Climbing
Two rescue operations unfolded on Mount Whitney this month, aiding three hikers in separate incidents just days apart, according to Inyo County Search and Rescue (SAR). The first rescue occurred on November 2, when SAR responded to reports of a hiker suffering a medical emergency near Trail Camp, approximately 12,000 feet up the mountain. Three SAR members joined the California Highway Patrol’s H-42 helicopter crew from Fresno in Lone Pine. One rescuer was flown to the site, where the hiker was located and stabilized. While preparing for transport, rescuers were approached by another nearby hiker who had also begun to feel ill. Both individuals were flown to Lone Pine for further evaluation.
Just five days later, on November 7, SAR was called again to Mt. Whitney for a separate emergency. A hiker attempting to ascend near the 99 switchbacks had ventured off the main trail and slipped on an icy slope, sustaining injuries. Two nearby hikers heard his calls for help and reached him—one remained to assist, while the other hiked about 3.5 miles down to Outpost Camp to find someone with a satellite messenger and alert rescuers. She then climbed back up to help again.
CHP’s H-42 helicopter once more supported the rescue, meeting eight SAR volunteers in Lone Pine. One rescuer was dropped at Trail Camp, and another was hoisted to the accident site. Working alongside the bystanders, the team secured the injured hiker in a SKED, a roll-up rescue litter designed for rugged alpine terrain, and hoisted him to safety before transporting him to Lone Pine.
Authorities confirmed there were no fatalities in either incident. SAR officials said the upper sections of the Mt. Whitney Main Trail, including the 99 switchbacks, are currently icy and extremely hazardous. They urged visitors to treat late-season climbs seriously and prepare accordingly.
Key safety reminders from the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office and Mt. Whitney rangers include:
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Acclimatize properly to avoid altitude sickness, which can onset quickly.
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Expect ice and winter hazards on upper mountain sections.
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Carry a satellite communicator—cell service is unreliable.
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Exercise caution and be realistic about turnaround times and weather shifts.
SAR teams also expressed gratitude to the hikers who provided assistance during the November 7 incident. “Your quick actions made a difference,” officials said, noting that one volunteer’s down jacket left at the scene can be retrieved at the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office.
