High Sierra Topix

A 20 year old man from Marita, CA and his father were hiking in the Saddlebag Lake area, above Cascade Lake. While in steep terrain, attempting to get to the top of the ridge line, he slipped on rocks and vegetation and fell approximately twenty feet. He injured both ankles in the fall, with a possible broken left ankle. Guide staff from the Saddlebag Lake Resort came to his location and assessed carrying him out to the resort but were unable to do so due to distance and terrain. They then radioed the resort for assistance. A staff member had to leave the resort (no phone) to contact the Sheriff's Department Dispatch Center and report the incident. Fifteen Team members responded to the call. A hasty team hiked to the subject's location at 10,660 feet to begin a patient assessment while other ground teams brought in a wheeled litter. Following the medical assessment, the victim's leg was splinted. He was transported down in the litter about 600 feet of elevation to Saddlebag Lake, then taken to the resort by boat. He signed a medical waiver and his father took him to Mammoth Hospital for treatment