1 day ago
Overnight Rescue Saves Climber Trapped On Narrow Ledge
Rob Martin was climbing a steep mountain route in California when he took a wrong turn.
He became stuck on a ledge only about six inches wide.
The ground below was so steep that falling could have been deadly.
Martin called for help around 1:20 p.m.
on August 22.
Rescue workers decided they had to continue into the night to reach him.
They used ropes to lower a rescuer down the mountain.
The rescuer attached Martin to a safety harness.
Together, they moved toward a safer route and were brought out.
Martin was tired but did not suffer major injuries.
Rob Martin contacted authorities around 1:20 p.m. on August 22 after taking a wrong turn while climbing in California’s Sierra Nevada.
He became stranded on a ledge about six inches wide, with thousands of feet of steep exposure below.
Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team members carried out a complex high-angle rescue through difficult terrain and nighttime conditions.
A technician was lowered using specialized rope systems, secured Martin in a harness, and helped move him down the mountain.
Responders said Martin was exhausted but avoided major injuries after the overnight operation.
- Who
- Climber Rob Martin and the Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team.
- What
- A high-angle rescue freed Martin after he became stranded on a six-inch ledge.
- Where
- The Mendenhall Couloir on the east face of Laurel Mountain in California’s Sierra Nevada.
- When
- Martin called authorities around 1:20 p.m. on August 22; the rescue continued overnight and reached him by early morning.
- Why
- Martin took a wrong turn on a difficult alpine route and could not safely climb down because of the steep drop.
Key facts
- Climber
- Rob Martin
- Route
- Mendenhall Couloir
- Mountain
- Laurel Mountain
- Ledge width
- About six inches
- Emergency call
- Around 1:20 p.m. local time on August 22
- Rescue method
- Specialized rope systems and a rescuer-operated harness
- Outcome
- Martin was exhausted but avoided major injuries
Quotes
Mono County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team
The sheriff’s department rescue team describing its overnight response
“Recognising the growing severity of the situation, the team extended its operational timeline and accepted additional exposure to the hazards of the terrain and nighttime conditions in order to reach and secure the subject before a fatal fall might occur”
NDTV
“any fall would almost certainly be fatal”
NDTV
Clay Tyson
Owner of Ground Up Climbing Guides, a local climbing service
“You can think you're in the right zone, but it's tricky”
NDTV
Sources
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