A volunteer search and rescue team was called into action on Sunday to rescue five climbers who made the ill-advised decision to go rock climbing in California’s icy High Sierra mountains.
The climbers lacked the necessary experience and found themselves stuck on a dangerous section of the trail, ‘unable to proceed in any direction’ after underestimating the treacherous conditions.
When they finally got back on the ground, the group was chastised by the rescue team on social media.
In a Facebook post on September 23, Inyo County Search & Rescue made it clear that the risky rescue was “completely avoidable.”
A volunteer search and rescue team was called into action to rescue five climbers who had made the ill-advised decision to go rock climbing in California’s icy High Sierra mountains.
The volunteer rescuers were forced to climb the same dangerous routes themselves to bring the stranded climbers to safety
The team received two calls for help from the climbers, who had ventured onto icy scrambling routes without adequate preparation or equipment, a decision that SAR said was downright reckless.
The volunteer rescuers were then forced to climb the same dangerous routes themselves to bring the stranded climbers to safety.
“These missions are very risky for everyone involved, and they are completely avoidable,” Inyo SAR stated, clearly frustrated by the unnecessary danger posed by the climbers’ lack of planning.
The rescue team sternly advised that anyone encountering snow and ice on the routes without proper knowledge, training or equipment should turn around immediately rather than continue blindly.
“Continuing to higher ground will only make the snow and ice worse – the risk and consequences increase dramatically,” the post warned.
In a post on Facebook on September 23, Inyo County Search & Rescue made it clear that the risky rescue was ‘completely avoidable’
Photos posted online show the steep slopes and tricky conditions the group faced
The climbers became stuck on a dangerous part of the trail and “couldn’t continue in any direction,” such was the amount of snow and ice in the area
The rescue team advised anyone encountering snow and ice that routes without proper knowledge, training or equipment should immediately turn around rather than continue
Photos taken by the rescuers show how high the climbers were and how steep the slopes they encountered were
The team’s message was clear: those who ignore the dangers of these extreme conditions are not only endangering themselves, but also endangering the lives of the volunteers tasked with saving them from their poor decisions.
Inyo SAR also reminded climbers that icy and snowy conditions are currently prevalent throughout the High Sierra, including on the western side of the Sierra ridge, making high-altitude climbing particularly dangerous at this time.
The SAR’s final note advised those tempted to take on dangerous conditions, while a subtle rebuke was given to the climbers in need of rescue: “In the meantime, have some adventures at lower altitudes.”