August 31-September 1 2024-474 #33

Overdue Hiker Lundy Canyon. At approximately 1532 hours the Team was called to assist in the search for an overdue 67-year-old female hiker who was last seen by her hiking party below Lake Helen in Lundy Canyon.  Search base was initially established at the Lundy Canyon Trailhead, and members of the subject's large hiking party (approximately 30 members) were interviewed as they exited the trail.  The general consensus of her party was that the subject would not have continued down the trail as there is a difficult steep and loose section she would have to negotiate.  The decision was made to move search base to Saddlebag Lake.

A field team of 4 was assigned to search the area between Lake Helen and Steelhead Lake, and they departed from the Saddlebag Lake resort via the resort's water taxi.  They were dropped at the northwest end of Saddlebag Lake and hiked to Z Lake, Odell Lake, Lake Helen, Shamrock Lake, Steelhead Lake, and then to Greenstone Lake, interviewing any parties camped or moving along the trail.  The search was unsuccessful, and the field team returned to Saddlebag Resort via the water taxi.

Shortly thereafter, the Mono County Sheriff's Office was contacted by a hiker with a satellite communication device who was with the missing hiker and her 2 hiking partners.  The good samaritan hiker provided coordinates to the location, and they left the subject and her party with warm clothes and water.  Search base was moved back to the Lundy Canyon Trailhead, and a field team of 6 with the wheeled litter and medical gear began the hike in to the subject's location.

Sometime around 2300 hours the field team made contact with the subject and her hiking partners. The subject was unable to move on her own due to exhaustion, so the wheeled litter was assembled, and she was packaged in the litter for transport.  The Lundy Canyon Trail is steep, rocky, and difficult, especially in the dark, so additional field team members were requested.  Lee Vining Fire responded with 4 volunteers, and one additional MOSAR member arrived shortly thereafter.

All personnel and the subject arrived back at search base at approximately 0130 hours.  The subject refused medical attention, and was transported to Mammoth Hospital by a Mono County Sheriff's Deputy.  The operation was terminated at 0213 hours on Sunday September 1.

IC: Rhoads   Ops Leader: Haugh   Responders: Dickau, Brownlee, Bush, Beck, Creager, Kaufman, Anderson, Wallace

August 23, 2024 24-457 #31

At 1849 hours the Team was called to assist with the search for a 63-year-old male hiker who was overdue from a hike on the Deer Lakes Loop along the Mammoth Crest.  As search base was being established at Woods Lodge near Lake George, the subject arrived back at his vehicle under his own power.  The operation was terminated at 1918 hours.

IC: Rhoads   Ops Leader: Haugh   Responders: Torrence, Huizingh, Quiring, Bush, Senior, Buchanan, Childers, Lipman

August 18-19, 2024 24-452 #30

At 1951 hours the Team was called to assist in locating an overdue 44-year-old female hiker in the Mt. Conness area.  The subject had ascended Mt. Conness with her hiking partner, and on the descent they became separated.  Her partner backtracked to where she was last seen, near some 3rd-class terrain, but was unable to locate her.  The subject's partner then hiked out to the Sawmill Walk-In Campground to retrieve his vehicle, then drove to the Saddlbag Lake Resort and used their Starlink connection to request assistance.

Search base was initially set up at the Sawmill Walk-In Campground and was later moved to a turnout/overlook just below Saddlebag Lake.  Two field teams of 2 members each were assigned search areas to cover in the dark under the illumination of a super blue moon.  Team 1 left the campground on an out-and-back search assignment, and Team 2 was assigned to ascend past Alpine Lake toward the place the subject was last known to be.  As they started late into the night, they proceeded to a point just below the Conness Plateau and stopped for a short night's rest.  Team 1 returned to base to wait for an early morning redeployment.

The super blue moon lit up the night. Image by J. Lipman

An uncomfortable shiver-bivy below the Conness Plateau. Image by J. Lipman

Planning took place overnight, and CHP Helicopter H42 was requested, and they accepted the mission, agreeing to arrive at first light for an overhead search.  More Team response was also requested to arrive at 0600 for new assignments.  The overnight and morning were windy, and H42 flew the high-elevation terrain as best they could with no sighting.  They cut their search short due to strong downdrafts and turbulent flight conditions. 

Yosemite National Park Helicopter 551 was also requested, along with ground personnel to search likely areas inside the Park.  551 had a little better experience with the winds, and flew low and slow for several circuits with no sightings before flying back into the Park.  Yosemite field teams from Tuolumne Meadows were assigned to search the area from there to Young Lakes.

Yosemite 551 low and slow searching for the subject. Image by J. Lipman

The overnight field team resumed their search assignment and covered a large area of off-trail scrambling.  One team member established a trail block to interview hikers coming out on the trail.  Search base had an expansive view of the search area, and a high-power spotting scope was used to search from a distance.  It is possible that the subject was sighted, but there was no confirmation. 

Team 2 continuing the search after a cool and windy overnight. Image by J. Lipman

The former Team 1 re-entered the field on a new assignment based on the possible sighting, and the subject was located a short time later near the Sawmill Walk-In Campground.  The operation terminated at 1012 hours on Monday morning.

The subject exited under her own power. Image by J. Lipman

IC: Rhoads, Pelichowski   Ops Leader: Haugh   Responders: Wilson, Bush, Baron, Creager, Case, Buchanan, Quiring, Brownlee, Anderson, Torrence, Huizingh, Lipman

 

August 17, 2024 24-449 #29

At 1935 hours the Team was called to assist a 28-year-old male who was struck in the head by a falling tree in the Waugh Lake area. He had initially called for assistance earlier, but then cancelled his request at 1728 hours. Rescue base was established at the Rush Creek Trailhead, and 2 field teams departed base with the wheeled litter and medical equipment.

The field teams made contact with the subject at 2200 hours just below Agnew Lake, and he was assessed and then assisted (under his own power) back to the Rush Creek Trailhead. Mono County Medic Unit 2 was called, but the subject declined treatment. The operation was terminated at 2344 hours.

IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Quiring, Wallace, Huizingh, Anderson, Case, Lipman, Kelly

August 14, 2024 24-436 #28

At 1302 hours the Team was called to assist a 64-year-old male suffering from gastric distress approximately 1 mile east of the Hilton Creek Lakes.  Notification of the incident was via an Inreach satellite device carried by a passing hiker.  Rescue base was established just across from the unofficial Hilton Lakes trailhead at the entrance to the Pine Grove Campground in Upper Rock Creek Canyon.  Three field teams consisting of 12 team members left rescue base with the wheeled litter, first-out medical bag, oxygen bottle and other equipment.

The subject was located just over 2 miles in on the Hilton Lakes trail, and he was assessed, packaged in the litter, and transported to the established Hilton Lakes Trailhead near Rock Creek Lake.

The field teams rolling the subject out to the Hilton Lakes Trailhead. Image by J. Lipman

The subject refused medical assistance from Mono County Medic Unit 3 and stated that he would seek his own medical care.  The operation was terminated at 17:27 hours.

IC: Salazar Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Buchanan, Haugh, Case, Blackman, Ackerman, Baron, Wallace, Anderson, Senior, Hunsinger, Huizingh, Brownlee, Quiring, Lipman

On-Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue

August 12, 2024 24-428 #27

At approximately 1336 hours the Team was called to assist Bridgeport Fire and Medic 7 with extraction of a 78-year-old female subject with reported leg and arm fractures near Red Lake in the Virginia Lakes basin.  Rescue base was established at the parking area for Big Virginia Lake (aka Big Valley Lake) and the first 2 MOSAR members to arrive packed medical and rigging gear and departed base.  MOSAR response from the south was delayed due to ongong road construction on the 395.

Along the way, Team 1 discovered that the wheeled litter had not reached the subject, so they wheeled the litter to the subject location on a steep, loose, off-trail slope where her fall had terminated.  Medic 7 and Bridgeport Fire personnel were on scene evaluating the subject and providing initial treatment.  Team 1 assisted with packaging the subject in the full-body vacuum splint and loading her in the wheeled litter.

Team 1 also built an anchor system to provide a lowering system/belay for the litter team for the steep descent down the fall line of the slope.  As the litter team neared the end of their 200' line, other MOSAR field teams arrived on scene with additional manpower and equipment, and a second lowering system/belay anchor was constructed with a 300' rope which was enough to get the litter team down to safe ground.

Second lowering station/belay with Red Lake in the background.

Arriving at safe ground, the end of the lowering process.

The litter was wheeled back to the parking area and the subject was transferred into the Medic 7 unit, and she was delivered to Conway Summit to meet with a Careflight helicopter.  Careflight transported the subject to Renown Medical Center in Reno, NV.  The operation was terminated at 1648 hours.

IC: Rhoads   Ops Leader: Beck   Responders: Creager, Kelly, Baron, Buchanan, Quiring, Kaufman, Carlson, Senior, Huizingh, Wallace, Mayernick, Case, Torrence, Hunsinger, Salay

On-Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue

August 4, 2024 24-401 #26

At 1716 hours the Team was called for a mutual aid to Madera County to assist a hiker between Minaret Lake and Cecile Lake with an unknown issue and poor communications via mobile phone and satellite communication device. All communications failed entirely shortly thereafter.  The subject was reported to be a male 6' 5" tall and 275 pounds. 

CHP helicopter H40 was requested by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, and they accepted the assignment as they happened to be nearby for other business.  As search and rescue base was being established at Minaret Vista, the subject called to report that he was on the Postpile shuttle bus and was uninjured.  CHP H40 was able to make one high-altitude pass before they were cancelled. The operation was terminated at 1759 hours.

IC: Rhoads   Ops Leader: Haugh   Responders: Wallace, Kaufman, Salay, Quiring, Kelly, Torrence

On-Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue

August 3, 2024 24-400 #25

At 1837 hours the Team was called to assist a 40-year-old female climber with reported back injuries at Swan Cliff near TJ Lake.  Rescue base was established at Lake George, and multiple field teams hiked the short distance to the subject location with the wheeled litter and other gear.  Medic 3 personnel were first on scene, and they were able to assess, treat, and package the subject in the wheeled litter with assistance from MOSAR personnel for delivery to the trailhead.  The subject was transferred to Medic 3 and transported to Mammoth Hospital and was then flown to Loma Linda Medical Center for advanced care and treatment.

Subject arriving at the trailhead. Image by J. Haugh

Subject being loaded for transport. Image by J. Haugh

The operation terminated at 2127 hours. IC: Salazar Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Patterson, Cornelius, Kaufman, Salay, Quiring, Ackerman, Wallace, Torrence, Cucura, Baron

August 1 & 2, 2024 24-396 #24

At approximately 1818 hours the Team was called to assist a 16-year-old female suffering from symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) near Waugh Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Rescue base was established at the Rush Creek Trailhead and 5 field teams consisting of 11 team members hiked up the trail with the wheeled litter and other equipment.

Preparing for departure from rescue base. Image by J. Lipman

Low on the Rush Creek Trail as night approaches. Image by J. Lipman

Looking down on Silver Lake from the Rush Creek Trail. Image by J. Lipman

The location initially communicated to the Team was actually the location that the reporting party (RP) had found cell service and was able to place a 911 call for assistance. When field team 1 arrived at this location, no one was present. The error was discovered, and the subject was located about a half mile further west.

Field teams in the vicinity of Waugh Lake. Image by J. Lipman

Field team 2 joined team 1 and the subject was assessed and prepared for transport, but she initially refused litter transport and chose to walk with assistance from team members. She soon tired and accepted the litter transport. Field teams 4 and 5 joined teams 1 and 2 as they continued the litter carryout. Field team 3 had been staged at a location where they had radio contact with teams 1 and 2 as well as rescue base, and they acted as a radio relay for effective communications.

Descending the steep tram tracks to avoid narrow, rocky trail switchbacks. Image by J. Lipman

Unfortunately not all of the steep narrow parts of the Rush Creek Trail could be avoided. Image by J. Lipman

Rolling the subject in the wheeled litter past THAT Juniper tree on the Rush Creek Trail. Image by J. Lipman

As teams 1, 2, 4, and 5 passed, team 3 joined them in the descent to assist with the litter carryout. Nearing the Rush Creek Trailhead, the subject again requested to walk slowy with team member assistance, and shortly thereafter all parties arrived at the trailhead. The operation was terminated at 0509 hours just as the first hints of sunrise were visible to the east on the morning of August 2.

IC: Belcher, Salazar Ops Leader: Bush, Case, Beck Responders: Senior, Blackman, Cowan, Irving-Ruffing, Creager, Lipman, Cucura, Anderson, Brownlee, Ackerman, Salay.

July 31, 2024 24-391 #23

At 1742 hours the Team was called to assist a 69-year-old male off-road motorcyclist who had become exhausted and stranded in the Sweetwater Range near Mt. Patterson.  Rescue base was established near the Sceirene Ranch on Highway 182.  One field team equipped with a 6-wheel-drive Polaris Ranger and another in a 4-wheel-drive Ranger departed base for the subject coordinates.  Another field team using an off-road motorcycle attempted to reach the subject on an alternate route approximately 1 mile south of rescue base.

Discussing the route-finding. Image by J. Haugh

The Ranger equipped field teams reached the subject in approximately 42 minutes, assessed him, and transported him back to rescue base.  The motorcycle field team was unable to make subject contact.  The subject suffered minimal ill effects from his outing, and was transported to Bridgeport by a Mono County Sheriff's Deputy.  The operation was terminated at 2148 hours.

Heading back to base with our subject. Image by J. Haugh

IC: Belcher   Ops Leader: Beck   Responders: Bush, Patterson, Zila, Kelly, Anderson, Salay, Haugh, Dickau.

July 27, 2024 24-385 #22

At approximately 1844 hours the Team was called to assist a 35-year-old male hiker with reported altitude sickness near Olaine Lake on the Shadow Creek Trail. Rescue base was established near Minaret Vista, and field teams were shuttled from there to the Agnew Meadows Trailhead.

The field teams were prepared to assess, treat, and transport the subject in the wheeled litter, but when subject contact was made the subject was found to be ambulatory, though moving slowly. The field teams accompanied the subject to the trailhead where he denied treatment and was transported by a Madera County Sheriff’s Deputy. The operation was terminated at 2210 hours.

IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Anderson, Blackman, Case, Cucura, Huizingh, Lipman, Romanova, Salay, Thompson

July 20, 2024 24-364 #21

The Team was called to assist a 74-year-old male backpacker complaining of chest pain that radiated down his left arm.  The subject arrived at his camping location by horseback, and the packer was scheduled to pick him up on Sunday July 21.  He was with his 46-year-old son, and they had no method of communication to ask for assistance but they flagged down a passerby with a personal locator beacon (PLB) and he used his PLB to request assistance.  The subject reported that this was the second day of chest pain.

CHP helicopter H42 was requested, and they accepted the mission.  Their estimated time of arrival (ETA) at the subject's location was one hour.  A Careflight fixed-wing aircraft was requested to meet CHP H42 at Bryant Field airport in Bridgeport.  One team member who lived close to the trailhead responded to rescue base at the Leavitt Meadows Pack Station.  While other team members were on the way, H42 was able to land on the lakeshore and load the subject.  They flew directly to Bridgeport, and handed the subject off to Medic 7 who assessed and treated the subject during the brief wait for Careflight.

Preparing to transfer the subject from Medic 7 to Careflight. Image by J. Wallace

Careflight had to cancel their fixed-wing aircraft due to airport conditions, and instead sent a helicopter from their Gardnerville location.  Careflight landed, and the subject was transferred from Medic 7 to Careflight, and then Careflight transported him to Renown Medical Center, in Reno NV.  The operation was terminated at 1013 hours.

Careflight departing for Renown Medical Center in Reno, NV. Image by J. Haugh

IC: Pelichowski   Ops Leader: Beck   Responders: Bush, Creager, Trainor, Case, Haugh, Wallace, Buchanan, Patterson, Kelly

July 17, 2024 24-360 #20

At 1501 hours the Team was called to assist in the rescue of 2 stranded paddle boarders who had been beached on the east side of Paoha Island in Mono Lake by windy conditions. The pair, a male and female in their 60s, had launched their watercraft from the Navy Beach area, and when they were 700-800 yards offshore, the wind picked up to the extent that they were unable to make headway back to shore. They were able to reach the shore of the island, and from there they requested assistance via 911.

The Mono County Sheriff’s Office initially dispatched an aluminum patrol boat crewed by a Sergeant and the Undersheriff. They launched from the deepwater boat launch near the Tioga Inn, and as they headed toward Paoha Island they came across 3 other individuals who were in need of assistance due to 3-4’ whitecaps and strong winds.

This first group was brought back to shore, and when approaching the location of the initial group they found the water too shallow to land. The Undersheriff bisembarked at the closest point they were able to reach shore and hiked to the subject’s location. The Undersheriff attempted to hike them back to his disembarkation point, but one of the subjects was too weak for the hike. The Sheriff’s Office asked for assistance from the team and their inflatable rescue boat (IRB) as it has a shallow draft and can navigate in shallow water.

The MOSAR IRB launched from the deepwater launch with 3 members on board, and they were able to reach the shore at the subject’s location, load the subjects and the Undersheriff, and ferry them to the Sheriff’s Office patrol boat. All craft then returned to the launch area.

Returning to launch area after a successful extraction.

The female subject conferred with personnel from Mono County Medic Unit 2 and declined treatment for possible dehydration. The operation terminated at 1821 hours.

IC: Rhoads, Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Quiring, Wallace, Salay, Anderson, Carlson, Lipman, Case

July 15, 2024 24-356 #19

At 1245 hours the Team was called to assist a 72-year-old male hiker complaining of chest pain near Arrowhead Lake. A field team of 2 arrived at the proposed rescue base prior to the main contingent, and this team started up the trail toward the subject. Rescue base was established at the Duck Lake Pass trailhead near Coldwater Campground shortly thereafter.

4 field teams totaling 12 members ascended the trail with the 2-piece titanium litter, the litter wheel, and other equipment to the subject location. Upon arrival the subject was under the care of personnel from Mono County Medic Unit 3 and Mammoth Lakes Fire. Due to the critical condition of the subject, helicopter transport was requested.

Preparing for subject transport. Image by M. Quiring

Transporting the subject via wheeled litter. Image by M. Quiring

The subject was packaged in the litter, transported to the trailhead, then loaded into the medic unit for transport to CHP helicopter H42 which had landed in the Horseshoe Lake parking lot. H42 transported the patient to the Fresno Community Regional Medical Center for further care/treatment. The operation was terminated at 1430 hours.

CHP helicopter H42 on the ground at the Horseshoe Lake parking area to load the subject. Image by M. Quiring

IC: Salazar Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Ackerman, Anderson, Brownlee, Buchanan, Bush, Childers, Cucura, Huizingh, Knecht, Lipman, Quiring, Salay, Wallace, Wilson, Cornelius.

July 13-14, 2024 24-351 #18

At 2003 hours the Team was called to assist in locating a 31-year-old female dayhiker that had become separated from her group in the Ansel Adams Wilderness west of Silver Lake. The subject was part of a larger group (maybe 9?) that had planned an ambitious itinerary.

Starting at Silver Lake in the June Lake Loop, the plan was to proceed up the Rush Creek Trail to Agnew Lake, and from there take the Spooky Meadow Trail past the Clark Lakes to Garnet Lake, then via the John Muir Trail to Ruby Lake, Emerald Lake and Thousand Island Lake, continuing on to the Rush Creek Trail intersection and past Waugh Lake, Gem Lake, and Agnew Lake, and returning to Silver Lake.

Image from subject party.

Somewhere along the way, the group realized that they were maybe over-ambitious and decided to shorten the hike by cutting across back to the Rush Creek Trail. The subject opted to proceed along the original objective and continued alone.

The main group arrived back at the starting point and waited for the subject. After a length of time they felt was reasonable for the subject to return, they called to ask for assistance. The Team was still working on a call on Mono Lake so another call was made to the Team, and the excess personnel from the Mono Lake call and new responders reported to the search base established at the Rush Creek Trailhead.

3 field teams consisting of 9 team members were sent up the Rush Creek Trail with various search assignments. Shortly thereafter, a hiker unrelated to the incident saw the subject, and she asked for assistance as she had injured her ankle and was not able to weight the ankle and was therefore unable to walk. The hiker was able to contact the subject’s party and relay the information, which was then communicated to the ops leader and IC.

The Team’s focus turned from search to rescue, and field team 3 returned to the trailhead to pick up the titanium 2-piece litter and the litter wheel. Team 3 delivered these items to Team 2, who then transported them to the subject’s location. Both teams 2 and 3 continued to the subject location to assist with transport.

By this time field team 1 had made contact with the subject, performed an assessment, and began treatment. The litter and wheel arrived shortly thereafter, the subject was packaged, and the difficult transport began. The Rush Creek Trail is a challenging trail for litter transport as there are exposed ledges, many substantial water bars, and rocks, boulders, logs, and brush everywhere. In additon it was full dark as the moon had set.

The transport along the Rush Creek Trail. Image by J. Bush

Navigating a difficult section of trail. Image by J. Bush

After several hours of work, the field teams delivered the subject to her party at the trailhead where she declined further treatment. The operation terminated at approximately 0245 hours on the morning of July 14.

Nearing the trailhead at approximately 0130 hours. Image by B. Beck

IC: Belcher Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Bush, Gerber, Cowan, Romanova, Ackerman, Brownlee, Dickau, Case, Creager, Huizingh, Knecht, Wallace, Salay, Senior

July 13, 2024 24-350 #17

At 1830 hours the Team was called to assist 2 young adult males who were stranded on Negit Island in Mono Lake and 2 that were stranded on the shore of the mainland nearby. Resuce base was established to the north of the Tioga Inn where there was an unpaved deep-water launch site.

Just after launch with Negit Island in the left center distance.

A Mono County Sheriff’s Sergeant and Deputy responded with the Sheriff’s Office aluminum patrol boat, and the Team brought a 14.5’ inflatable rescue boat (IRB) with an outboard engine. Both watercraft were launched, and the Sheriff’s patrol boat was staffed with the Sergeant and 2 MOSAR members, and the IRB carried a field team of 3.

The MOSAR IRB navigated to the west shore of Negit Island, and was able to retrieve 2 of the stranded subjects. A deputy in a vehicle in the Black Point area retrieved the 2 from the lakeshore, and then the 2 subjects in the IRB were transferred to the patrol boat, and all returned to the launch area. The operation concluded at approximately 2100 hours.

Sheriff’s Office patrol boat and MOSAR inflatable rubber boat on the way to effect the retrieval of the stranded subjects.

IC: Pelichowski, Salazar Ops Leader: Haugh, Beck Responders: Bush, Gerber, Cowan, Romanova, Ackerman, Brownlee, Dickau, Case, Quiring, Salay, Cornelius, Wallace, Senior

July 5 & 6, 2024 24-327 #16

At 1806 hours on July 5, the Team was called to assist in locating a 61-year-old female backpacker who had become separated from her group of 3. She was last seen a short distance west of Mule Pass. A temporary search base was set up at the intersection of Twin Lakes Road and Hunewill Ranch Road, and from there 2 teams of 2 were assigned to the field with the plan to be out overnight.

Team 1 was sent up the Horse Creek Trail with direction to continue until tired and then find a bivy spot to continue the search the next morning. Team 2 went up the Robinson Creek Trail past the Peeler Lake Trail, past Robinson and Crown lakes, and was able to make contact with the reporting party (RP) at the intersection with the Rock Island Pass Trail at approximately 0230 hours. In the meantime, search base was moved to Mono Village and set up for the night.

Team 2 leaving Mono Village on the way to locate the RP at the Rock Island Pass intersection 1930 hours. Image by B. Beck

The California Office of Emergency Services (OES) contacted search base and offered assistance from the Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System (FIRIS) program, which was accepted. FIRIS is designed to locate and track fire incidents, but has also proven useful in locating heat signatures of individuals on the ground. FIRIS flew the search area for approximately one hour from 0230 hours to 0330 hours but did not locate the subject.

Team 2 woke the RP to gain some first-hand information which was relayed to search base. Team 2 then set up their bivy and slept a few hours before resuming operations at 0600. Incident Command (IC) had arranged for CHP helicopter H40 to arrive at Bryant Field in Bridgport at 0600, but the helo did not arrive until well after 0700 as they made a low and slow pass of the search area on the way to Bridgeport. H40 did not locate the subject during this pass.

H40 landed at Bryant Field, offloaded their medical and other gear, and transported Team 3 to the Burro Pass area. After departing Burro Pass, they spotted a lone individual hiking, and landed in hopes it was the subject. The hiker turned out to be the missing person, and she declined assistance and stated that she would rejoin her companions and remain in the backcountry.

H40 traveled to the location of Team 1, loaded them, and transported them to Bryant Field. H40 then returned to the area to pick up Team 3 and transport them to Bryant Field. On the return trip, H40 was advised that their services were needed elsewhere, so Team 2 began their trek out on foot.

Most responding team members were released from service, and search base personnel returned to Mono Village and hiked in on the Robinson Creek Trail to meet Team 2 coming out. All remaining personnel returned to base, and the operation was terminated at 1437 hours.

IC: Salazar, Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Baron, Wallace, Buchanan, Patterson, Case, Dickau, Bush, Knecht, Quiring, Irving-Ruffing, Wilson, Kelly, Haugh, Salay, Blackman, Senior, Huizingh, Thompson


June 28, 2024 2024-305 #15

At 0935 hours the Team was called to assist a 49-year-old male hiker in the Dobie Meadows area as he had become incapacitated and unable to walk.  Rescue base was established at the corner of Highway 395 and Highway 167.  Prior to field teams leaving base, a Sheriff's Office Sergeant was able to make contact with the hiker and escort him to the nearest dirt road, where he was met by Mono County Medic Unit 7.  Medic 7 assessed and treated the subject, and transported him to Mammoth Hospital.  The operation was terminated at 1201 hours. 

Staging at rescue base with Medic 7. Image by J. Haugh

IC: Pelichowski  Ops Leader: Beck  Responders: Blackman, Patterson, Salay, Haugh, Kelly

June 18, 2024 2024-279 #14

At 1005 hours the Team was called to assist with the evacuation of an injured 69-year-old female in the north Owens River Gorge. The subject is a climber, but had a mishap on the approach trail to the chosen climbing area. She was part of a group of 4 climbers. Rescue base was established on the Gorge Road above the injured subject.

MOSAR field teams hiked down from the road to assist in the litter carryout. Paradise Fire, Wheeler Crest Fire, Long Valley Fire, BLM Fire, and Mono County Medic 3 were all on scene prior to the arrival of MOSAR.

Working hard transporting the subject up the loose scree from her accident locaton. Image by A. Johnson

Mono SAR, Paradise Fire, Wheeler Crest Fire, Long Valley Fire, and the staff of Medic Unit 3 transporting the subject to the Gorge Road. Image by A. Johnson

All agencies worked together to package the subject in the wheeled litter and transport her to the road.

Loading the subject into the medic unit and concluding the operation. Image by M. Quiring.

Medic 3 transported the subject to Mammoth Hospital for evaluation and treatment. The operation was terminated at 1326 hours.

MOSAR responders. Image by J. Haugh using M. Quiring equipment.

IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Thompson Responders: Anderson, Baron, Buchanan, Case, Haugh, Quiring, Senior, Wilson