At 1927 hours the Team was called to assist a 23-year-old male hiker/camper with symptoms of AMS near Crystal Lake and Crystal Crag. Rescue Base was established in the parking lot of Wood’s Lodge near Lake George, and 3 field teams left base to locate the subject.

A field team member on the trail above Lake George. Image by J Lipman

Lake Geoarge and Lake Mary just before sunset. Image by J Lipman

Field team member nearing Crystal Lake just prior to sunset. Image by J Lipman

As the field teams arrived at the subject’s camp, a medical assessment was completed, and the subject was found to be tachycardic, with low blood pressure, and on oxygen saturation level of only 71%. The subject was treated with oxygen and electrolytes, and packaged in the wheeled litter for transport.

There was still considerable snow in the area, and as the field teams began the descent to Rescue Base, it became necessary to establish running belays for the safety of the subject and the field team members attending the litter. Mono County medics were called to base, and as the descent was slower than expected, and the subject’s condition was serious, they began hiking up the trail to meet the field teams.

The medics treated the subject and transport to base continued, arriving at 2320 hours The subject was transported by the medics to Mammoth Hospital. The operation terminated at 2340 hours.

IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Patterson Responders: Hunsinger, Buchanan, Torrence, Kaufman, Lipman, Huizingh, Anderson, Cowan, Romanova, Senior, Salay, Baron, Brownlee