July 17, 2024 24-360 #20

At 1501 hours the Team was called to assist in the rescue of 2 stranded paddle boarders who had been beached on the east side of Paoha Island in Mono Lake by windy conditions. The pair, a male and female in their 60s, had launched their watercraft from the Navy Beach area, and when they were 700-800 yards offshore, the wind picked up to the extent that they were unable to make headway back to shore. They were able to reach the shore of the island, and from there they requested assistance via 911.

The Mono County Sheriff’s Office initially dispatched an aluminum patrol boat crewed by a Sergeant and the Undersheriff. They launched from the deepwater boat launch near the Tioga Inn, and as they headed toward Paoha Island they came across 3 other individuals who were in need of assistance due to 3-4’ whitecaps and strong winds.

This first group was brought back to shore, and when approaching the location of the initial group they found the water too shallow to land. The Undersheriff bisembarked at the closest point they were able to reach shore and hiked to the subject’s location. The Undersheriff attempted to hike them back to his disembarkation point, but one of the subjects was too weak for the hike. The Sheriff’s Office asked for assistance from the team and their inflatable rescue boat (IRB) as it has a shallow draft and can navigate in shallow water.

The MOSAR IRB launched from the deepwater launch with 3 members on board, and they were able to reach the shore at the subject’s location, load the subjects and the Undersheriff, and ferry them to the Sheriff’s Office patrol boat. All craft then returned to the launch area.

Returning to launch area after a successful extraction.

The female subject conferred with personnel from Mono County Medic Unit 2 and declined treatment for possible dehydration. The operation terminated at 1821 hours.

IC: Rhoads, Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Quiring, Wallace, Salay, Anderson, Carlson, Lipman, Case

July 15, 2024 24-356 #19

At 1245 hours the Team was called to assist a 72-year-old male hiker complaining of chest pain near Arrowhead Lake. A field team of 2 arrived at the proposed rescue base prior to the main contingent, and this team started up the trail toward the subject. Rescue base was established at the Duck Lake Pass trailhead near Coldwater Campground shortly thereafter.

4 field teams totaling 12 members ascended the trail with the 2-piece titanium litter, the litter wheel, and other equipment to the subject location. Upon arrival the subject was under the care of personnel from Mono County Medic Unit 3 and Mammoth Lakes Fire. Due to the critical condition of the subject, helicopter transport was requested.

Preparing for subject transport. Image by M. Quiring

Transporting the subject via wheeled litter. Image by M. Quiring

The subject was packaged in the litter, transported to the trailhead, then loaded into the medic unit for transport to CHP helicopter H42 which had landed in the Horseshoe Lake parking lot. H42 transported the patient to the Fresno Community Regional Medical Center for further care/treatment. The operation was terminated at 1430 hours.

CHP helicopter H42 on the ground at the Horseshoe Lake parking area to load the subject. Image by M. Quiring

IC: Salazar Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Ackerman, Anderson, Brownlee, Buchanan, Bush, Childers, Cucura, Huizingh, Knecht, Lipman, Quiring, Salay, Wallace, Wilson, Cornelius.

July 13-14, 2024 24-351 #18

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

July 13, 2024 24-350 #17

At 1830 hours the Team was called to assist 2 young adult males who were stranded on Negit Island in Mono Lake and 2 that were stranded on the shore of the mainland nearby. Resuce base was established to the north of the Tioga Inn where there was an unpaved deep-water launch site.

Just after launch with Negit Island in the left center distance.

A Mono County Sheriff’s Sergeant and Deputy responded with the Sheriff’s Office aluminum patrol boat, and the Team brought a 14.5’ inflatable rescue boat (IRB) with an outboard engine. Both watercraft were launched, and the Sheriff’s patrol boat was staffed with the Sergeant and 2 MOSAR members, and the IRB carried a field team of 3.

The MOSAR IRB navigated to the west shore of Negit Island, and was able to retrieve 2 of the stranded subjects. A deputy in a vehicle in the Black Point area retrieved the 2 from the lakeshore, and then the 2 subjects in the IRB were transferred to the patrol boat, and all returned to the launch area. The operation concluded at approximately 2100 hours.

Sheriff’s Office patrol boat and MOSAR inflatable rubber boat on the way to effect the retrieval of the stranded subjects.

IC: Pelichowski, Salazar Ops Leader: Haugh, Beck Responders: Bush, Gerber, Cowan, Romanova, Ackerman, Brownlee, Dickau, Case, Quiring, Salay, Cornelius, Wallace, Senior

July 5 & 6, 2024 24-327 #16

At 1806 hours on July 5, the Team was called to assist in locating a 61-year-old female backpacker who had become separated from her group of 3. She was last seen a short distance west of Mule Pass. A temporary search base was set up at the intersection of Twin Lakes Road and Hunewill Ranch Road, and from there 2 teams of 2 were assigned to the field with the plan to be out overnight.

Team 1 was sent up the Horse Creek Trail with direction to continue until tired and then find a bivy spot to continue the search the next morning. Team 2 went up the Robinson Creek Trail past the Peeler Lake Trail, past Robinson and Crown lakes, and was able to make contact with the reporting party (RP) at the intersection with the Rock Island Pass Trail at approximately 0230 hours. In the meantime, search base was moved to Mono Village and set up for the night.

Team 2 leaving Mono Village on the way to locate the RP at the Rock Island Pass intersection 1930 hours. Image by B. Beck

The California Office of Emergency Services (OES) contacted search base and offered assistance from the Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System (FIRIS) program, which was accepted. FIRIS is designed to locate and track fire incidents, but has also proven useful in locating heat signatures of individuals on the ground. FIRIS flew the search area for approximately one hour from 0230 hours to 0330 hours but did not locate the subject.

Team 2 woke the RP to gain some first-hand information which was relayed to search base. Team 2 then set up their bivy and slept a few hours before resuming operations at 0600. Incident Command (IC) had arranged for CHP helicopter H40 to arrive at Bryant Field in Bridgport at 0600, but the helo did not arrive until well after 0700 as they made a low and slow pass of the search area on the way to Bridgeport. H40 did not locate the subject during this pass.

H40 landed at Bryant Field, offloaded their medical and other gear, and transported Team 3 to the Burro Pass area. After departing Burro Pass, they spotted a lone individual hiking, and landed in hopes it was the subject. The hiker turned out to be the missing person, and she declined assistance and stated that she would rejoin her companions and remain in the backcountry.

H40 traveled to the location of Team 1, loaded them, and transported them to Bryant Field. H40 then returned to the area to pick up Team 3 and transport them to Bryant Field. On the return trip, H40 was advised that their services were needed elsewhere, so Team 2 began their trek out on foot.

Most responding team members were released from service, and search base personnel returned to Mono Village and hiked in on the Robinson Creek Trail to meet Team 2 coming out. All remaining personnel returned to base, and the operation was terminated at 1437 hours.

IC: Salazar, Pelichowski Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Baron, Wallace, Buchanan, Patterson, Case, Dickau, Bush, Knecht, Quiring, Irving-Ruffing, Wilson, Kelly, Haugh, Salay, Blackman, Senior, Huizingh, Thompson

June 28, 2024 2024-305 #15

At 0935 hours the Team was called to assist a 49-year-old male hiker in the Dobie Meadows area as he had become incapacitated and unable to walk.  Rescue base was established at the corner of Highway 395 and Highway 167.  Prior to field teams leaving base, a Sheriff's Office Sergeant was able to make contact with the hiker and escort him to the nearest dirt road, where he was met by Mono County Medic Unit 7.  Medic 7 assessed and treated the subject, and transported him to Mammoth Hospital.  The operation was terminated at 1201 hours. 

Staging at rescue base with Medic 7. Image by J. Haugh

IC: Pelichowski  Ops Leader: Beck  Responders: Blackman, Patterson, Salay, Haugh, Kelly

June 18, 2024 2024-279 #14

At 1005 hours the Team was called to assist with the evacuation of an injured 69-year-old female in the north Owens River Gorge. The subject is a climber, but had a mishap on the approach trail to the chosen climbing area. She was part of a group of 4 climbers. Rescue base was established on the Gorge Road above the injured subject.

MOSAR field teams hiked down from the road to assist in the litter carryout. Paradise Fire, Wheeler Crest Fire, Long Valley Fire, BLM Fire, and Mono County Medic 3 were all on scene prior to the arrival of MOSAR.

Working hard transporting the subject up the loose scree from her accident locaton. Image by A. Johnson

Mono SAR, Paradise Fire, Wheeler Crest Fire, Long Valley Fire, and the staff of Medic Unit 3 transporting the subject to the Gorge Road. Image by A. Johnson

All agencies worked together to package the subject in the wheeled litter and transport her to the road.

Loading the subject into the medic unit and concluding the operation. Image by M. Quiring.

Medic 3 transported the subject to Mammoth Hospital for evaluation and treatment. The operation was terminated at 1326 hours.

MOSAR responders. Image by J. Haugh using M. Quiring equipment.

IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Thompson Responders: Anderson, Baron, Buchanan, Case, Haugh, Quiring, Senior, Wilson

May 25, 2024 2024-230 #13

At 1800 hours the Team was called to assist a male hiker with a reported broken ankle on the Lakes Canyon Trail just over one mile from the Lundy Lake Dam.  The location was initially reported to be in Lundy Canyon west of the Lundy Canyon trailhead, and Medic 2, Mono City Fire, and Lee Vining Fire were redirected to the Lundy Dam trailhead by a member of the reporting party's group.  Lee Vining Fire stationed one person at the intersection of the Lundy Canyon Road and the Lundy Dam Road to direct subsequent responders.

At the time of arrival for MOSAR personnel, Medic 2, Mono City Fire, and Lee Vining Fire already had personnel in the field who located, assessed, treated, and packaged the subject in a wheeled litter.  MOSAR personnel were requested to assist with the wheeled litter extraction, and a field team of 7 hiked up the trail to meet with the descending litter team.  The extraction was uneventful, and the subject elected to transport himself via his own vehicle to seek medical care.  The operation was terminated at 2031 hours.

IC: Belcher  Ops Leader: Beck  Responders: Bush, Haugh, Kelly, Thompson, Salay, Wilson

Responders including Medic 2, Mono City Fire, Lee Vining Fire, and MOSAR. Image by K. Belcher via J. Haugh’s phone.

April 21, 2024 2024-182 #12

At 1312 hours the Team was called to assist an injured 34-year-old male skier who had fallen in Cocaine Chute in Lee Vining Canyon at approximately 11,338’ elevation. The subject was reported to have head and leg injuries.

Rescue base was established at Lee Vining Airport. CHP Helicopter H42 was requested and accepted the mission. CHP H42, with three round trips, transported 5 field team members to the Dana Plateau near the top of the Chute. An additional field team of 3 members began an ascent of V Couloir on the way to the subject location.

The field team descended to the accident location to assess and treat the subject. After treatment, the subject was packaged in a SKED litter and lowered approximately 1,600 feet to the mouth of the couloir, and further transported a short distance to a suitable landing zone for helicopter extraction.

Building an anchor for the lowering operation. Image by M. Quiring

Lowering the subject down Cocaine Chute. Image by M. Quiring

CHP Helicopter H42 was unable to extract the subject, so assistance was requested from Naval Air Station Lemoore. Lemoore accepted the mission and responded with a MH-60S Seahawk helicopter to complete the extraction. The Lemoore helicopter was able to land below the couloir, and the subject was loaded and transported directly to the Fresno Community Regional Medical Center, a level 1 trauma center.

The second field team returned to base without subject contact, and the original field team descended V Couloir and exited the field. The operation was terminated at 0130 hours on Monday morning.

IC: Pelichowski, Rhoads, Salazar Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Creager, Kelly, Huizingh, Carlson, Cucura, Buchanan, Senior, Lipman, Brownlee, Quiring, Anderson, Romanova

April 9, 2024 2024-156 #11

At 1226 hours the Team was called to assist a 57-year-old female skier with a reported leg fracture in the Red Cone Bowl area. Rescue Base was established at the Lake Mary Road winter closure. The reporting party was a Mono SAR member recreating in the area. CHP helicopter H42 was requested and accepted the mission.

Field teams were transported via snowmobile and tracked Ranger to the Horseshoe Lake trailhead, and then traveled over snow with skis and splitboards to the subject location below the Mammoth Crest near Crystal Lake.

The subject was treated and packaged, and then hoisted by CHP helicopter H42 who transported the subject to the Mammoth-Yosemite Airport. The subject was then transferred to the care of Mono County Medic Unit 3. The operation was terminated at 1711 hours.

IC: Belcher Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Quiring, Buchanan, Thompson, Salay, Brownlee, Anderson, Carlson, Zila, Senior

April 7, 2024 2024-154 #10

At 1949 hours the Team was called to assist in a search for an overdue 41-year-old male snowboarder last seen in the vicinity of the Hemlocks area. Search Base was established at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (MMSA) Main Lodge. Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (MMSA) Ski Patrol was actively engaged in the search at the time of the Team’s arrival.

Search Base at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Main Lodge. Image by J. Haugh

Three field teams left Main Lodge on snowmobiles and tracked Polaris Ranger and were recalled shortly after when the subject contacted Ski Patrol to indicate that he was back inside the ski area boundary and was riding his snowboard back to Main Lodge. The operation was terminated at 2145 hours.

Search Base at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Main Lodge. Image by J. Haugh

IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Quiring, Kaufman, Anderson, Beck, Brownlee, Carlson, Gerber, Salay

March 27, 2024 2024-129 #9

At 1339 hours the Team was called to assist a hiker who reported himself to be in terrain that he did not feel comfortable traveling in. The Team began response to Rescue Base at the Convict Lake Marina, but prior to any field team deployment Long Valley Fire located the subject and assisted him from the terrain.

The call was terminated at 1442 hours.

IC: Gillespie Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Kaufman, Childers, Anderson, Salay, Wilson

March 25, 2024 2024-127 #8

At 1608 hours the Team was called to assist a 17-year-old female subject with a reported femur fracture near Peak 2580 in the Deadman Creek area west of Highway 395.

The Team established Rescue Base at the Obsidian Dome winter-use parking area, but prior to deployment of field teams June Lake Fire was able to reach, treat, package, and extract the subject.

The operation was terminated at 1712 hours

IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Anderson, Beck, Brownlee, Gerber, Huizingh, Kaufman, Lipman, Mayernick, Salay, Cucura, Romanova, Burnett, Childers, Irving-Ruffing, Davison

March 24, 2024 2024-126 #7

At 1544 hours the Team was called to assist a skier who was reportedly trapped in an avalanche and separated from his partner in the Negatives area off of San Joaquin Ridge. The Team responded to the June Mountain Ski Area (JMSA) parking lot and learned that June Mountain Ski Patrol was on the way to the scene on snowmobiles.

A field team left JMSA base in the tracked Polaris Ranger to stage at the JMSA Mid-Chalet. Other team members remained on standby in the parking lot. The subject was located and extracted from the scene by ski patrol, and transported to the JMSA parking lot. The field team returned to base and the operation was terminated at 1822 hours.

IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Anderson, Bush, Beck, Patterson, Senior, Kaufman, Brownlee, Mayernick, Lipman, Salay, Romanova, Gerber, Buchanan

March 3, 2024 2024-085 #6

At 1812 hours the Team was called to assist with 3 stuck vehicles including 6 stranded motorists on the east side of Crowley Lake on the unpaved section of Owens Gorge Road. Rescue base was established at the intersection of Benton Crossing Road and Owens Gorge Road.

A field team of 6 snowmobiles and the Rescueboggan went in search of the stuck vehicles. When located, the subjects were transported to Rescue Base in good condition. The field team then searched Owens Gorge Road all the way back to the Crowley Dam, but found no more motorists that required assistance.

The operation terminated at 2331 hours.

IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Huizingh, Anderson, Davison, Brownlee, Quiring, Kaufman, Salay

February 9, 2024 2024-051 #5

At 1734 hours the Team was called to assist locating an overdue 19-year-old male snowboarder thought to have been in the Hemlocks area on the backside of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (MMSA) in Madera County. The Team staged at MMSA Main Lodge.

MMSA ski patrol had initiated the search earlier in the day before the Team responded. Three MOSAR field teams on snowmobiles accessed the search area via Highway 203 past Minaret Summit and down toward Devils Postpile National Monument.

MOSAR acquired voice contact and with the subject and he was soon thereafter located on a steep escarpment south of Starkweather Lake. MOSAR team members climbed to the location, and initiated a technical lower to transport the subject to the groomed road. MOSAR transported the subject to the MMSA Main Lodge via Rescueboggan towed by a snowmobile. The operation was terminated at 2233 hours.

IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Kaufman, Romanova, Anderson, Quiring, Torrence, Brownlee, Lipman, Senior.

February 4-5 2024-### #4

At approximately 2320 hours the Team was called to assist a stranded/stuck traveler in the Chidago Canyon area during a snow storm. The traveler was able to extricate themselves prior to the arrival of the Team at the command post. The operation was terminated at approximately 0130 hours on February 5.

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Haugh Responders” Baron, Quiring, Kaufman

February 4, 2024 24-041 #3

At 1909 hours the Team was called to assist travelers who had become stranded/stuck in a snow storm on the Upper Owens River Road. The Team staged at the 395/Upper Owens River Road intersection and used snowmobiles to access and extricate the 5 subjects. Tha call terminated at 2320 hours.

IC: Pelichowski Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Gerber, Baron, Anderson, Kaufman, Quiring

February 4, 2024 24-040 #2

At 1820 hours the Team was called to assist 2 travelers who had been driving up the Little Walker River Road in deep snow. The vehicle slid into a ditch, and the occupants were unable to extricate, and called for assistance.

The Team staged at the 395/Little Walker River Road intersection, and a team of 2 snowmobiles departed the staging area, and quickly located the stuck vehicle. The occupants had arranged for a tow the following morning, and had decided to camp for the night in their vehicle. The field team returned to base, and the operation was terminated at 2037 hours.

IC: Hamilton Ops Leader: Beck Responders: Kelly, Dickau

January 19, 2024 24-020 #1

At 1852 hours the Team was called to assist Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (MMSA) Ski Patrol with a snowboarder who was stuck above the Hole in the Wall cliffs west of Twin Lakes Mammoth. Ski Patrol had already located the subject, and was in the process of conducting a rescue, and the Team was asked to standby at the Ski Patrol summit station.

MOSAR on standby to assisst Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol on the summit of Mammoth Mountain

MMSP was able to complete the extraction unassisted, and the Team was released. The operation was terminated at 2232 hours.

IC: Rhoads Ops Leader: Haugh Responders: Senior, Brownlee, Anderson, Lipman, Mayernick, Thompson, Quiring, Kaufman