January 3, 2026 – China Lake Mountain Rescue Group officials report that two search and rescue volunteers with the group got out for some winter mountaineering practice and summited Ball Mountain north of Kennedy Meadows. The climb featured deep powdery snow with steep, rocky and icy terrain underneath. The search and rescue volunteers logged 3,200 ft. of elevation gain and 8.7 miles in these winter conditions and returned safely back to their starting point.

The China Lake Mountain Rescue Group is an on-call, all-volunteer, non-profit organization providing search and rescue services. We are accredited by the Mountain Rescue Association in technical and high-risk terrain rescues but also serve in river and urban rescue. The primary mission of the China Lake Mountain Rescue Group is search and rescue of lost or injured persons in any season of the year in mountains, deserts or in any type of wilderness terrain.

Source & photos: China Lake Mountain Rescue Group