Search and Rescue Team Operation: Aid to an injured backpacker on the Pacific Crest Trail
On the afternoon of Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at approximately 2:15pm, Mono County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call regarding a backpacker with a leg injury on the Pacific Crest Trail.
A local couple was backpacking on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The wife, age 75, of Swall Meadows, was walking on a flat section of dirt trail when she rolled her left ankle. She heard a pop and collapsed experiencing severe pain. She was unable to put any weight on the limb and therefore was unable to walk out of the backcountry. Her husband was able to make a flat area next to the trail where they could camp and await help. They had a tent, food for the night, and did not plan to move from their location. The husband gave a note to a fellow hiker making his way back to Red’s Meadow. The note stated that his wife had a broken ankle and they were unable to walk out. The hiker passed along the note when he arrived in Red’s Meadow and called 911.
The area the victim was in was a remote area near the border of Fresno, Madera, and Mono Counties. Madera County Sheriff’s Dispatch was notified and requested mutual aid from the Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue (SAR) team. The SAR team was called and the rescue effort was initiated. The Mono County SAR team also requested the assistance of the California Highway Patrol and their H40 helicopter. It was determined that the helicopter could not make contact with the victim until the next morning. A SAR ground team was to hike into the victim, assess the victim and the area for a medical evacuation by air in the morning.
On the morning of Wednesday, June 26, 2013, at approximately 6:30am, the SAR ground team located the victim and assessed her medical condition. The H40 helicopter was able to extract her by hoist with the aid of the ground team. She was flown to Mammoth Lakes and transferred to Mono County Paramedics who took her to Mammoth Hospital for further treatment. During this time, the SAR ground team assisted her husband in packing up and hiking him out to the Red’s Meadow Trailhead. He returned safely home to meet his wife.
Written and prepared by: Jennifer Hansen, Public Information Officer
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LOL Clowns gone surious! What’s next .. outlaw laughter and fun .. you don’t need it to be working it to the bone. I totally got it.
Anility gone wild, into every life a little drama must fall.
Government gone wild. When will Big Brother stay out of our lives? What’s next? Taking our guns? How much did that cost us? Bet they all get big pensions. Maybe they should open up more roads so people wouldn’t have to walk so far.
Ken, Search and Rescue are volunteers. H40 is a CHP helicopter that flys anyway.
I am betting that if you broke your ankle in the back country and were unable to walk out, you would want SAR to help you out.
I think we also need a way to find and rehabilitate those who have broken their funny bone..
Good one Ken! Next time put after the post
I have three excuses:
1. I thought that Upthecreek stole your name.
2. Upthecreek finally convinced you to think like him
3. You and Upthecreek are the same person and you forgot what name you were posting under
don’t you know a joke when it’s standing right in front of your face? sheeessshhhh
Sarcasm is a difficult method of e-communication.
I thought EVERYBODY knew that.
But when it comes to some types – it’s good to be aware of minds of their caliber.
Excellent article. Well written, correct grammar, informative and covers all the bases. Thank you.