At 1401 hours the Team received a call for assistance from the Sheriff’s Office for a personal locater beacon (PLB) activation in the Horse Creek drainage below Matterhorn Peak. The Team responded to the Horse Creek trailhead at Mono Village and established rescue base. The owner of the PLB, International Alpine Guides, reported that the group with the PLB was a party of 4.

While the Team was responding, the PLB was activated an additional 4 times. Two field teams were sent to respond with medical gear, hypothermia treatment and prevention supplies, and the wheeled litter. It was extraordinarily windy which precluded any air resource response.

Just above Horsetail Falls. Image by J. Bush

Made it to the (new) snowline… Image by J. Bush

After the field teams departed base, it was reported that the PLB was moving uphill from the initial location, toward Matterhorn Peak. Field team 2 arrived at the location indicated by the original PLB coordinates, they found 2 of the group of 4 in a tent, and these 2 reported there were no injuries that they were aware of, and that the other 2 members of their party had skinned up for a couple of ski runs. The person carrying the PLB discovered it had been activated and sent a cancel message. They then returned to camp and field team 2 was able to confirm that it was an inadvertent activation.

Stowing gear after return to base. Image by B. Beck

Both field teams returned to base, and the call was terminated at 1927 hours.

IC: Belcher/Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Bush, Creager, Endo, Torrence, Dunne, Hartstrom, Quiring