May 30 & 31, 2018, 18-265, #6

At 2115 on the night of May 30, the Team was called out to search for a missing 76 year old man who had hiked over Mammoth Pass to fish in the San Joaquin river, but had not returned to his car at Horseshoe Lake. 

He left his companions in the afternoon, intending to hike back to Horseshoe Lake alone.  His companions called 911 after failing to find him.  Ten Team members responded, and sent field teams to search and track over Mammoth Pass to McLeod Lake and on down to Crater Meadows.  The subject was located at a campsite (37.58525, -119.04841) near Crater Meadows, where he was aided by Pacific Crest Trail hikers.  The SAR team escorted him back to his car, arriving at 0315. 

Responders were:  Beck (Ops), Reigle (IC), Hagan, Torrence, Kaufman, Wallace, Patterson, Hennes, Eimen, Endo, and Brodbeck.  The Team volunteered 82 man hours on this call.

January 14 & 15, 2018, 18-30, #2

At 2357 on Sunday January 14, the Mono County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) Team was called out for rescue of a 20 year old man from Hayward, CA, who was reported overdue from a climb of White Mountain Peak. 

He and the companion RP departed from Black Eagle Camp, but the RP turned back short of the summit, and later reported to 911 that the subject had communicated via cell phone that he had slipped and fallen 15 feet and was unable to hike down to his car. 

The Team responded with five rescuers, 3 rescue trucks, and a Polaris Ranger ATV.  By the time the Polaris crew reached the subject’s car, he had managed to hike down unassisted, though painfully.  He was followed down to Base, where he refused medical assistance.  Due to the remote location, Team vehicles logged a total of 550 miles. 

Responders were: Beck (Ops), Pelichowski (IC), Torrence, Case, Luke Hammack, and Wallace.  The Team volunteered 46 man hours for this call.