Hiker Assist Above Lake Sabrina 

July 14, 2024 – Inyo County Search & Rescue officials report that at around 1:30 P.M. on Wednesday, July 10, Inyo SAR received a call-out to help a 73-year-old hiker behind Lake Sabrina.

The subject had been backpacking with his wife when he fell and broke his wrist about 6 miles away from the road. He was able to walk, but in pain, had no material to create a splint for the fracture, and couldn’t carry his backpack anymore.

Due to the time of day and distance from the trailhead, Inyo SAR advised the hikers to abandon any unnecessary gear, wrap the arm with what they had on hand, and start walking down to meet the SAR team who was coming uphill. This helped with speeding up the rescue.

4 rescuers from Inyo SAR assembled in Bishop and drove to the Lake Sabrina trailhead from where they started hiking up to the subject and his wife.

At 4:15 P.M., they reached the patient who had by then made 2 miles progress. The rescuers assessed his injury and put him into a splint to further stabilize the fracture.

All hiked out together and reached the trailhead at 7:30 P.M. from where the subject’s wife was able to drive him to the hospital for further treatment.

This is a classic accident that can happen to anyone, no matter how prepared you are.

Knowing some basic wilderness first aid goes a long ways. We highly encourage everyone who recreates in the outdoors, to know what to do when things go sideways.

If things do go wrong, be prepared to stash excess gear somewhere to speed things up. In this case, the rescue was only completed in daylight because the patient and his wife agreed to hike 2 miles before meeting the rescuers.

Inyo SAR is an all-volunteer and unpaid, professional non-profit 501(c)3 organization in cooperation with and under the authority of the Inyo County Sheriff's Office. Providing search and rescue services to Inyo County and its visitors is only possible thanks to donations. Inyosar.com/donate

Source & photos: Inyo County Search & Rescue