Inyo Search and Rescue shown on an earlier mission.

Inyo Search and Rescue shown on an earlier mission.

On October 9, 2013, Inyo County Search and Rescue received a call regarding two overdue climbers. According to the report, the climbers were doing a day climb on the east face of Mt Whitney and were unable to make their way off the mountain by the time the sun went down. One of the climbers was able to text his wife the evening of the 8th and let her know they would continue climbing down at first light. The two climbers found a cave to hunker down for the night and get out of the elements.

The next morning, a storm came in and dumped almost two feet of snow on Mt. Whitney; the climbers were now stuck on a cliff and could not get down. One of the climbers was able to text his wife with the coordinates of their location.

Early in the morning on October 10th CHP helicopter H80 flew to the climbers location. H80 landed one skid on a cliff which allowed the climbers to get inside the helicopter. The two climbers were flown to the Lone Pine Airport where they were treated and released.

In related news, the Sheriff’s Office reports that about 20 members of the Inyo County volunteer Search And Rescue team were trained on helicopter safety skills Saturday at the Bishop airport. CHP H40 crew out of Fresno provided hands-on training. Volunteers are always needed to join the search and rescue team. Stop by the Sheriff’s Posse Hut on Airport Road in Bishop during the Inyo County SAR monthly meetings the first and third Thursday of every month at 7pm.

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