At 2003 hours the Team was called to assist in locating a 31-year-old female dayhiker that had become separated from her group in the Ansel Adams Wilderness west of Silver Lake. The subject was part of a larger group (maybe 9?) that had planned an ambitious itinerary.
Starting at Silver Lake in the June Lake Loop, the plan was to proceed up the Rush Creek Trail to Agnew Lake, and from there take the Spooky Meadow Trail past the Clark Lakes to Garnet Lake, then via the John Muir Trail to Ruby Lake, Emerald Lake and Thousand Island Lake, continuing on to the Rush Creek Trail intersection and past Waugh Lake, Gem Lake, and Agnew Lake, and returning to Silver Lake.
Image from subject party.
Somewhere along the way, the group realized that they were maybe over-ambitious and decided to shorten the hike by cutting across back to the Rush Creek Trail. The subject opted to proceed along the original objective and continued alone.
The main group arrived back at the starting point and waited for the subject. After a length of time they felt was reasonable for the subject to return, they called to ask for assistance. The Team was still working on a call on Mono Lake so another call was made to the Team, and the excess personnel from the Mono Lake call and new responders reported to the search base established at the Rush Creek Trailhead.
3 field teams consisting of 9 team members were sent up the Rush Creek Trail with various search assignments. Shortly thereafter, a hiker unrelated to the incident saw the subject, and she asked for assistance as she had injured her ankle and was not able to weight the ankle and was therefore unable to walk. The hiker was able to contact the subject’s party and relay the information, which was then communicated to the ops leader and IC.
The Team’s focus turned from search to rescue, and field team 3 returned to the trailhead to pick up the titanium 2-piece litter and the litter wheel. Team 3 delivered these items to Team 2, who then transported them to the subject’s location. Both teams 2 and 3 continued to the subject location to assist with transport.
By this time field team 1 had made contact with the subject, performed an assessment, and began treatment. The litter and wheel arrived shortly thereafter, the subject was packaged, and the difficult transport began. The Rush Creek Trail is a challenging trail for litter transport as there are exposed ledges, many substantial water bars, and rocks, boulders, logs, and brush everywhere. In additon it was full dark as the moon had set.
The transport along the Rush Creek Trail. Image by J. Bush
Navigating a difficult section of trail. Image by J. Bush
After several hours of work, the field teams delivered the subject to her party at the trailhead where she declined further treatment. The operation terminated at approximately 0245 hours on the morning of July 14.
Nearing the trailhead at approximately 0130 hours. Image by B. Beck
IC: Belcher Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Bush, Gerber, Cowan, Romanova, Ackerman, Brownlee, Dickau, Case, Creager, Huizingh, Knecht, Wallace, Salay, Senior