Three stranded on exposed 8,600ft California mountain summit as daring rescue launched

A satellite communicator saved the lives of three hikers stranded on an 8,600-foot summit in the Tahoe National Forest.The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office launched a search and rescue operation after one of their Garmins sent out an SOS alert from Sierra Buttes around 2:30 p.m.Sunday.Officials called in mutual aid from Nevada County’s Search and Rescue Mountain Rescue Team and Washoe County’s RAVEN helicopter unit.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story Scouring the Sierra Buttes, the aerial crew spotted the three stranded hikers clinging to a steep, exposed ridgeline just south of the lookout tower.“Due to the difficult terrain and hazardous location, a helicopter hoist rescue was necessary.

The RAVEN crew lowered a rescue team member to the stranded individuals,” Sierra County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post.Last week, a 39-year-old Florida man spent two nights stranded on Shastina Peak with a badly injured leg before a massive rescue operation finally got him off the mountain.After he reached the 14,179-foot summit Sunday afternoon, an erroneous GPS route sent him onto the Whitney Glacier, where he fell through a snow bridge at 12,600 feet and severely injured his leg.Earlier this month, two young hikers endured a freezing, 36-hour ordeal on California’s Mount Shasta after losing their way in treacherous terrain.The 19-year-old man and 20-year-old woman, both from Salt Lake City, became trapped between towering cliffs.The pair had planned only a day hike while a friend continued to the summit.When they finally called for help around 10:20 p.m.

on Oct.12, they had been too cold and exhausted to safely complete their descent from the 14,179-foot mountain.At around 4 p.m.

on Oct.13, rescuers heard shouting from the gulch and finally locat...