Tahoe Search and Rescue

We are excited to announce that we were selected to receive a $4,000 donation from the 2020 American Century Championship grant program! These funds will make a big difference in our ability to continue to fulfill our mission. Thanks American Century Championship and Visit Lake Tahoe South for your support!

Car Cruise Night! See the article for more info.

Great work by our team in tough conditions on Saturday night/morning carry out an ill hiker near Maggies Peak. This was an extremely tough call out given the lighting and heavy rain.

Yesterday our SAR Family lost a great man and dedicated Volunteer. Rest In Peace Mike it was great working with you!!

A big quake near Lone Pine. Hoping everyone is ok.

An active SAR weekend in Tahoe.

Great work by our colleagues to the south in Alpine County!

Onion Valley Avalanche SAR ONION VALLEY (above Independence), CA. April 29, 2020 Shortly after 11:00am Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch received notification of... an avalanche in the Onion Valley area. Inyo County Sheriff Jeff Hollowell and Sheriff’s Office Deputies were first to arrive on scene and provided first aid to the patients until the Inyo Search and Rescue team arrived. Further information revealed that two individuals from the Tahoe area came to Onion Valley to rock-climb and ski. The male/female pair set out around 9:30am to ascend, then ski a prominent canyon on the northeast side of Independence Peak, near the Kearsarge trailhead. After climbing for several hours they heard, then saw, an approaching avalanche. Both were caught up in the moving snow; the male skier was able to grab some rocks until the snow passed, while the female was carried out of sight down the canyon. After the avalanche passed the male skier who maintained stabilization moved down the canyon and located his partner. Unfortunately her injuries were too severe for her to be carried out. CHP Central Division Air Operations (H-40) inserted one Inyo SAR member to the location, and the patient was hoisted by helicopter and flown to Southern Inyo Hospital for treatment. While we are grateful that these two avalanche survivors will recover, as a reminder Inyo SAR and the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office have released an official request for the recreating public to adhere to the current CA Stay at Home Order, and not participate in high-risk outdoor activities. If you get sick, lost or injured and require SAR assistance, the responding team of volunteers will have to break social distancing and State mandated Stay at Home Order by sharing rescue equipment, radios, and vehicles. You will be potentially taking those rescuers out of service for weeks due to post-mission quarantine protocols. See more

No one plans on getting lost or injured. EDSO, El Dorado Search and Rescue and Tahoe Search and Rescue requests that people do not take part in high risk outdo...or activities at this time. Activities include backpacking, climbing, peak bagging, back country skiing, or anything that puts you at risk for potential rescue. If you get sick, lost or injured and require SAR assistance, the responding team of volunteers will have to break social distancing and State mandated isolation by sharing rescue equipment, radios, and vehicles. You will be potentially taking those rescuers out of service for weeks due to post-mission quarantine protocols. In addition, many SAR teams, including ours, are operating at a diminished capacity due to many members self-isolating and not responding to operations due to age or other risk factors. Your preventable back country injury will also stress ambulance and emergency room services. It is highly unlikely helicopters are available to assist in your rescue. El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office DOES NOT own or operate any air assets, and our allied agency helicopters are currently operating at a very limited capacity.

Great article about maps and preparedness.

Great work by all involved!

Awesome programs by our colleagues to the south in the High Sierra

Great work by our colleagues to the south!