6/13/22 – Tahoe Rim Trail Stranded Hikers

SAR Staff, Hasty BC, and WCSAR BC responded to the Tahoe Meadows to locate two stranded hikers that were having trouble with deep snow during an attempt on a multi-day hiking trip on the TRT. One subject was also having a medical episode. BC teams accessed the location via the Gray Lake Trail. In order to reach the subjects, SAR responders needed to cross an area of snow on a steep sidehill with the use of crampons. Once that was done, the subjects were placed in heat blankets and warmer clothing along with being medically assessed. Due to the treacherous terrain, it was decided to lower the subject that was experiencing the medical episode, downhill via a sked and an alpine rope system. Once this was accomplished, and they were able to reach where the majority of the snow had melted away, all SAR personnel assisted the two subjects in walking a bearing that would intersect the trail at a lower elevation. Approximately five hours after calling for help, the subjects were safely brought to the staging location.