Horizon Ridge Search and Rescue
2-20-05
At about 0900 on Sunday, February 20 2005, Wawona Ranger M. Dowdle recieved a radio call from K. Ripple, the Ostrander Hut Manager.
Ripple reported that he was starting a search for a solo female
skier in the Horizon Ridge area, northwest of Ostrander between the hut and the Glacier Point Road.
Ripple reported that the skier has left the Ostrander Hut the day before at about 1130 heading northbound
towards Horizon Ridge. He reported that she had told him she would either go to her tent, which she had set up along
the Horizon Ridge Trail two days earlier, or continue on to Badger Pass Trailhead. Ripple was worried about
the missing skier because she had been seen at 1530 hours the day before on the Horizon Ridge Trail, which
would mean she had only gone 1.5 miles in 4 hours. Ripple reported that there had been a heavy snowstorm on the
afternoon and evening of the previous day, dropping over a foot of new snow.
At 1015 hours Ripple reported to Dowdle that he and another person had just skied to the subject's tent and found it unoccupied and
covered in snow. Ripple said he was concerned that the missing skier had gotten lost in the storm and had
to spend the night out.
After Ranger Dowdle received the report from Ripple, he requested that Ripple continue searching. Ripple requested
assistance from two NPS employees who happened to be staying at Ostrander Hut. Dowdle began gathering resources
and making search plans. Ranger M. Marschall arrived and assumed the role of Incident Commander at 1150 hours.
Other Wawona District rangers were assigned to various support and liaison roles.
While search teams were being assembled at Badger Pass, Ripple and his team of four (the two NPS employees and two
French volunteers) continued to search. At 1313 hours the Ripple team found the missing skier in a tree
well on Horizon Ridge, about 2.3 miles NNE from Ostrander Hut. Ripple reported that the skier was barely
conscious and appeared to be suffering from severe hypothermia. The team assisted in removing the skier's
wet clothes and started rewarming her. The Yosemite Medical Clinic was notified of the patient's condition
and IC Marschall requested a helicopter for patient evacuation.
At about 1345 Ranger Dowdle, a Park Medic, left the Horizon Trailhead in route to the patient to provide Advanced Life Support
if needed. At the same time an over-snow rescue sled team of three left the trailhead to serve as backup in case
the helicopter evacuation did not work.
At 1400 hours California Highway Patrol (CHP) helicpter H40 arrived in the area and began a reconnaisance of the
patient's location. Shortly thereafter, an AirMed helicopter has requested to transfer the patient from
H40 to a hospital once the patient evacuation had taken place.
At 1416 hours H40 landed at Ahwahnee Meadows to set up for a hoist operation. At 1505 H40 lifted off with Park Medic
E. Visnovske aboard. At the patient's location, Visnovske was lowered to the ground with a litter. By this
time Ranger Dowdle had arrived at the patient's location. He, Visnovske, and the Ripple team loaded the patient
into the litter and moved her out away from the trees. At 1540 the patient was hoisted up into H40 and
transported to Awahnee Meadows, arriving at 1551 hours.
CHP Helicopter H2 was waiting at Ahwahnee Meadows when H40 arrived. Park Medic L. Reynolds examined the patient
and readied her for transport in H2. H2 lifted off with the patient at 1628 hours enroute to University
Medical Center in Fresno.
All field rescue personnel were back at Badger Pass Command Post by 1805 hours. Incident Command was terminated
at 1830 hours.
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