At 1626 hours the Team was activated for a skier with a reported leg injury below the Cleaver. Rescue Base was established at Mono Village at the end of Twin Lakes, Bridgeport. The Sheriff’s Office requested a CHP - Central Division Air Operations helicopter out of Fresno, and shortly thereafter, H42 accepted the mission and flew towards the incident location.
As the team prepared personnel and equipment at Rescue Base for both helicopter insertion and entry on foot, H42 located the subjects at 10,400’ and relayed a hopeful hoist rescue plan with Rescue Operations. They landed close to Rescue Base and the Team aided in offloading equipment and remained at the ready.
Lighter and more nimble, H42 and its crew returned to the subject’s location and were successful in hoisting the injured skier. They flew back to Rescue Base where the subject was evaluated as the ship was repacked. H42 then flew to Bryant Field in Bridgeport to transfer the subject to Mono County Medic 7, refuel, and depart to Fresno.
H42 on the beach at Upper Twin Lake
IC: Belcher Ops: Haugh Responders: Huizingh, Creager, Brownlee, Blackman, Leyen, Romanova, Gerber, Dickau, Kelly, Carlson, Beck, Case