July 27, 2025 25-418 #24
81-Year-Old Male With Possible Heat Exhaustion on the Rush Creek Trail.
At 1549 hours the Team was called to assist an 81-year-old male on the Rush Creek Trail experiencing possible heat-related issues and reported as “unable to continue down unassisted.”
Rescue base was established at the Silver Lake Boat Launch. Rescue operations deployed a team of two and a second team of four with the titanium litter and wheel.
Less than a mile up the trail, Team 1 encountered several groups who reported that the individual had already descended the trail and was waiting for his party at the Silver Lake Resort. Teams 1 and 2 met at the resort, confirmed that the subject in question was accounted for, and offered additional medical assistance, which was declined.
The operation was terminated at 1729 hours.
IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Barker, Blackman, Buchanan, Bush, Case, Huizingh, Mayernick, Patterson, Quiring, Wallace
On Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search & Rescue
July 26, 2025 25-417 #23
76-Year-Old Male With Chest Pain. At 1347 hours the Team was called to assist a 76-year-old male at Greenstone Lake experiencing chest pain. Rescue base was established at Saddlebag Lake Resort. Rescue operations requested resources, including CHP helicopter H42, the Team’s inflatable rescue boat, and Mono County Paramedics to stage at the resort.
While the primary rescue units from Mammoth/South County were responding, a nearby team member arrived at the staging area, and coordinated assistance from Saddlebag Lake Resort to be ferried across the lake. The team member located the patient and with assistance from bystanders helped the subject down from Greenstone Lake.
The subject was assessed and ferried back across the lake on the resort boat. Upon arrival at the boat launch, all rescue units had just completed staging. Patient care was transferred to Medic 2, and alternate air transport options were explored after inclement weather forced CHP H42 to turn around. The call was terminated at 1548 hours.
IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Creager, Barker, Blackman, Buchanan, Case, Huizingh, Quiring, Wallace, Zila
On Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search & Rescue
July 25, 2025 25-416 #22
Stranded Boaters on Crowley Lake. At 1406 hours, the Team was called to assist two stranded boaters in the Green Banks area of Crowley Lake. It was reported that their engine was experiencing issues, and subsequent afternoon winds pushed their vessel into the shoreline, stranding both the boat and its occupants.
A Mono County Sheriff’s Deputy initially attempted to access nearby 4x4 roads around the back of Crowley to reach the subjects, but it was quickly determined that the deep mud surrounding the vessel posed too great a risk to both the deputy and the subjects.
Rescue base was established at South Landing, and Rescue operations deployed a team of three with the Team’s Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) and additional personal flotation devices for the subjects. The IRB allowed Team 1 to safely reach the subjects and return all to South Landing at 1630 hours.
The operation was terminated at 1730 hours.
IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Carlson, Huizingh, Quiring
On Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search & Rescue
July 19, 2025 25-395 #21
Stranded Hikers Near Lundy Lake. Update in progress. Call began 1954 hours, terminated at 2116 hours.
At 1954 hours the Team was called to assist a party of seven on the Mt. Scowden climber trail above the Lundy Canyon Trail, who reported being lost and unable to continue further. The group had been hiking from Saddlebag Lake to the Lundy Canyon Trailhead. Rescue base was set at the end of Lundy Lake Road.
Shortly after, while responders were en route to base in Rescue 3, Mono County Dispatch reestablished communication with the party and determined they were safe and closer to the trailhead than originally thought. Responders were turned around at Highway 120 West and the operation was terminated at 2116 hours.
IC: Belcher Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Case, Gerber, Huizingh, Kelly, Lipman, Salay
On Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search & Rescue
July 15, 2025 25-388 #20
78-year-old male with dehydration and balance issues on the Dragon’s Back-Twin Lakes Trail.
At 1345 hours the Team was called to assist a 78-year-old male on the Dragon’s Back Trail on the backside of Mammoth Mountain who reported being unable to walk without falling. Rescue base was established in the upper Twin Lakes Campground at the Dragon’s Back Trailhead.
A field team of five SAR members left base at 1428 hours with medical equipment, a wheeled titanium litter, and extra food and water for the subject.
Team 1 reached the subject at 1507 hours, and assessed and treated him for dehydration. After rehydration and some rest, the subject chose to walk down the trail under his own power with MOSAR assistance nearby.
The subject making his way out under his own power.
Team 1 and the subject arrived back at the trailhead at 1625 hours. The subject declined further medical care.
The operation was terminated at 1706 hours.
IC: Belcher Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Baron, Buchanan, Case, Childers, Gerber, Lipman, Pavlovsky, Romanova
On Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search & Rescue
July 10 & 11, 2025 25-381 #19
69-year-old female with injured shoulder near Little McGee Lake. At 1809 hours the Team was called to assist a 69-year-old female with a shoulder injury sustained from a fall above Little McGee Lake, roughly 8 miles from the McGee Creek Trailhead.
Rescue base was established at the McGee Creek Trailhead, and three separate field teams were deployed: Team 1, a hasty medical team; Team 2, a litter transport team; and Team 3, a communications relay team. The incident commander requested a helicopter, but due to weather in the area, aviation resources were not available.
Rescue base at the trailhead.
It was a long hike to get to the subject, and then back out.
Team 1 arrived at the subject at 2211 hours, performed a medical assessment, treated her injuries, and packaged her for transport. Initially the subject began the long walk out under her own power. However, not far down the trail, the decision was made to transition the subject to the litter for the remaining 6 miles.
Precarious water crossing…
Rolling the litter along all night long.
Checking the condition of the subject.
The skies are beginning to lighten.
Arriving at rescue base.
Team 3 returned to base at 0345 hours. Teams 1 and 2 reached base an hour later at 0444 hours. Mono County Medic 3 was also on scene where the subject was further assessed, treated, and transported to Mammoth Hospital.
The operation was terminated at 0444 hours, Friday, July 11.
IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Anderson, Arndt, Brownlee, Carlson, Gerber, Glessner, Lipman, Senior, Trainor.
On Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search & Rescue
July 9 & 10, 2025 25-378 #18
Stranded hiker near Antelope Springs. At 2150 hours the Team was called for a small team response to assist a stranded hiker in the Antelope Springs area off Forest Service Road 3S143A. Rescue base was established on Forest Service Road 3S98 near the Ormat Geothermal Plant. Two team members responded with the Polaris Ranger.
The subject was unsure of his location, and it took many attempts before Team 1 was able to determine his exact position.
Team 1 followed Forest Service Road 3S98 until it ended, then hiked approximately 3/4 of a mile until they located the subject. He was in good condition and able to walk back to the Ranger, accompanied by Team 1. He was transported back to rescue base and evaluated by Medic 3. The subject elected to sign out against medical advice, and the operation was terminated at 0130 hours on Thursday morning, July 10th.
IC: Belcher Ops Leader: Haugh Responder: Carlson
On Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue
July 7, 2025 25-370 #17
Missing 11-Year-Old-Male, Convict Lake Area At 1403 hours the Team was called to assist in the search for an 11-year-old non-verbal boy with autism in the Convict Lake area. The family reported that he had wandered away at approximately 1300 hours from the west end of the lake.
Rescue base was established at the Convict Lake Marina, and the Team responded with search and rescue personnel as well as our Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) and water rescue equipment.
As the Team was preparing to launch the IRB, a report came in that the boy had been found by Long Valley Fire (LVFD), who was also assisting in the search. LVFD reported that they had searched the area around the creek and circled back—they believe they may have 'flushed' the boy back to the lake, where he was held by a pair of fishermen who had been notified of the search.
Preparing to launch the rescue boat.
The family was reunited with the boy and they were chartered across the lake by a Convict Lake Marina pontoon boat.
The call was terminated at 1456 hours.
IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Thompson Responders: Lipman, Quiring, Buchanan, Cucura, Huizingh, Knight, Barker, Wallace, Case, Cowan, Thompson
June 28, 2025 25-352 #16
Suspected tib-fib fracture Barney Lake area. At 1314 hours the Team was called to assist a 38-year-old female hiker reporting a leg fracture just north of Barney Lake on the Duck Pass Trail.
Rescue base was established at the Duck Pass Trailhead at 1411 hours, and Rescue Operations deployed a field team of five, Team 1, into the field with medical supplies and a titanium rescue litter.
Field Team 1 responding on the Duck Pass Trail.
Team 1 reached the subject at 1521 hours and determined that she had sustained a broken leg after tripping awkwardly on a rock on the trail. She was packaged and wheeled back to the trailhead, arriving at 1735 hours.
The litter ride down from Barney Lake.
Still on the trail.
The subject declined further medical treatment and elected to be driven by family to the hospital.
The operation was terminated at 1803 hours.
IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Thompson Responders: Cucura, Barker, Wallace, Blackman, Childers, Thompson.
On Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue
June 27, 2025 25-347 #15
Medical Distress at Harriet Lake. The team was called to assist a person in medical distress at Lake Harriet. Rescue base was established on Highway 108 at the winter closure gate. Due to the distance from the trailhead, Helicopter 551 from Yosemite National Park was requested and accepted the mission.
Helicopter 551 located the subject at the provided coordinates and transported the individual to the Crane Flat helibase inside the park. The operation terminated at 12:22pm.
IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh
On Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue
June 20, 2025 25-330 #14
Backpacker Requesting Assistance at Alger Lakes At 0236 hours, the Team was called to assist a backpacker in the Alger Lakes area. A cold and windy weather pattern had struck the region, damaging the backpacker’s equipment and blowing away their sleeping bag during a midnight bathroom break.
Rescue Base was established at the Silver Lake boat launch, adjacent to the Rush Creek Trailhead. At 0358 hours, field team 1 deployed with a Hypothermia Management and Prevention Kit (HPMK), a first-out medical bag, and warm clothing. Team 2 was deployed at 0407 hours up the Rush Creek Trail to establish a radio relay.
Watching the sunrise along the climb from Silver Lake to Alger Lakes.
Team 1 reached the subject just after daybreak at 0722 hours and began standard patient assessments. The subject reported being uninjured but cold. She stated she had arrived at her location over the course of several days and was unaware of a quicker exit route. Team 1 and the subject began their return to rescue base, with all teams arriving together at 1130 hours.
Steady uphill grind.
Arriving at Alger Lakes early in the AM.
The Alger Lakes Trail
The operation was terminated at 1150 hours.
IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Brownlee, Baron, Wilson, Kelly, Huizingh, Carlson, Creager, Salay
On-Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue
June 18, 2025 25-327 #13
Overdue Hikers on the Crystal Lake Trail At 1935 hours, the Team was called out to the Lakes Basin to assist in the search for an overdue 43-year-old mother and her 4-year-old daughter, last reported near the Crystal Lake Trail Cutoff. Rescue Base was established at Woods Lodge at Lake George. Just before the arrival of 19 MOSAR personnel, the subjects were located by their family.
The operation was terminated at 1952 hours.
IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Anderson, Barker, Beck, Brownlee, Bush, Case, Cornelius, Cowan, Creager, Cucura, Gerber, Glessner, Haugh, Huizingh, Lipman, Salay, Senior, Trainor, Wallace
On-Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue
June 18, 25-326 #12
Injured Dogs at Gem Lake At 0846 hours, the Team was called to assist a party of five with three dogs located at the Gem Lake Dam. They reported that one of their dogs had sustained injuries to all four paw pads from traveling over talus and rough trail without protection, and they were unable to exit the backcountry without assistance. The Team was called out after careful deliberation, as it was determined that the situation met the threshold for potential harm to human life if they attempted to evacuate their injured dogs unassisted.
Rescue base was established at the Silver Lake boat launch. Rescue Operations deployed three field teams: a primary team of five, a second team of two, and a solo member to operate a radio relay. Team one carried a litter, wheel, and medical supplies for both the humans and the dogs. Teams two and three brought supplemental equipment.
The subjects were met at Gem Lake Dam, where it was determined that all three dogs required medical attention. After treatment, which included cleaning and bandaging wounds and applying booties to protect their pads, the dogs were able to begin walking out under their own power.
Special paw bandages for our canine subjects.
Bandaged up and ready to evacuate the area.
Roughly a mile from the outlet of Agnew, one of the dogs, the oldest at 12 years, required transport in the litter. After a long trek down, all field teams and subjects returned to base. The owners were advised to follow up with further veterinary care.
Pup on a litter ride!
Almost out.
The operation terminated at 1719 hours.
IC: Rhoads Acting Ops Leader: Quiring Responders: Buchanan, Arndt, Barker, Huizingh, Wallace, Kelly, Baron, Ackerman, Knight
On-Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue
June 16, 2025 25-324 #11
Snowboarder Fall in Solstice Couloir At 1210 hours, the Team was called to assist a 35-year-old male who had sustained life-threatening injuries after falling approximately 1,000 feet (300m) from the top of Solstice Couloir on the flanks of Mt. Dana, striking rocks during the descent. Rescue base was established at the Lee Vining Airport.
Rescue Operations requested CHP Helicopter H40 who accepted and responded from Fresno. Mono County Medic Unit 2 responded to rescue base, and also requested a CareFlight helicopter from Gardnerville, NV.
Rescue Operations assigned a team member to be inserted by helicopter. While weather conditions were clear, wind gusts at Lee Vining Airport were brisk, ranging from 10 to 15 knots. H40 flew over the subjects, a group of 3, en route to Lee Vining and reported stronger gusts up to 25 knots, confirming that a hoist-only rescue would be required.
Team one preparing to depart Lee Vining Airport
Operations assembled two additional teams: a two-person helicopter standby team and a two-person team to enter the field on foot via the Glacier Canyon Trailhead. Upon landing at Lee Vining, the H40 crew, the SAR Team, and Mono County Medic 2 worked together to strip weight from the aircraft.
Field team one was loaded with a first out trauma bag, an activated Hypothermia Prevention and Management Kit (HPMK), rope rescue and hoist gear, as well as H40’s breakaway litter and CMC Bauman Bag. A full-body vacuum splint was also loaded onto the aircraft but remained unused.
Due to worsening wind conditions, a “load-and-go” strategy was agreed upon with the flight crew and paramedics: if hoist-insertion was possible, the priority would be to rapidly package and extract the patient. Extended on-site treatment was deemed too risky given the potential for the helicopter to become grounded by wind.
The subject’s party near the toe of the Solstice Couloir as seen from CHP Helicopter H40.
After a turbulent approach and several passes through the canyon, team one was successfully hoisted in and made contact with the three-person party. Given the critical condition of the patient, team one delegated tasks to the other splitboarders to expedite the hoist.
One continued to support the patient mid-slope, while the other dug a platform for the litter and Bauman Bag, which were prepped in full. A rapid primary assessment was conducted using direct information from the uninjured subjects, and a brief medical report of critical was relayed to the flight paramedic and awaiting care team, including CareFlight.
Approximately 15 minutes after arrival, the patient was packaged and hoisted aboard. H40 transported the patient to Lee Vining Airport, where Mono County paramedics and a CareFlight flight nurse and paramedic personnel worked together to stabilize and then transfer him to Renown Medical Center, a level II trauma facility in Reno, NV. After the scene was cleared, team one descended on foot with the remaining subjects, receiving support halfway down from team two approching from Tioga Lake.
IC: Pelichowski, Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Buchanan, Lipman, Brownlee, Quiring, Romanova, Gerber, Huizingh, Anderson
On-Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue
June 14, 2025 25-315 #10
Mutual Aid with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office for a Disoriented Hiker at Duck Lake Saturday, June 14th, 2025, 25-315, #10
At 1606 hours, the Team was called for a mutual aid request from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office regarding a 53-year-old male hiker of unknown status between Duck Lake and Pika Lake. The request came via satellite text-to-911, and few details were available. Rescue base was established at the Duck Pass Trailhead.
Rescue Operations deployed a hasty field team of three, including two Wilderness EMTs, equipped with medical gear and satellite communications, to proceed up the trail toward the subject to assess the situation. A second field team of two was deployed shortly after to clear the Emerald Lake Trail. Rescue Operations also requested assistance from CHP Helicopter H40, and H40 accepted the mission pending completion of another call.
Nearing Duck Pass
Subsequent phone pings showed no movement from the initial coordinates, and no additional follow-up information was received from the subject. Just as Team 1 crested Duck Pass from the Mono County side into Fresno County, H40 flew over the subject’s location, landed nearby, and made contact.
The subject reported departing Duck Pass Trailhead early that morning but became tired and chose to rest at camp. Upon waking, he was highly confused and disoriented, prompting the call for help. By the time help arrived, the subject’s disorientation had resolved, and he declined any further assistance.
H40 departed, and all field teams returned to base.
Descending the west side of Duck Pass
The operation was terminated at 2017 hours.
IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Quiring, Lipman, Kaufman, Wallace, Huizingh, Cucura, Dickau, Zila
On-Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue
June 7, 2025 25-301 #9
Female Skier With Lower Leg Injury, Dana Couloir On Saturday, June 7th the Mono County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call to assist a 22-year-old female skier with a lower leg injury near Dana Lake, at the bottom of the Dana Couloir. The Team was called out at 1458 hours shortly thereafter, and rescue base was established at the Lee Vining Airport.
CHP air operations were contacted, and helicopter H40 responded from Fresno. A hasty team of four personnel was deployed up Tioga Pass Road to the Glacier Canyon Trailhead. They began hiking up Glacier Canyon with medical gear, rigging equipment, and other rescue apparatus. A second field team was preparing to deploy with supplemental equipment. One team member was assigned to standby and assist with CHP H40's extraction if needed.
Hiking up Glacier Canyon on the way to Dana Lake.
H40 arrived above the subject near Dana Lake, identified a suitable landing zone nearby, and then flew to Lee Vining Airport to offload equipment. They returned to Dana Lake, picked up the subject, and flew her back to the airport. The subject declined further medical treatment.
CHP H40 overflying Glacier Canyon prior to subject extraction.
All team members were advised to return to base.
The operation terminated at 1857 hours.
IC: Belcher Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Dickau, Beck, Bush, Thompson, Salay, Barker, Tardy, Kaufman, Huizingh, Romanova, Irving-Ruffing, Creager, Cornelius, Wallace, Gerber, Senior
On-Scene Coordinator: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue
May 13-14, 2025 25-231 #8 Mutual Aid Esmeralda County, NV
Distressed Hiker in the Morris Creek Drainage, White Mountains. On Tuesday evening at 1930 hours, the Mono County Sheriff’s Office received a mutual aid request from neighboring Esmeralda County, NV, for a hiker in distress in the Morris Creek drainage off the 13,147-foot Boundary Peak. At 2004 hours the Team was called out after a 45-year-old hiker made a 911 call and reported that they had lost the trail after departing the summit, around the area of the Trail Canyon Saddle.
The hiker was in very complex terrain at an elevation above 10,000 feet and was not prepared to spend the night out. The subject reported being cold, wet, and disoriented. Given the unknown terrain, Rescue Operations advised the hiker to stay put. A cold weather band was moving through the area throughout the day, bringing snow and high winds, with the temperature hovering around 10˚F.
MOSAR rescue vehicle at rescue base.
Rescue Base was established at the intersection of Queen Canyon Road and US Highway 6. The Team deployed from Mono County with rescue vehicles, including one of our off-road vehicles, Ranger 1.
Rescue Operations tasked a team of four—a high team—to attempt access from the upper trail, similar to the subject’s suspected entry. Another team of four—a low team—was tasked with making entry from the base of the Morris Creek drainage. Both teams carried team medical equipment, cold weather gear, and technical rope rescue equipment.
Planning the best route to reach the subject.
As the high team departed in the Ranger, Rescue Operations reported that the subject’s location had moved considerably further down the canyon since the last 911 call. The high team was rerouted to the base of the Morris Creek Drainage to begin their ascent.
The low team continued up the road to the base of the drainage with Rescue 2, standing by. The high team made slow progress upward through thorny thickets, eventually making contact with the hiker approximately 0.5 miles up the drainage.
Field team in the Morris Creek drainage.
Field team in the Morris Creek drainage.
Field team in the Morris Creek drainage.
The subject reported that as darkness approached and the cold deepened, he feared for his life and decided to continue descending through the unknown terrain. He was not injured and required no assistance to exit the canyon. The team drove the subject to the Queen Canyon trailhead to retrieve his vehicle.
The operation was terminated at 0200 hours on Wednesday morning, May 14.
May 12-13, 2025 25-227 #7
Stranded Hiker Below Donohue Pass. On Monday, May 12th at 1358 hours the Team was called for a lost PCT hiker in the vicinity of Donohue Pass via a 911 call. The 50-year-old male reported that he was on the PCT and had been navigating by alternating between traveling with other parties and following the footsteps of other parties ahead of him in the snow.
When he called 911, the subject was approximately 1.5 trail miles from the pass at an elevation of 10,700 feet. He was traveling alone and had lost track of the footprints in the snow ahead of him. The subject reported having minimal overnight or cold-weather gear and no topographic map.
He was advised by the SAR Coordinator to shelter in place while the team mounted a rescue. Rescue base was established at the Rush Creek Trailhead. Aiming to beat the worst of the incoming winter storm, Rescue Operations deployed a team of four on foot up the Rush Creek Trail with overnight and medical equipment.
Overlooking Agnew Lake from the Rush Creek Trail
This effort was supported by two additional team members who shuttled gear up the trail for the overnight team. Air resources were unavailable due to a combination of high winds, darkness, and intermittent snow.
First view of Gem Lake from the Rush Creek Trail
Looking back at Agnew Lake from near Gem Lake
The team of four split early on into two teams and continued their trek toward the subject through mixed terrain, high-flow water crossings, adverse weather, and rotten snow. Team 1A reached the subject at 2255 hours and assisted him in packing up camp and beginning a retreat from the backcountry.
Team 1A reunited with Team 1B at Waugh Lake and the team members and subject slept for a few hours before resuming their exit at sunrise. At dawn, two additional field teams were dispatched from the trailhead to meet the outgoing crew and provide assistance with their heavy overnight packs.
All exited the backcountry without further incident, and the operation was terminated at 1044 on Tuesday, May 13th.
May 10, 2025 25-223 #6
Fallen Skier in Bloody Couloir. On Saturday, May 10th, at 12:05, the team was called out for an injured 38-year-old female skier who had a reported 800 foot fall in Bloody Couloir on Bloody Mountain. The skier came to rest at an elevation of approximately 11,700 feet.
Rescue base was established at the bottom of Laurel Lakes Road, at the intersection with Sherwin Creek Road. Rescue operations requested a CHP helicopter, and our friends at CHP - Central Division Air Operations H42 accepted the mission.
Fortuitously, a team member was in the party with the injured skier, which aided tremendously in mission planning, execution, and patient care. Working with our team member in the field by cellphone, multiple action plans were developed and executed.
A team of five deployed from the bottom of Laurel Lakes Road in Ranger One for bottom-up access, while a team of three gathered at Mammoth Airport to await the arriving helicopter for possible insertion or top-down access. Both teams carried similar equipment: ski gear, medical supplies, and technical rope rescue equipment.
A portion of the bottom-up ground team on the hike in.
2 of our 3 team members at Mammoth-Yosemite Airport prepared for possible helicopter insertion.
H42 conducted a reconnaissance flight upon arrival at the scene, then proceeded to Mammoth Airport to offload gear and reduce weight. Operations pivoted to utilizing the team member in the field to assist in hoist operations. H42 offloaded equipment, prepared their screamer suit and a radio to be inserted to our team member, and returned to the incident location.
CHP H42 assessing conditions prior to hoisting the subject from the couloir.
CHP H42 hoisting the subject from the couloir.
The CHP crew lowered the screamer suit and a radio to the team member, who packaged the subject and aided in the hoist rescue. The subject was transported to Mammoth Airport, and then to Mammoth Hospital in a private vehicle. She is reported to be in stable condition. We wish the skier a speedy recovery.
IC: Belcher Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Tardy, Huizingh, Creager, Lipman, Barker, Arndt, Baron, Haugh, Glessner, Wallace, Anderson, Buchanan, Senior, Trainor, Carlson, Brownlee, Salay, Romanova, Pavlovsky, Irving-Ruffing
April 20, 2025 25-181 #5
Fallen Skier Below the Cleaver. At 1626 hours the Team was activated for a skier with a reported leg injury below the Cleaver. Rescue Base was established at Mono Village at the end of Twin Lakes, Bridgeport. The Sheriff’s Office requested a CHP - Central Division Air Operations helicopter out of Fresno, and shortly thereafter, H42 accepted the mission and flew towards the incident location.
As the team prepared personnel and equipment at Rescue Base for both helicopter insertion and entry on foot, H42 located the subjects at 10,400’ and relayed a hopeful hoist rescue plan with Rescue Operations. They landed close to Rescue Base and the Team aided in offloading equipment and remained at the ready.
Lighter and more nimble, H42 and its crew returned to the subject’s location and were successful in hoisting the injured skier. They flew back to Rescue Base where the subject was evaluated as the ship was repacked. H42 then flew to Bryant Field in Bridgeport to transfer the subject to Mono County Medic 7, refuel, and depart to Fresno.
H42 on the beach at Upper Twin Lake
IC: Belcher Ops: Haugh Responders: Huizingh, Creager, Brownlee, Blackman, Leyen, Romanova, Gerber, Dickau, Kelly, Carlson, Beck, Case