At 1434 the team was called to assist a 42 year old male from San Diego who was exhibiting symptoms of possible AMS or heat exhaustion on the south side of Agnew Lake. Rescue Base was established at the Rush Creek Trailhad. Field team 1 began hiking up the Rush Creek Trail, followed shortly thereafter by field teams 2 and 3.
Team 1 arrived at the subject’s location and began a medical assessment. The subject exhibited symptoms of hyponatremia and AMS, exacerbated by possible heat exhaustion. The subject was given Gatorade which appeared to improve his symptoms.
Assessing the subject.
Teams 2 & 3 joined team 1 at the subject’s location. After a short period of recovery, the subject felt well enough to walk a short distance to the top of the Southern California Edison winch-powered tram at the north end of Agnew Lake.
Three team members (one twenty-something and two 30-somethings) rode the tram in the cool breeze in a comfortable seat with the subject and his companion while the remainder of the field teams (one 63-year-old, a 60-year-old, and a 57-year-old) hiked out in the hot afternoon sun on the exposed dusty, rocky trail.
The subject was met at the end of the tram ride by two Mono County medics who evaluated the subject and determined that hospital transport was not necessary, although advised. The subject declined medic transport, and was delivered back to his vehicle at the Rush Creek Trailhead. After a short debriefing, the call-out was terminated at 1845 hours.
At the top of the Southern California Edison maintenance tram, preparing to descend to the power station. Image by J. Wallace
IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Wallace, Bush, Torrence, Evans, Buchanan, Quiring, Kaufman, and Creager.