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Fox News
09-07-2025
- General
- Fox News
Five helicopters needed to save injured solo climber on California's second-highest peak
A high-altitude rescue effort involving multiple agencies and five helicopters unfolded over two days on the second-highest mountain in both the Sierra Nevada range and the state of California. On the afternoon of July 2, the Inyo County Sheriff's Office announced in a release that they received an SOS alert from a Garmin InReach device belonging to a solo female climber who reported a fall while navigating off-route near the West Chute of Mt. Williamson. In her satellite message, she described a grave situation: a serious lower leg injury with bone visibly protruding through the skin, and the loss of her backpack containing essential supplies. Despite suffering from a severe injury at 13,800 feet, the climber remained responsive and composed. Assistance was requested by Inyo County's Search and Rescue (SAR) and California Highway Patrol (CHP) Central Division Air Operations. Rescue operations were immediately complicated by a fast-moving thunderstorm that swept over the Sierra Nevada, grounding helicopters and forcing personnel to retreat after initial attempts to reach the injured climber. The aircraft had managed to pick up two SAR volunteers, the department said, but was unable to breach the dense cloud cover to access the high-altitude terrain. As night fell and flight options narrowed, the Inyo County Sheriff's Office, coordinating with the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, secured mutual aid from VX-31 at China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station. Just before midnight, a VX-31 aircraft placed four SAR volunteers at roughly 10,500 feet near Shepherd's Pass, the highest point the aircraft could reach due to altitude limitations, leaving the SAR team to continue their climb on foot under cover of darkness, the department said. By sunrise on July 3, SAR members had reached the base of Mt. Williamson's west face and established verbal contact with the injured climber. With weather conditions improving, CHP H-40 returned, but the climber was in a narrow chute and the helicopter could not safely rescue her. Two additional SAR members were inserted 300 feet above her and descended to her location approximately 23 hours after her initial fall, the department said. The department said that personnel realized that a safe extraction would require even more advanced air capabilities, and they coordinated with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which deployed its Air 5 helicopter equipped with a longer hoist. Despite the advanced equipment, Air 5 was unable to complete the mission due to the extreme altitude. Ultimately, it was the California National Guard that made the final extraction possible. A Blackhawk helicopter, Spartan 164, was staged at Bishop Airport and launched into action, the department said. After SAR members moved the climber to more open terrain, Spartan 164 successfully hoisted her to safety at approximately 7:15 p.m. on July 3, more than 28 hours after her distress call was first received. The helicopter later returned to retrieve the SAR volunteers. In total, six SAR members operated in the field during the rescue, while another seven coordinated from base and remained ready for further deployment. The Inyo County Sheriff's Office praised the seamless interagency coordination and the exceptional courage of all involved. "This mission is a powerful reminder of the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering and the extraordinary efforts behind each rescue," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "The climber's bravery and composure in extreme conditions were remarkable. All involved were impressed by her ability to remain calm, collected, and alive." Fox News Digital has reached out to the California National Guard, Inyo County Sheriff's Office, and Garmin for comment.
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The Independent
08-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
California hiker suffered injury so gruesome that it took five helicopters and two days to rescue her
A California hiker suffered an injury so gruesome that it took five search and rescue helicopters as well as a brutal two-day mission to rescue her, say officials. The solo female climber had been trekking up Mt. Williamson – a prominent peak in the Sierra Nevada, known for its challenging climbs and stunning views – when she alerted authorities to her emergency at around 3:30 p.m. on July 2 via an SOS alert on her Garmin InReach. She told authorities that she was 'suffering a serious injury to her lower leg, with bone visibly protruding through the skin.' The woman had fallen while climbing off-route near the West Chute of Mt. Williamson at an elevation of 13,600 feet, the Inyo County Search and Rescue said. To make the situation worse, she had lost her backpack, which contained essential supplies – food, water, and extra clothing. 'Inyo County's Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordinator quickly established communication with the subject via satellite text, and Inyo County SAR was activated. 'Assistance was also requested from California Highway Patrol (CHP) Central Division Air Operations,' Inyo County SAR said. However, little did she realize that the weather and the extreme terrain would make it almost impossible for SAR officials to find her. Minutes after she called, a thunderstorm rolled in across the Sierra, bringing lightning, high winds, and rain. An already deployed CHP helicopter had to be diverted and landed safely in Lone Pine to pick up two SAR volunteers, officials said. However, the mission had to be abandoned because of dense cloud cover over the mountain. Then, the mission was accepted by the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, who scrambled to deploy a helicopter and took four Inyo SAR volunteers to approximately 10,500 feet near Shepherd's Pass just before midnight. Disaster struck again, as the crew was unable to fly higher due to performance limitations at altitude, which required SAR teams to continue on foot through the night, they said. As sunrise crept in, the on-foot rescuers managed to reach the base of the West Face and made verbal contact with the solo climber; however, terrain challenges again prevented them from reaching her. Despite a minor improvement to the weather on July 3, a CHP helicopter returned, 'but the subject's location in a steep, narrow chute exceeded the helicopter's hoist capabilities,' they said. It was only when the aircraft deployed two extra SAR crew members 300 feet above the woman that they were able to descend and give her medical aid, almost 23 hours after she fell. Then came the challenge of trying to get the woman and the SAR crew off the mountain. Another helicopter, this time, from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, attempted a rescue with a longer hoist cable, 'but the extreme altitude exceeded aircraft performance limits,' officials said. She was finally rescued by the California National Guard, who at around 7:15 p.m. on July 3 hoisted her into a Black Hawk Spartan 164 and transported her to Bishop Airport, where she was transferred to medical care. The Black Hawk helicopter returned to extract the remaining Inyo SAR volunteers. Officials said the 'complex, multi-agency operation involved five helicopters over two days and required tremendous coordination, endurance, and technical skill,' with six SAR volunteers in the field and seven more at the base on standby. 'This mission is a powerful reminder of the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering and the extraordinary efforts behind each rescue. The climber's bravery and composure in extreme conditions were remarkable.' 'Enormous bravery and fortitude was shown by this patient, and all involved were impressed by her ability to remain calm, collected, and alive,' Inyo County SAR said.
