Overview

• The climber activated a Garmin InReach SOS after falling off-route at 13,600 feet and sustaining a compound leg fracture with bone protruding through her skin.
• Thunderstorms, dense clouds and helicopter performance ceilings repeatedly forced crews to adjust their missions on the remote 14,380-foot peak.
• China Lake Naval Air helicopters dropped four SAR volunteers at 10,500 feet for a night foot approach while CHP teams later inserted two rescuers 300 feet above the stranded climber.
• A California National Guard Black Hawk hoisted the injured woman at around 7:15 p.m. on July 3 and flew her to Bishop Airport for medical treatment.
• Officials lauded the seamless interagency coordination and the climber’s composure under dire conditions.