DCSO SAR air and ground operation rescues seriously injured skier and companion stranded on South Sister
(Update: Adding more photos, Adding video, information from sheriff)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A seriously injured skier and his companion from Utah who were stranded on Central Oregon's South Sister were rescued Tuesday in a joint effort by Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue and helicopter crews from AirLink and the Oregon Army National Guard.
The sheriff's office responded Monday afternoon to the call from the 10,358-foot peak. Attempts to contact the skiers by phone were unsuccessful, so SAR teams began coordinating a rescue, Sheriff Kent Van der Kamp said.
The sheriff told KTVZ News one skier had "serious injuries that prevented him from skiing or hiking from the summit." His friend and companion called 911 for help.
The two friends, both with outdoor experience, were visiting Central Oregon during their spring break holiday, van der Kamp told us.
By 2:38 p.m., the Sheriff's Office SAR Incident Management Team was activated to help plan the mission. At 4:51 p.m., two SAR members were flown to the mountain by an AirLink helicopter, and by 5:12 p.m., they had spotted the skiers and were searching for a place to land.
Meanwhile, SAR members had climbed up to the two men, ages 19 and 20, from Salt Lake City, Van der Kamp said.
Moments later, an Oregon Army National Guard HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter arrived overhead. The helicopter crew successfully picked up the two men and brought them St. Charles Bend.
Meanwhile, the two rescuing SAR members remained near the south edge of the Lewis Glacier. They skied down South Sister to another SAR team on snowmobiles, who brought them back to Dutchman Sno-Park.
"This rescue was a team effort, and we appreciate the help from AirLink and the Oregon Army National Guard in getting these skiers to safety," the sheriff said.
Asked about the ability to call 911 from near the peak's summit, van der Kamp said, "I am often surprised at the coverage, too. Some rural towers can reach 25 miles, and depending on which side of the mountain you are on, the tower at Mt Bachelor does well in that area."
