Hiker stranded for 28 hours on remote mountain with 'bone sticking through skin'
A hiker was left stranded for 28 hours on top of a remote mountain after a gruesome fall left her "bone protruding through skin." The solo female, who has not been named, was trekking up Mount Williamson in the Sierra Nevada, California, when she alerted authorities at around 3.30pm on July 2.
The hiker had pressed an SOS alert on her Garmin and informed them she was "suffering a serious injury to her lower leg, with bone visibly protruding through the skin." According to the Inyo County Search and Rescue, the woman had fallen while climbing off-route near the mountain at 13,600ft.
The climber, from California, had also lost her backpack, which contained "all of her food, water, and extra clothing."
'Despite the severity of her condition and the remote location, she remained calm and responsive while awaiting rescue,' the rescue team said in a statement. 'SAR Coordinator quickly established communication with the subject via satellite text, and Inyo County SAR was activated.'
A rescue operation was quickly launched with assistance from the California Highway Patrol, Central Division Air Operations, and other agencies.
However, a thunderstorm in the area derailed their rescue bid due to dense cloud over the mountain.
The China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station was drafted to help and transported four Inyo search and rescue volunteers to 10,500 feet to try and locate the missing hiker.
'By sunrise, rescuers reached the base of the West Face and made verbal contact with the climber, but terrain challenges prevented an immediate reach,' Inyo Search and Rescue said.
'With improved weather on July 3, CHP H-40 returned, but the subject's location in a steep, narrow chute exceeded the helicopter's hoist capabilities. The aircraft inserted two additional SAR members 300 feet above the subject, who descended and reached the climber 23 hours after her fall.'
The woman was not hoisted to safety until around 28 hours after her fall. She was rushed to Bishop Airport, where she was transferred for medical assistance.
Authorities said the 'complex, multi-agency operation involved five helicopters over two days and required tremendous coordination, endurance, and technical skill.' Six SAR volunteers were in the field, and seven were on standby at the base.
'This mission is a powerful reminder of the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering and the extraordinary efforts behind each rescue. The climber's bravery and composure in extreme conditions were remarkable.'
'Enormous bravery and fortitude was shown by this patient, and all involved were impressed by her ability to remain calm, collected, and alive,' Inyo County SAR said.
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