Inyo SAR Incident 11/6 Old Army Pass

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Inyo Co Sheriff's Dept:

During the afternoon of Saturday November 5, Inyo County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a deceased hiker at the top of Old Army Pass. Inyo County Search and Rescue and H-82 of CHP - Inland Division Air Operations devised a plan to go retrieve the deceased early the following morning. A second ground team from InyoSAR was also deployed in case weather conditions impeded the helicopter attempt, thereby ensuring the retrieval would happen before the winter storm was to arrive later that evening.

Four SAR members departed on foot early Sunday Nov. 6, with a litter and wheel, to reach the subject via the trailhead at Horseshoe Meadows. Meanwhile, two helicopter hoist-trained SAR members met H-82 at the Lone Pine airport.

With both SAR members on board, the helicopter was able to successfully locate and land within 50 feet of the deceased subject. The deceased subject and all their belongings were packaged and air-lifted back to the Lone Pine airport, while the two SAR members stayed at the top of Old Army Pass. Within 30min, H-82 was able to return and pick up the two SAR members. The ground team was notified of the successful retrieval of the deceased subject as well as the SAR members from the top of Old Army Pass.

Thank you for another successful mission with our partners at CHP Inland Division Air Operations.

Our condolences go out to the family and friends and everyone else involved in this unfortunate outcome.

As the winter storm season is upon us, it is crucial to keep a closer eye on the forecast and to always venture into the backcountry with a partner – Safety in numbers.