LONE PINE — A California Highway Patrol helicopter crew rescued four climbers from a Sierra Nevada peak.
The effort began Sunday when the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency satellite transmission requesting rescue.
Authorities say alpine conditions will remain potentially life-threatening into the summer due to the massive winter snowfall.
The office says the group went off course while descending Mount Russell and got stuck above a steep couloir (KOOL-wahr).
The helicopter crew located them around 5:30 p.m. at 13,000 feet.
An Inyo search-and-rescue team member lowered on a 100-foot cable secured three of the climbers on the cliff and hooked up the fourth for a
hoist.
The chopper flew to Lone Pine Airport to refuel and then returned to hoist the others one at a time.
Authorities say alpine conditions will remain potentially life-threatening into the summer due to the massive winter snowfall.
