Yosemite National Park requested mutual aid assistance in the search for 72-year-old hiker in the vicinity of Red Peak Pass. A field team of three departed Mono County and arrived at the Crane Flat Helitack Base around 700 hours for the NPS SAR briefing.

Preparing for helicopter insertion. Image by M. Quiring

At approx. 1000, the team was flown into Lower Merced Pass Lake in 551, the NPS contract helicopter. The Mono Team was assigned to a 2 day, 1 night in-the-field operational period to increase search efficiency. In the assigned search areas, the team found conditions to be rough, steep, bush-laden and generally arduous. After a thorough search of their assigned search areas for the day, Park Operations advised the team to head back to basecamp at Lower Merced Pass Lake for the night.

A sampling of the search area. Image by M. Quiring

Early the next morning, on 7/28, the team was assigned new search zones from NPS operations. At approximately 0715 the team began to cover their assigned areas— again in equally rough, steep, and brushy terrain. By roughly 11:30, severe weather began to move into the area. Park Operations made the call to have the MOSARl field team removed by helicopter, 551, back at Lower Merced Pass Lake.

Back at Crane Flat Helitack, A debrief was conducted and the Mono team’s operational period came to a close.

IC: NPS Responders: Quiring, Endo, Kaufman