Four rescued near Horsetail Falls
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Rescuers braved low visibility, high winds and steep terrain to reach four people who became stranded near the top of Horsetail Falls Sunday evening.
Four backpackers from the Sacramento area, between the ages of 20 and 39, were on the way back from an overnight trip when they were caught in a storm that dropped about a foot of snow on area peaks, said El Dorado County Sheriff's Deputy and Search and Rescue Coordinator Mike Sukau. Horsetail Falls is located off of U.S. Highway 50 near Strawberry.
Although the group was decently prepared, they miscalculated the arrival of the storm, got wet, got cold and were unable to continue, Sukau said. The group set up an emergency shelter above a cliff band near the top of the falls and called 911 on a cell phone about 4:15 p.m.
“They couldn't even go 20 feet because they were so cold,” Sukau said.
Rescuers were able to locate the approximate location of the group by contacting the service provider of the cell phone. After scaling “extremely tough” terrain, one rescuer was able to reach the group about 9 p.m., Sukau said.
At least one of the backpackers, a 20-year-old women, showed signs of hypothermia and may not have survived the night, Sukau said.
Additional rescuers reached the group, giving them food and extra clothing, before beginning the dangerous task of bringing the group off the mountain.
By 11 p.m., rescuers were able to bring the group down about 700 vertical feet to a base camp using a “human chain” to help them down the steep terrain surrounding the falls.
“It was very treacherous,” Sukau said.
The backpackers, as well as their rescuers, reached the parking lot at the base of the falls about 3:15 a.m., Sukau said.
Although shaken, the group declined medical assistance. No one was injured during the incident, Sukau said.
About a dozen people from South Lake Tahoe and Placerville Search and Rescue teams, as well as members of the Lake Valley Fire Protection District took part in the rescue effort.
Four backpackers from the Sacramento area, between the ages of 20 and 39, were on the way back from an overnight trip when they were caught in a storm that dropped about a foot of snow on area peaks, said El Dorado County Sheriff's Deputy and Search and Rescue Coordinator Mike Sukau. Horsetail Falls is located off of U.S. Highway 50 near Strawberry.
Although the group was decently prepared, they miscalculated the arrival of the storm, got wet, got cold and were unable to continue, Sukau said. The group set up an emergency shelter above a cliff band near the top of the falls and called 911 on a cell phone about 4:15 p.m.
“They couldn't even go 20 feet because they were so cold,” Sukau said.
Rescuers were able to locate the approximate location of the group by contacting the service provider of the cell phone. After scaling “extremely tough” terrain, one rescuer was able to reach the group about 9 p.m., Sukau said.
At least one of the backpackers, a 20-year-old women, showed signs of hypothermia and may not have survived the night, Sukau said.
Additional rescuers reached the group, giving them food and extra clothing, before beginning the dangerous task of bringing the group off the mountain.
By 11 p.m., rescuers were able to bring the group down about 700 vertical feet to a base camp using a “human chain” to help them down the steep terrain surrounding the falls.
“It was very treacherous,” Sukau said.
The backpackers, as well as their rescuers, reached the parking lot at the base of the falls about 3:15 a.m., Sukau said.
Although shaken, the group declined medical assistance. No one was injured during the incident, Sukau said.
About a dozen people from South Lake Tahoe and Placerville Search and Rescue teams, as well as members of the Lake Valley Fire Protection District took part in the rescue effort.
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