April 16, 2022 Op 22-173 #11

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

April 1, 2022 Op 22-151 #10

At 1338 hours the Team was called to assist with the rescue of a 47-year-old male snowmobiler with a possible broken pelvis near Koenig Lake in the Sonora Pass area. The Team staged at Pickel Meadows adjacent to the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MCMWTC). CHP H24 was contacted as a possible air resource, and they accepted the mission. MCMWTC personnel also responded with a snowcat modified for medical response, and were proceeding up (closed) Highway 108 toward the incident location.

CHP H24 landed at Pickel Meadows and boarded one field team member, transported him to the injured party, and offloaded him near the subject. The subject was assessed, treated, packaged and prepared for transport via H24.

H24 hoisted the subject into the aircraft, and delivered him to a Care Flight aircraft waiting at Pickel Meadows. H24 returned to the incident scene and retrieved the field team member, and returned him to rescue base at Pickel Meadows. The operation terminated at 1752 hours.

IC: Belcher Ops Leader: None Responders: Hartstrom, Kaufman, Quiring

March 29, 2022 Op 22-### #9

The Team participated in an evidence search in the Navy Beach area of Mono Lake as requested by the Mono County Sheriff’s Office. The searh lasted approximately 4 hours.

IC: Sheriff’s Office Ops Leader: none Responders: Blackman, Buchanan, Endo, Evans, Haugh

February 15, 2022 Op 22-091 #8

At 1904 hours the Team was called to assist in locating a pair of hikers in the Inyo Craters area. Search base was established at the turnoff from the Scenic Loop to the Inyo Craters. A field team of 4 members began searching the area between the parking area and the Inyo Craters, and located the subjects in about 10 minutes.

The subjects were transported back to base, and Sheriff’s Office personnel delivered them to their vehicle parked a short distance away. The operation terminated at 2044 hours.

IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Knight, Kaufman, Evans, Anderson, Patterson, Buchanan, Senior, Quiring.

February 13, 2022 Op 22-087 #7

At approximately 1515 hours the Team was called to assist a 29-year-old female hiker with reported symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) near the lower end of the East Couloir on Matterhorn Peak. The Team responded to the Bridgeport airport, and air resources were requested. Lemoore Naval Air Station did not have immediate crew and equipment availabilty, but CHP H40 was contacted, and they were able to accept the mission.

CHP H40 arriving at Bridgeport International Airport. Image by J. Bush

As the field teams assembled gear in preparation of hike up to the 11,100 foot level on Matterhorn Peak, H40 arrived at the airport. Extraneous gear was offloaded due to the high elevation, and the crew of 3 was able to hoist the subject into the aircraft and deliver her to Bridgeport airport. Her hiking partner remained to gather gear from their camp, and planned to finish his descent the following day.

Pre-Rescue briefing. Image by J. Bush

The operation terminated at 1837 hours.

IC: Way Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Anderson, Beck, Creager, Cucura, Hartstrom, Torrence.

February 3, 2022 Op 22-057 #6

At approximately 1615 hours the Team was called to assist in a search to locate a lost 64-year-old female hiker in the Inyo Craters Area near the Scenic Loop. MLPD was the initial responding agency, and they requested the assistance of the Team.

Another backcountry user encountered the subject and escorted her to the Scenic Loop. The call was terminated at 1645 hours prior to the Team arriving at the search location.

IC:Gillespie Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Quiring, Patterson, Evans, Senior, Cucura

January 24, 2022 Op 22-035 #5

On Monday afternoon at approximately 1313 hours the Team received a request for assistance via an Inreach notification of an injured skier on Laurel Mountain. The initial indication was that the location was near the outlet on the Mendenhall Couloir, but later turned out to be in the Pinner Couloir just south of Mendenhall.

The Team responded to Convict Lake, and CHP helicopter H40 was requested, and they accepted the mission. Three field teams left the Convict Lake Marina, and one field team was held in reserve for possible air insertion. CHP H40 arrived on scene, and located the subject and one companion. H40 landed in the closed campround, and loaded on field team 3, and dropped them via a one-skid landing near the subject.

CHP H40 returned to the campground, then made one more round trip to drop gear to the subject location. The subject was packaged, and H40 was able to complete a hoist extract, transport the subject to the Mammoth-Yosemite airport, and then he was transferred to the care of the Medic 3 unit for transport to Mammoth Hospital. All field teams hiked out, and the subject's companion joined Team 3 on the exit. The operation terminated at 1839 hours.

The subject's partner stated that they took a conservative approach, and did not ascend as high into the couloir as planned. The partner was not entirely comfortable and was side-slipping, but the subject attempted some turns, and fell after 2 or 3 turns. He had a Whippet, but was unable to arrest his slide, and he slid/tumbled for an estimated 1,800'. It was reported that he had an ice axe in his gear, but it was not deployed.

IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Buchanan, Case, Quiring, Carlson, Thomspon, Senior, Kaufman, Creager, Evans

January 23-24, 2022 Op 22-032 #4

On the evening of Sunday January 23 at approximately 2149 hours the Team was called to assist a pair of stranded skiers on San Joaquin Ridge to the lookers right of the Hourglass up-track. The pair of skiers, one male, one female, were attempting to traverse from MMSA across the San Joaquin Ridge, and descending the Yost Creek drainage.

As noted in the ESAC reports, avalanche conditions were benign, but snow conditions were firm, and in some spots impenetrable. On the descent, the female skier fell and slid a significant distance, and while uninjured, was shaken and unwilling to continue the descent due to the firm conditions and steep terrain.

The pair contacted friends to assist them, and after some consideration the friends contacted the SO to ask for assistance before departing on their own rescue mission. The rescuers were proposing to travel up the Yost Creek drainage to assist, but the SO recommended that they abort their mission.

The Team responded to the JMSA parking lot, and 4 snomos and drivers transported a field team of 4 to the summit of June Mountain. The lights of the stranded skiers were visible from this location. The field team descended to the saddle below the Hourglass, and learned that the stranded skiers had managed to cut steps in the firm snow and had descended to safer terrain.

The field team escorted the skiers in a contour around to Matterhorn, and they skied down to the bottom of J7. One subject (and a 60 pund pup) were loaded into the Rescuboggan, and one rode on the back of the towing sled, and all were safely delivered to the JMSA parking lot. The op concluded at 0323 hours on Monday morning.

IC: Way Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Hartstrom, Knight, Evans, Quiring, Senior, Godshalk, Endo

January 6, 2022 Op 22-17 #3

At approximately 1610 hours, three team members were called to assist with a 58-year-old stranded snowmobile rider in the vicinity of Inyo Craters. As the Team was preparing to depart, the subject was able to self-extricate and the call was terminated at 1710 hours. IC: Pelichowski Ops: Bush Responders: Patterson, Buchanan

January 5, 2022 Op 22-16 #2

At approximately 1800 hours, two team members were called to assist a 25-year-old trail runner who was stranded below steep icy snow slopes on the shore of the south side of Convict Lake. The SAR members brought crampons for the subject, and rigging gear for the descent from the trail to the subject. Both were then belayed up the icy slope to the trail, and the subject was able to walk out unassisted. The subject was assessed by Mono County medics and released. The call terminated at 2230 hours. IC: Pelichowski Ops: Bush Responders: Senior

January 2, 2022 Op 22-004 #1

At 1615 the Team was called to assist in locating a PLB that had been activated in the Glass Creek Area southeast of June Mountain Ski Area. As the Team began response, the subject was located, determined to be in good condition, and the operation was terminated at approximately 1630 hours.

IC: Gillespie Ops: Bush Responders: Beck, Buchanan, Carlson, Creager, Endo, Haugh, Kaufman, Knight, Patterson, Senior, Thompson, Torrence

October 5, 2021 Op 21-563 #31

At 1322 hours, the Team was requested to assist with a 29-year-old female hiker with an injured ankle near the outlet at Heart Lake. The Team staged at the Coldwater Campground, and a field team of 3 departed with a titanium litter and the litter wheel.

The subject was quickly located, packaged in the litter, and transported to Rescue Base. The subject chose to seek treatment on her own. The operation terminated at 1603 hours.

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Zila, Haugh, Evans

October 2-3, 2021 Op 21-557 #30

At 2212 hours, the Team was requested to assist with a female hiker in the Mt. Baldwin area who was benighted and claimed to be suffering from a panic attack. The Team staged at Convict Lake, and a field team departed to attempt to locate the hiker.

After searching until approximately 0200 hours on October 3, the field team was unable to locate the distressed hiker, and returned to base. The hiker later reported that she was with a friend, and no further assistance was needed.

IC: Way Responders: Evans, Kaufman

October 1-2, 2021 Op 21-556 #29

At 1825 hours the Team received a request to assist a climber on the 3rd Pillar of Dana who had fallen and injured his ankle, and the ankle was unable to bear weight. The climber and his partner rappelled to the base of the climb, but were unable to hike up and out on the approach trail. Due to impending darkness, the Team advised the injured climber to remain in place, and advised that rescue would occur at first light on October 2.

A Sikorsky UH-60 variant from Lemoore Naval Air Station (call sign Lasso) accepted the mission, and the intent was to transport Team members to the base of the 3rd PIllar and extract the subject. Lasso approached the landing zone and a power check determined that they were unable to complete the mission as designed, so plan B was implemented.

Lemoore Naval Air Station departing the drop zone.

The drop zone on the Dana Plateau.

Lasso landed at the Lee Vining airport and transported team members to the top of the 3rd PIllar in 3 round trips. As personnel and equipment arrived, the Team constructed a lowering system and lowered a litter and attendant approximately 700’ to the base. The subject was packaged, and the Team converted to a technical raise with a 5:1 mechanical advantage to transport the attendant and subject to the summit.

Rigging team on the skyline atop the Dana Third Pillar.

A 600’ rope was not long enough, adding on 300’ more, and passing the knot on the lower.

Lasso landed on the Dana Plateau and transported the subject to the Lee Vining airport. The subject declined medical attention. The operation terminated at approximately 1400 hours on October 2.

IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Hammack Responders: Beck, Buchanan, Patterson, Quiring, Zila, Godshalk, Creager, Kaufman, Hartstrom, Kallemeyn, Case, Endo, Evans.

August 29, 2021 Op 21-474 #28

At 1559 hours assistance was requested to aid a 28-year-old female climber with a reported open ankle fracture in the vicinity of Emerald Lake. The Team responded, and staged at the Coldwater Campground. Three field teams hiked in to Emerald Lake, and the subject reported that she was bouldering and landed awkwardly after her dismount.

Preparing the subject for transport. Image by J. Bush

The subject was treated and packaged in a titanium litter, and carried across the boulder field with assistance from other hikers in the area. After intersecting the trail, the trail wheel was attached to the litter and the subject was transported to the trailhead. The subject refused medical transport, and the team litter was loaded into her brother’s vehicle, and her brother transported her to Mammoth Hospital for further treatment. The call was terminated at 1934 hours.

IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Haugh, Torrence, Evans, Kaufman, Anderson

August 20, 2021 Op 21-463 #27

At 1730 hours assistance was requested from the Team for a 79-year-old male on the Pacific Crest Trail in the vicinity of the highway crossing at Sonora Pass. The subject was complaining of chest pain and a shortness of breath, and has a history of cardiac issues.

The Team responded to Sonora Pass, and in the interim the hiker had continued toward the highway assisted by other hikers he met on the trail. The Team met the hiker approximately 1/4 mile from Sonora Pass, escorted him out, and released him to the care of his wife. No medical assistance was provided. The call terminated at 2131 hours.

Debriefing a very short operation. Image by J. Bush

IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Bush Responders: Kallemeyn, Hartstrom, Patterson, Buchanan, Creager

August 16, 2021 Op 21-457 #26

At 1147 hours, the Mono County Sheriff’s Office received a request from Madera County to assist with a possible carryout from Rainbow Falls. A 70-year-old female on horseback became dizzy and briefly lost consciousness after dismounting her horse.

Since she still felt slightly dizzy upon standing the decision was made to transport the subject to the trailhead via wheeled litter. A Madera Deputy, 2 Mono County Paramedics, National Park Service personnel and 3 MOSAR volunteers wheeled the subject back to the Reds Meadow Pack Station. She was taken to Mammoth Hospital via ambulance for follow up care. The call was terminated at 1537 hours.

IC: Madera County Sheriff’s Office Ops Leader (MOSAR): Buchanan Responders: Patterson, Evans

August 7-8, 2021 Op 21-437 #25

At 1651 hours the Mono County Sheriff’s Office received a request for assistance via the California State Warning Center via an Inreach satellite device. The Inreach message indicated a back injury, with a location initially reported at Tower Lake in Tower Canyon, eventually moving a couple miles down the trail toward Upper Piute Meadows.

The reported location was approximately 11 miles from the closest trailhead, and air resources were requested from the Air National Guard at Mather. ANG Mather accepted the mission and expected to be airborne within an hour. The Team staged at a location close to the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center on Highway 108 and prepared for a quick flight in and an extraction.

Shortly thereafter ANG Mather terminated their response due to poor visibility attributed to dense wildfire smoke. Without air support, and with the subject in possession of overnight gear, the operation was suspended until 0715 hours on Sunday August 8.

CHP helicopter H40 arrived at the staging location at approximately 0730, and a field team of 2 with a litter and a litter wheel were transported to Upper Piute Meadow. H40 landed and shut down, and the field team hiked the litter in to the subject’s location.

The view of Tower Peak on the flight in. Image by B. Beck

Upon arrival and assessment, the subject felt that he could slowly walk out without the weight of his pack, so the field team brought out the pack, and subject slowly made his way back to the helo. The subject was flown out to Bridgeport International Airport, and H40 took on fuel and returned to pick up the MOSAR field team and return them to the staging area before departing the area. The operation terminated at 1251 hours.

CHP helicopter H40 in the meadow LZ waiting on the arrival of the field team and subject. Image by B. Beck

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Hartstrom, Creager, Quiring, Wallace, Torrence

August 6-7, 2021 Op 21-434 #24

At 1902 hours the Team was asked to assist an injured climber in Lakes Canyon near Mt. Scowden. A pair of climbers reported ascending the 6-pitch 5.10a route Electric Lundyland, and on the 6th pitch the lead climber was establishing a belay for the second, but the second began climbing before the belay station was complete, and before the lead climber had begun belaying the second. The second fell, and without the belay, the fall was an estimated 90’, hitting the cliffside on the way down. It was reported that the fallen climber had a possible pelvic fracture, and possibly fractures in both legs.

The uninjured climber called for assistance, and then was able to lower his injured partner 5 pitches back to the ground, and then to move him 100’ from the base of the cliff. MOSAR responded and established rescue base at the Lundy Lake Dam (Lakes Canyon Trail trailhead). Beginning in the dark, a field team of 9 hiked up the Lakes Canyon Trail, and were able to locate the party when they spotted their headlamp a few hundred yards up the talus field.

The injured climber was assessed, treated, and packaged in the titanium litter. Air resources were requested from Lemoore Naval Air Station, and a Sikorsky UH 60 variant and crew accepted the mission, with the call sign Lasso 03.

Lasso 03 arrived just prior to the first ground team members, and flew overhead while the subject was packaged for transport. Lasso 03 hovered overhead and lowered a crewmember to the subject, clipped the litter harness to the hoist hook, and both were both were hoisted on board the helo. The subject was flown direct to Fresno for immediate treatment at a trauma center.

Preparing for the hoist. Image by B. Beck

Hoist in progress, just prior to Lasso 03’s departure. Image by B. Beck

The field team gathered all of the Team gear, as well as the subject’s pack, and began the hike out. The field team was accompanied by the injured climber’s partner. All arrived safely at rescue base, and the operation was terminated at 0128 hours on Saturday morning.

IC: Way Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Quiring, Patterson, Wallace, Bush, Torrence, Hartstrom, Creager, and Senior.

August 6, 2021 Op 21-431 #23

At 1011 hours the Mono County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a PLB activation near Donohue Pass and the boundary of Yosemite National Park and Mono County. CHP helicopter H40 was already in Mono County working on our previous call in the Banner Peak area, and flew to the reported coordinates. Two hikers were on the trail in the area, and they indicated to H40 that they were not in need of assistance. The PLB transmission ceased soon after. H40 was not able to land due to tree cover.

IC: Pelichowski