It has been a busy couple weeks for Sublette County’s Tip Top Search and Rescue teamthe past few weeks assisting hikers and climbers. In addition to helping climbers in the Wind River Mountains who were suffering mountain sickness, Tip Top SAR has also been helping neighboring counties with specialty equipment and the expertise of specially-trained members.
Closer to home, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance on August 10thwith an injured climber at about 11,800 feet on Pingora Peak, Cirque of Towers, in the Wind River Range.
The initial request was for use of the leased Air Resources helicopter to assist flying Fremont’s High Angle team members into the Cirque so they could help the man.
Winds grounded the mission from both the Fremont County side and the Sublette County side of the mountains. Sublette County’s Short-Haul team was placed on stand-by in case a window of opportunity opened. When the weather was safe to operate, Tip Top SAR was sent in to attempt a Short-Haul Rescue.
A reconnaissance flight was performed to see if the helicopter could safely get rescuers in and out of the area. The team was then able to successfully locate, package and fly the injured 67-year-old climber off the mountain ledge.
The climber was lowered to the valley floor near Lonesome Lake and due to the extent of his injuries, was immobilized in a vacuum mattress splint and prepared for transfer of care. However, due to the winds and inability of a medical helicopter to rendezvous in the backcountry, the Pinedale Medical Clinic was chosen as the nearest destination with clinic staff and EMS personnel awaiting the victim’s arrival.
As the team returned to the Cirque to retrieve equipment and remaining SAR members, they learned an additional climber who had fallen in the same area and had succumbed to his injuries.
Tip Top SAR members attempted for two days to enter the Cirque safely, but the dangerous high winds inside the Cirque denied them access, and from assisting Fremont County in retrieving the deceased climber. Instead, Fremont County was able to hike into the area and bring the climber to the care of the Fremont County Coroner.
TipTopSAR Photo
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