Op 22-460 #30

At 1419 hours the Team was requested to assist a pair of boaters with engine troubles on Crowley Lake near McGee Bay. The pair reported that they had lost engine power, and the wind had pushed them into a marshy area and they could not access the shore. They called 911 for assistance via mobile phone.

The trek out to the stranded boat. Image by J. Lipman

The Team staged just off of Highway 395 near McGee Bay on a dirt access road. The Polaris Ranger 6X6 transported 2 field teams to the shore near the subjects, and an inflatable boat was used to retrieve them. Their boat was tied off, and they were transported to their vehicle. The call terminated at 1806 hours.

Preparing for departure from the stranded boat. Image by E. Kaufman

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck(initial)/Bush Responders: Brownlee, Buchanan, Endo, Evans, Irving-Ruffing, Kaufman, Knight, Lipman, Senior, Torrence, Wallace

August 26, 2022 Op 22-453 #29

At 1412 hours the Team was called to assist with a 59-year-old male hiker who had fallen while hiking and injured his shoulder on the Shadow Creek Trail near Olaine Lake. The Team staged at Minaret Vista, and 2 field teams were shuttled down to the Agnew Meadows trailhead.

MOSAR Team Members transporting the wheeled litter. Image by J. Lipman

The subject was about 3 miles in, and field team one quickly reached the subject, assessed his condition, and packaged him for transport. During the assessment it was learned that in addtion to the shoulder injury the subject had a pre-existing abdominal condition as well.

Departing the Agnew Meadows trailhead. Image by J. Lipman

Field team one began the transport, and were united with field team two, and the 9 rescue members rolled the wheeled litter back to the trailhead and transferred care to Mono County Medic Unit 3. The field teams were transported back to rescue base, and the call was terminated at 1753 hours.

IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Anderson, Buchanan, Burnett, Bush, Evans, Knecht, Lipman, Patterson, Senior.

August 24, 2022 Op 22-446 #28

At 0356 hours the Team was called to assist an 80-year-old male hiker on the north side of Mono Lake who was unable to walk to return to his vehicle. The Team staged at the intersection of Highway 167 and Cottonwood Canyon Road. The subject was able to provide coordinates to his location.

A Mono County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant and a MOSAR team member drove close to the subject’s location, until the dirt road ended, and then walked a short distance to the subject. The subject, escorted by MCSO and MOSAR, was able to walk back to his vehicle. The call was terminated at 0451 hours.

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Anderson, Buchanan, Burnett, Creager, Evans, Hartstrom, Hodges, Kelly, knecht, Knight, Patterson, Senior

August 20, 2022 Op 22-438 #27

At 1411 hours the Team was called to assist a 25-year-old female hiker who had downclimbed a cliff face to a ledge, and did not feel able to either ascend or descend safely from her position. She stated that she had summited North Peak earlier in the day, and had gotten off-route on her descent. She called down to a nearby fisherman who was equipped with an Inreach device, and the Sheriff’s Office was contacted via the Inreach.

The Team staged at the Saddlebag Lake Dam trailhead, and a field team of 7 rescuers hiked in. The reporting party was located on the hike in, and he went back with the field team to point out the subject’s location.

The field team ascended a steep talus/brush slope to a position approximately 30’ below the subject, then one rescuer climbed to her position, and lowered her to safe ground with a tree anchor and a climbing rope and the sound-victim harness.

Rescuer approaching the subject. Image by A. Tozier

Preparing to lower the subject to safe ground. Image by B. Beck

Subject downclimbing with belay. Image by J. Bush

The subject was uninjured and was able to hike out unassisted, and she accompanied the field team back to the trailhead where her vehicle was located. The operation was terminated at 2017 hours.

Hiking out to the trailhead. Image by B. Beck

IC: Pelichowsky Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Buchanan, Bush, Evans, Haugh, Patterson, Senior

August 16, 2022 Op 22-123 #26

The Mono County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance with an evidence search near Mono Lake. The Team responded and searched for several hours. The search terminated at 1030 hours.

Early morning start to the search. Image by J. Lipman

The Team on their search assignments. Image by J. Lipman

IC: Pelichowski Responders: Bakas, Blackman, Buchanan, Davison, Evans, Haugh, Lipman

August 11, 2022 Op 22-425 #25

At 0020 hours the Team was called to search for an overdue 67-year-old male hunter in the vicinity of Piute Mountain near White Mountain Peak. Search base was established at the Barcroft Station gate. A field team was sent out on the Polaris Ranger to search an area north of search base, but their search was unsuccessful.

Inyo SAR also reposonded, and sent a field team to a new search area. The MOSAR Filed team was sent to a different search area, based on cell phone information, and they located the subject west of Piute Mountain. Unfortunately, he was deceased. His remains were packaged and transported back to search base, and then ultimately were remanded to the custody of the Inyo County Coroner.

The call was terminated at 1636 hours. IC: Pelichowski/Way Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Torrence, Knight, Roos-Collins, Evans, Thompson, Creager, Patterson, Kelly, Buchanan, Irving-Ruffing, Quiring

August 5-6, 2022 Op 22-416 #24

At 1620 hours the Team was called to assist a 78-year-old male near Matterhorn Peak who had slipped on wet rocks and fallen, injuring his forehead. The incident was reported via Inreach device, which also provided location coordinates. The Team staged at Mono Village, and two field teams hiked in with a wheeled litter, leaving rescue base at approximately 1736 hours.

Near the intersection with the Cattle Creek Trail. Image by J. Lipman

Above Mono Village on the hike in. Image by J. Bush

The subject was located at approximately 1940 hours. The field teams conducted a medical assessment, and in addition to his forehead laceration/contusion, he also reported ankle and wrist injuries. The terrain at the subject’s location was steep and difficult, but fortunately the subject was able to walk a short distance with assistance to reach easier terrain.

Image by J. Lipman

Early in the return to rescue base. Image by J. Lipman

The subject was packaged in the wheeled litter and transported to rescue base, and he elected to seek medical care via personal vehicle with assistance from his hiking companion (son). The call terminated at 0126 hours.

The carryout went late into the night. Image by J. Lipman

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Knight, Evans, Bush, Patterson, Buchanan, Torrence, Cucura, Lipman, Hodges, Hartstrom, Trott

July 30, 2022 Op 22-### #23

At 1426 hours the Team received a mutual aid request from Madera County for assistance to a 50-year-old female suffering from symptoms of heat exhaustion and dehydration. The team was called to respond, but prior to the arrival of the team at the Rainbow Falls trailhead the subject was able to return to the trailhead on her own. The call was canceled at 1537 hours.

IC: Pelichowski Responders: Quiring, Cowan, Lipman, Torrence, Brownlee, Anderson, Senior, Bush, Evans

July 27-28, 2022 Op 22-396 #22

At 2246 hours the Team was called to assist a 63-year-old backpacker who was suffering from symptoms of altitude sickness at a camp near Gem Lake. The hiker’s partner activated the SOS feature on her Inreach device and communicated that the subject had been vomiting, unable to eat or drink, and was dehydrated.

A field team of 5 members left the Rush Creek trailhead just after midnight and reached the subject at 0145 hours. The subject was assessed, packaged in the wheeled litter, and transported to the Rush Creek trailhead. The field team and the subject reached the trailhead at approximately 0430 hours and transferred care of the subject to Mono County medics. The call was terminated at 0508 hours.

IC: Belcher Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Kelly, Trott, Evans, Torrence, Childers, Brownlee

July 17, 2022 Op 22-376 #21

At 1524 hours the Team was called to assist a 68-year-old backpacker who had become separated from his hiking partner in the Marie Lakes area. The subject had mobile phone service, and called 911 for assistance. The subject’s location was determined by his mobile phone, and he agreed to remain where he was pending the Team’s arrival.

A field team of 2 members hiked up the Rush Creek Trail with the anticipation of being picked up by a Seahawk from Lemoore Naval Air Station at Gem Lake. The helicopter crew elected to proceed directly to the subject location, extract him, and fly him back to Lemoore. The field team returned to base, and the call was terminated at 2203 hours.

IC: Belcher Ops Leader: Thompson Responders: Kelly, Evans

July 8, 2022 Op 22-353 #20

At 1247 hours the Team was called to assist a 32-year-old female hiker with a reported fractured or dislocated ankle in the Little Lakes Valley in Inyo County. The Team staged at the Mosquito Flat trailhead, and two field teams hiked in to locate the subject.

The subject was approximately 1.5 miles up the Little Lakes Valley trail, and she was quickly located, assessed, packaged, and transported to the staging area. She was with family, and opted to transport to medical care via personal vehicle. The operation terminated at 1552 hours.

IC: Belcher Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Haugh, Cucura, Endo, Kaufman, Evans, Lipman, Creager, Blackman