Inyo SAR Incident 8/30 Mt. Whitney
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:10 pm
Inyo Co Sheriff's Dept:
On Tuesday Aug 30 around 10pm IInyo County Search & Rescue was called out due to a subject “cliffed out” on a ledge on the south side of Mirror Lake, approximately 100ft below the Mt. Whitney trail.
Two Inyo County Search and Rescue members responded that evening. Due to the timing of the call, they made the decision to go at first light. By Wednesday early morning two additional SAR members responded.
Inyo SAR arrived at the Whitney Portal, hiked up to Mirror Lake and with the assistance of the RP, located the subject. However, their location was much further than the approximated 100ft from the trail, in loose rock and steep terrain, south-west of Mirror Lake. A helicopter was requested with hoisting capabilities. CHP Inland Division Air Operations, H-82 responded and were on-scene by 1:30pm.
One Inyo SAR member was hoisted up from their location and then hoisted down to the subject’s location. After H-82 hoisted the subject up, he was taken to Lone Pine Airport. H-82 returned and hoisted the Inyo SAR member and returned her to the area where the rest of the team was waiting.
Thank you CHP - Inland Division Air Operations (as always) for your quick response and assistance.