The incident occurred on April 16 in the area of Mount Baxter, located within the Sierra Nevada mountains
Credit: CHP – Inland Division Air Operations/Instagram
NEED TO KNOW
- A climber was rescued by helicopter after falling 500 feet in the area of Mount Baxter, located within the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, on April 16
- The climber and his brother used a satellite device to call for help after they both became stranded on a steep ledge and were forced to spend the night there in freezing conditions
- Rescuers faced challenging snowy and windy conditions during the helicopter hoist mission to save the brothers
A climber who fell 500 feet down the side of a mountain in California has been rescued after surviving "freezing conditions" overnight in the area.
California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Inland Division Air Operations recently confirmed that officials had responded to reports that a climber had fallen in the area of Mount Baxter, located within the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The climber had been hiking with his brother on a multiday excursion in the area when the incident occurred on April 16, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
"A climber had fallen, and came to rest on a steep ledge, sustaining major injuries," the CHP Inland Division Air Operations wrote alongside a clip of the rescue mission posted on Facebook.
The climber had been walking up a steep slope when a patch of snow gave way beneath his foot and he plunged 500 feet down the mountain, sustaining multiple broken bones in the fall. His brother rushed down the mountainside to try and rescue him and the pair became stranded at 12,400 feet, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
"The victim and his companion utlilzed their Garmin inReach device to notify local search and rescue,” the CHP Inland Division Air Operations stated, referencing the satellite texting device used by hikers.
The brothers were forced to spend the night down the mountainside "in freezing conditions" as they waited to be rescued. “The location of the victim made ground rescue impossible,” officials said.
A CHP Helicopter eventually reached the area to rescue the stranded pair.
“H-80 inserted one Inyo County Search & Rescue team member via hoist. The narrow ledge only allowed for one rescuer. The hoist was conducted at an elevation of 12,400 feet, near steep terrain and gusting winds. Both victims were packaged and safely hoisted from the scene,” the CHP Inland Division Air Operations stated.
Footage shared by officials showed the helicopter flying above snow-covered mountains, where the stranded climbers were located, as a rescue team member was lowered.
Credit: CHP – Inland Division Air Operations Facebook
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The snowy and windy conditions in the area made the rescue mission tricky.
“It’s probably the most challenging hoist I’ve had to do,” flight officer paramedic, Gustavo Aguirre, told the San Francisco Chronicle. “We had to take extreme caution … Time is of the essence. We’re trying to get them out of there as soon as possible."
The climbers were transported to a local hospital for treatment. They have not been publicly identified.
The Inyo County Search and Rescue team (Inyo SAR) assisted the CHP in locating the hiker, per the San Francisco Chronicle.
PEOPLE has reached out to the CHP, the Inyo SAR and the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office for additional information, but didn't immediately hear back.
Read the full article here
