Mono County SAR Team lends mutual aid to stranded backpacker
To: All Media Partners
From: Jennifer M. Hansen, Public Information Officer
Date: June 24, 2014
RE: Search and Rescue Team Operation: Mutual Aid assistance to the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office for a stranded backpacker
On the afternoon of Saturday, June 21, 2014, at approximately 3:10 pm, Mono County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call regarding a mutual aid request from the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office for a stranded backpacker at the Mono County/Tuolumne County line.
While on a three-day backpacking trip, a female backpacker slid down a snowfield just west of the Mono County/Tuolumne County border, approximately six (6) miles south of Highway 108 (Sonora Pass). Due to her precarious situation on the edge of a cliff, her climbing partner called via cellphone for assistance.
The Mono County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Team was dispatched to aid the stranded backpacker. A California Highway Patrol (CHP) H40 helicopter from Fresno was also requested to insert two Tuolumne County technical search and rescue personnel who were able to reach the uninjured but stranded backpacker right before the sun set on Saturday evening. Mono County SAR personnel hiked to their location during the night to bring additional rescue gear and overnight gear to all rescue personnel.
On the morning of Sunday, June 22, 2014, all parties hiked out to the Search and Rescue base at Leavitt Lake.
