From Inyo Sheriff:
"On Wednesday evening Inyo County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a group of backpackers reporting an injured hiker on the Baxter Pass trail near Independence. Three Inyo County Search and Rescue volunteers responded and hiked to the reported location, arriving at the patient at around 11:30pm. The patient, a solo backpacker in his forties, had slipped at a dangerous creek crossing and severely injured his leg, preventing him from walking or moving. He was found by the backpackers on a log in the middle of the creek, having waited over 36 hours for someone to find him and call for help.
Around midnight, Inyo SAR carefully moved the patient and stabilized his injury. The team and the patient remained there until dawn, when air support arrived from the California Highway Patrol Inland Division Air Operations H-82 helicopter. The helicopter crew expertly navigated within twenty feet of dozens of large trees, and successfully hoisted the patient over 100 feet into the helicopter for transport to the hospital.
Inyo SAR and the Inyo County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the CHP - Inland Division Air Operations crew for their professionalism and skill while aiding in the Baxter Creek mission.
The Inyo SAR team works in cooperation with and under the authority of the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department. Interested in joining SAR or donating? Check out the Inyo SAR website at
http://inyosar.com for more information."
This trail isn't heavily travelled, and without cell contact or Spot, he was in dire need of help. The injured hiker was transported to hospital in Bishop. Thanks the hikers who found him, Inyo SAR and Apple Valley CHP. This highlights the danger of many stream crossings just now, especially with the increased thunderstorm activity and heavy evening rain.
