At 1205 hours on Sunday March 28, the Team was called to assist a skier with an injured right knee in the Tele Bowls. Rescue base was established at the parking area on Sherwin Creek Road. Field teams were transported by snowmobile to a location below the subject, and the field teams ascended the snow slope to reach the subject.

Constructing deadman anchors for the litter lowering. Image: E. Kaufman

The subject was located, and a medical assessment indicated a dislocated patella. The subject was packaged in a thermoplastic litter, and was lowered down the snow slope via rope attached to snow anchors. When the litter reached lower-angled terrain, the subject was loaded into a rescue toboggan towed by a snowmobile, and was transported to base.

Working on lowering the subject to less steep terrain for transport. Image: E.Kaufman

The subject’s view of the lowering. Image: E. Kaufman

The subject refused treatment by Mono County Medics, and was transported by friends to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. The callout was terminated at 1700 hours.

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Buchanan Responders: Torrence, Patterson, Creager, Quiring, Endo, Knight, Haugh, Zila, Kaufman, Evans