Injured Hiker With Protruding Bone Trapped 28 Hours On Mount Williamson

INYO COUNTY, CA — A hiker injured so severely that her bone was visible waited over a day as rescuers attempted to reach her in a remote and treacherous area of Mount Williamson with an elevation over 13,000 feet, authorities said.

“This complex, multi-agency operation involved five helicopters over two days and required tremendous coordination, endurance, and technical skill,” Inyo County Search & Rescue said in a social media post.

Around 3:30 p.m. on July 2, the hiker notified authorities using a Garmin InReach device that she had fallen while climbing alone off-route near the mountain’s West Chute at an elevation of 13,600 feet.

She had lost her backpack with her food and water, and injured her leg, with bone protruding through the skin.

As authorities worked to coordinate the rescue, a sudden thunderstorm brought lightning, high winds and rain to the area, with dense cloud cover forcing a California Highway Patrol helicopter to turn back before reaching the hiker.

A China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station helicopter brought four volunteers about 10,500 feet up around midnight, but could go no higher due to the altitude, requiring the rescuers to walk through the night.

By sunrise, they had made verbal contact with the climber, and the highway patrol helicopter returned amid better weather to bring two rescuers 300 feet above the hiker, who was in a steep, narrow chute that exceeded the helicopter’s hoist capabilities.

The rescuers descended and finally reached the climber about 23 hours after her initial fall.

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department helicopter with a longer cable attempted a rescue, but was hindered by extreme altitude, so the California National Guard sent a helicopter, which hoisted the hiker to safety at 7:15 p.m. on July 3, roughly 28 hours after her fall. She was transported to receive medical care.

“This mission is a powerful reminder of the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering and the extraordinary efforts behind each rescue,” Inyo County Search & Rescue said in the social media post. “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.”