[pct-l] Southern Sierra Airlift ? (addendum)

[Teresa D]

I didn't find the report confusing. There are two incidents with
overlapping timelines:

Incident 1:
-reported April 21
-solo hiker, unnamed
-deceased
-13800 ft
-body presumably recovered next day April 22
-I don't see where he is refered to as an avalanche victim

Incident two:
-reported April 22
-one hiker injured in avalanche
-Sung Kim, rescued and brought to hospital
-9,500 ft
-rescued presumably on april 22

Hope that helps clarify things. What a shame to hear about these incidents.
Best of luck to Sung Kim in a full recovery.

-Teresa

On Wednesday, May 3, 2017, Paint YW <paintyourwagonhikes at gmail.com> wrote:

> I am following up on the original post and subsequent question about a
> rumor that a hiker had broken their leg up in the Sierras presumably hiking
> the PCT. I am positing that the following CHP report detailing a second
> rescue incident off of Mt. Whitney, might be the catalyst or origin of the
> alleged rumor mongering.
>
> Here's the beef-
>
> [ At approximately 12:30 Saturday April 22nd, Inyo County Sheriff’s
> Dispatch received notification of an avalanche, with one reported injury,
> on the lower end of the Mountaineer’s Route (~9,500 elevation). The
> reporting party did not witness the avalanche, but as he was hiking he
> noticed the runout zone of the avalanche, and below that there was one
> injured male hiker believed to be suffering from a broken leg ]
>
> Two SARs on Mt. Whitney
>
> At approximately 4:00pm Friday April 21st, Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch
> received notification of a potential fatality on the Mt. Whitney
> Mountaineer’s Route. According to the reporting party, who was a member of
> a hiking group that was descending the trail, a male solo hiker passed the
> group ascending in the last chute near the summit (~13,800 elevation).
> Sometime after the hiking group was continuing their descent a backpack
> tumbled down near them that the hikers recognized as the backpack belonging
> to the solo hiker. The members of the group called out repeatedly, but
> there was no response. In order to get enough reception to call into the
> Sheriff’s Office they hiked down to Iceberg Lake (~12,600 elevation) to
> dial 911. Inyo Sheriff started an investigation but it was too dark to
> begin an aerial search.
>
> CHP H-80 out of Apple Valley responded the morning of Saturday April 22,
> and located the body around 1:00pm. The body was inside the boundary of
> Sequoia-Kings National Park, and therefore the recovery was coordinated
> through Sequoia-Kings.
>
> At approximately 12:30 Saturday April 22nd, Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch
> received notification of an avalanche, with one reported injury, on the
> lower end of the Mountaineer’s Route (~9,500 elevation). The reporting
> party did not witness the avalanche, but as he was hiking he noticed the
> runout zone of the avalanche, and below that there was one injured male
> hiker believed to be suffering from a broken leg.
>
> Although CHP H-80 was already near Mt. Whitney doing aerial reconnaissance
> for the fatality, they were unable to assist because they are not hoist
> certified. Additional aerial support was requested through Inyo County
> Search and Rescue, and CHP H-70 out of Paso Robles was able to respond.
>
> The avalanche victim, identified as Sung Kim, 64 year old male from
> Fullerton, CA, was successfully airlifted out and transported to Southern
> Inyo Hospital for treatment.
>
> Due to historic snowfall in the Sierra we want to remind outdoor
> enthusiasts that the risk of avalanches is greater than in past years.
> Additionally, the high snowpack requires experience and technical skills.
>
> Agencies assisting this weekend include: CHP H-80, CHP H-70, Sequoia-Kings,
> Inyo SAR, Inyo Sheriff.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Paint
>
> Note: This report leaves the reader confused by commenting on an individual
> at possibly (~9,500') that broke their leg due to the effects of an
> avalanche, then refers to a deceased individual at possibly (~13,800') as
> "the" avalanche victim.
>
> Question: Are there two incidents?
>
> Question? Are there two individuals: one deceased, and one injured?
>
> Question? Did Sung Kim get carried down slope by an avalanche, from 13,800'
> to 9,500', and that there is only one victim / individual?
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