Mike! Its me!!! The gal you saved. This video was so well done and helpful as it is very choppy in my mind. The amount of gratitude I have for you and Matt is indescribable. You saved me, my precious daughter and my good friend. Thank you for being answered prayer and being so selfless. I am fully recovered and back at the grind. There really aren't words to express how I feel. Thank you again.
Wow it's so great to hear from you!!! You are very welcome and I'm just happy you're all okay. We were glad to help and it's something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. The mountain will be there long after I'm gone and I will return to it next year. I am also relieved that you are okay with the video. The whole time I put it together I kept thinking to myself that you might see it and I approached it from that perspective. I'm glad we were there and were able to help. Climbing the mountain is trivial in comparison. Your commenting here means a lot to me, thank you so much for this. I hope you and your daughter continue to hike together! 🙂❤💪 - Mike
WOW so glad to hear everyone is ok. We are hearing such terrible news around the world It is great that so many people will stop what they are doing and help someone.
@@outsidewithmikeespecially if you are multiple people and you can spread the weight,....you need a tent. Always. A broken ankle turns into a fatality really quick if a chopper can't get there fast. If you have treking poles, a tent may be as little as two pounds.....three pounds for a cheap one. Small weight penalty for massive safety improvement.
Wow God bless you that's so awesome they were able to help! I'm a climber I would have suggested a descent asap In that situation also and I would have given my Boost Oxgen on way down which are cans of pure oxygen that can be inhaled. Glad all are recovered and alright! High altitude sickness can occur when not acclimated properly and for some who are vulnerable.
This is Stephanie, the first lost hiker you came across. I was never so happy to see your headlamps coming yes, I thought you were our SAR, we were so cold and disoriented. Thank you for being kind to me and my friend and giving us the confidence, we needed to make it back. And thank you for helping our friend who was down and sharing your story. No doubt you both would have summited that day.
Hey great to hear from you! We were glad to help! I'm glad you found your way back. We were happy to help, summiting doesn't compare. I'm sure we all learned a lot, I know I did. Thank you so much for the comment, it means a lot. 😀👍
@@Starfish2145most people will hike in the dark on Whitney. And absolutely will during the fall. Breaking up into smaller groups isn't uncommon, maybe they went down to try and get signal/help. the lost group also had a bivy & a sat messenger, but not enough battery so it's not like they were entirely unprepared.
FYI ChP helos are all a stars staffed with one pilot and one paramedic. They are ALS same as a paramedic ambulance. Sometimes they also have a third person. They are equipped with a 450 foot winch/hoist and patient packaging so they could have rescued her from the initial injury point but only during daylight hours although they are working on all their ships to be nighttime certified for rescue. They don’t like to do a hoisting operation with only two people or without fire crews on the ground to do the packaging as the medic can’t be lowered without a third person on the airship. The bowman bag they lower for packaging does have simple instructions that comes down with it but again, it’s risky to trust an unfamiliar civilian.
I am a respiratory therapist and an avid outdoorsman especially hiking. 75% oxygen saturation is extremely critical. You saved with the help of God this lady. Thank you for sharing this story. It’s so touching to hear how you and your friend were able to help this family in trouble. I have helped lost individuals,including myself, to get safely home. I’m also a wildlife first responder and you guys did an excellent job of figuring out how to get her the help she needed. I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Glad everyone is safe. The 75% O2 reading seems peculiar to be related to altitude. At the summit I would still be surprised. Sounds like the cold is attributed to that low O2 due to hypothermia.
Hiker in the LA area here. You saved a life for sure. People, these mountains are serious, especially in October for gosh sakes! If you feel bad at all, turn around! Muscles being tired is one thing; not being able to breathe is another! Turn around! Bravo for a great video.
Thank you for this comment. One of my main worries before my first attempt was the hike back down. Sometimes my knee hurts on downhills for various reasons. There's a sign at the start of the hike that says "The top is only halfway!" You can see it near the start of the video. 😁
@@outsidewithmike Downhill can be hard indeed! A great lesson of your video is that pretty often you are carrying that bivvy, satellite communicator and/or water for people you encounter who are in trouble. We gotta take care of each other out there and this video is a terrific example of that.
I’m a huge believer in fate. The universe prevented you from making it on attempt 1 so that you would come back on attempt 2 and be there on the mountain that night to save these people. Bravo to you and your brother! I’ll be watching for attempt 3!!!!
I'm glad you guys did what you did. I've been in a similar situation on Whitney before. And I'd say for those trying to hike Whitney, you shouldn't be pushing yourself to the point where you can't even walk anymore.. Know you limits, pay attention to altitude sickness symptoms, and don't be afraid to play it safe and turn around. This isn't like pushing yourself through a marathon. This is harsh and rugged terrain. If the weather was different and a helicopter couldn't fly in, the injured hiker might have died.
So true. My first attempt was 2 weeks earlier and I burned out at Trail Camp. It's in another video. The snow also made us decide to turn around. I was with others and hiking a faster pace than I'm used to. On this last trip I was doing great. I'll be back next year. Thank you for the comment and for sharing the vid. ✌ 😀
I checked your Mt Whitney guide at least once or twice before my first trip. Thank you for that. I had to check and see if you were "that" Hiking Guy. Good stuff!
@@Hikingguy An idea for your channel is to have these guys on for an interview. This incident is a treasure trove for real-world things to learn from: Being prepared (dead phones and empty power banks, did they use low power mode/how cold drains power/etc), Preparing for emergencies (bivvy), SOS devices and how they can fail you as the Zoleo did in this case (not fault of the device but its dependence on a phone is concerning). Plus the actions taken by these rescuers is a great lesson for those of us who could stumble upon a similar situation. This one deserves some exposure as many people could learn a good lesson.
I summited Whitney in 2015 and along the way saw people making this climb without a backpack and with only a 16 oz bottle of water. Several sitting along the trail with bloody noses, altitude sickness, dehydration, etc. It made me realize that proof of fitness and preparedness should be required in order to get a permit for this climb. Too many people just don’t take it seriously enough.
When we were sitting with these people at around 4:00 am a guy walked up with thin shorts and a white T-shirt. He was sweating and said that's just how he hikes. Must have been in the low 30 degrees. He was in good shape so whatever! Saw several in a group behind him in shorts. They had packs though but wow. I don't know what to think I didn't see what you saw but then I didn't get far enough to maybe either. That's crazy. Whitney is the first and only hike I've ever turned around on. Also the hardest.
I live in Scotland and our highest mountain is just over 4000 feet. It still manages to kill a lot of the unprepared with folk even trying it in winter in trainers - I kid you not. We are lucky in that the whole country has dedicated volunteer rescue teams trained to first responder level with helicopter backup (dedicated large choppers for remote rescue and smaller ones for local stuff). You are spot on with all your tips on kit to take, and thankfully most winter climbers here are well equipped, but you still get idiots who just disregard all the advice - Darwin’s law in action.
Ultra athletes, the ones who do the iron man comps etc. There’s a bunch who do whitney like that in 8 hours or less. I see them all the time in my local mountain San Jacinto doing the whole trail under two hours while everyone else does it in 6-9 hours. Even in my youth when I was doing marathons in the low threes I’d still bring a full pack. You never know and the mountains is one place you don’t gamble like this.
Good of you to make the video to try and help educate. You might consider an addendum to the video to interview someone on a SAR team or with more experience dealing with AMS/HAPE/HACE. In this instance, you were far down the mountain, on a well-groomed, easy piece of trail, with lots of manpower. In the most difficult AMS/HACE/HAPE cases, you don't get that break. Step #1 is do everything you can to get the impaired person to aid in their own rescue. My first aid kit always has Dex and Diamox, and I've twice had to use it to get people off a mountain (once on Whitney, ironically). Electrolytes and emergency sugar source are a must. You will rarely find a person in that condition who isn't dehydrated and running an electrolyte imbalance. Get the hydration, electrolytes and sugar in. Then get the Dex and Diamox down. It's good that people take away that you've often got to get your subject to a suitable extraction location. At a minimum, that is helped greatly by a coherent subject (pray you don't ever wind up needing to get someone down off a mountain after AMS has taken them to the uncooperative hallucinatory stage), and the temporary boost in energy from the Dex and sugar is a big help. I have carried a Garmin for years. I have very mixed feelings about their widespread use. There are WAY too many people who take risks they otherwise wouldn't because they think they can "just press S.O.S." You were kind in your assessment, but the reality is, there are a lot of people on Whitney who have no business being there. If you can't make the commitment to properly prepare, do SAR and others whose climbs and hikes you will ruin a favor and stay home. Way, way too many out in the wilderness these days without a full sense of personal responsibility.
Thanks for the excellent and informative post. I think she received Diamox when the chopper came, I can't remember for sure. Not from us. A few doctors hiked by and checked her out too and gave advice. I can't remember if we tried to get fluids or electrolytes in her. I think my brother did. The person they were with has done Whitney many times and tried to get the group to turn around. Ya things could have been far worse too. I'm glad it was something we could all handle. Hopefully this video will be a wakeup call to some. It was for me.
Diamox can be useful for some when taken ahead of a high altitude trip and, mostly, if you know you have a history of serious altitude problems. I've not heard of it being given for those actively in HAPE or HACE or even AMS (severe altitude sickness). In short, I wouldn't give it in an active situation without Rx from MD (on scene). Still doubt it would be helpful. But the rest of your advice on electrolytes is spot on. But the main solution is that given by Peter Hackett (MD & mountaineer) 40+ years ago: Descend, descend, descend! In this case -- and most every HAP/HACE/AMS case, just getting them down 4,000' will relieve almost all symptoms. NPS at Crabtree RS has a Gamow bag and a 2nd one at NPS heliport. Ranger/EMS pressurizes it to simulate a lower elevation. Gotta keep pumping it every few minutes to keep fresh air in the bag but they work!
@@gdurkee You clearly have no knowledge on real-world use of Diamox, so why speculate? If you'd talked to people who have spent real time at altitude, you wouldn't have to guess or "doubt." In fact, you are wrong - while it's best to titrate in advance, Diamox is routinely used by those who go to altitude as a firstline response to AMS . Yes, the goal always is to get someone down. But have you ever tried to assist in rescue of someone who's suffering serious AMS and HACE? If you had, you'd know they're often incoherent, belligerent, lack enough motor coordination/function to get down in that condition. A gamow bag 5,000 below is of absolutely no use until you can get the person down.
@@biscaynediver Hiya. Glad you asked. Cool your jets camper. No need to come out of the box ranting. As luck would have it, yes, I was a backcountry ranger for 45+ years in the Sierra -- Whitney to Mt. Darwin. I'd see 2 - 5 HAPE cases per season. I was an EMT and, for several years, a paramedic level responder. Also, yes, diamox used prophylactically is definitely of benefit, as I said, but that's not what we're disagreeing on here.We did not carry, nor was it recommended (by our control University Medical Center in Fresno, CA), to use Diamox as treatment for active cases in the field. Now, I don't always keep up but we -- who treat A LOT of AMS, HAPE and, occasionally, HACE (much less common) just don't use it. I've recommended it prophylactically for folks who have a history of altitude problems but, again, in the lower 48, no one comes across HAPE & HACE more that our rangers in Sequoia Kings do and it's just never been recommended as an effective treatment by UMC. So, just looking it up, apparently Dex can be used and that probably makes sense on an expedition-level climb, though the evidence doesn't seems strong. Anyway, we're talking about the Sierra and Mt. Whitney. I don't know of a single case where it's used as treatment for an active case. And, oh yeah, gamow bag. Heh. We carry it up to the sick person. It's been done probably two dozen times on Whitney and other nearby high peaks and kept people alive through the night waiting -- hoping! -- for a helicopter &/or a carry out team in the morning. From Crabtree RS to Whitney is about 3+ hours by the gnarly ranger (alas, no longer me). Lifesaving. And, also yes, I did my first carry out with a litter in 1971 and my last in 2015 -- though not all HAPE. Still a lot of experience with getting people down to a helispot. Generally, it's a time vs. good helispot vs. how critical the patient is. The HAPE/HACE fatalities I've seen have been so rapid -- a matter of hours from first obvious symptoms of labored breathing -- that nothing, nothing would have helped other than an immediate helicopter evac. Tragically, impossible at night in mountainous terrain. Certainly neither Diamox nor Dex would have made the slightest difference.
Fellas, that was a very good thing you did. And showing this video is an excellent reminder to fellow hikers that we all need to properly prepare. Get in shape, bring First aid, have a way to communicate, acclimate to the altitude, and bring emergency supplies. Thanks for the video.
I'm glad it's helping some people. I just ordered my new bivvy from REI. You can get it on Amazon too, I added it to the description. Thank you for the comment! 🙂
We attempted to summit on 10/1. Temp at Trail Camp was about 20 degrees at 4 AM departure. We made it about 1 mile past Trail Crest before "calling it" Blowing snow and single digit temps. Very slick conditions on the trail. We staggered back down the 99 switchbacks and flopped into our bags. I had a 0 degree down bag and I was cold. REALLY cold. We warmed in the bags until we could pack and made it to the portal at 6 pm. While it was difficult to abandon the hike, it was better to be safe :)
Yep, we called our first trip due to snow. Turned out not to be too bad but better safe than sorry. Glad it worked out for you. Note: my bivvy bag didn't keep me warm when I laid down in it (on trip #1). I think it was the cold ground. When Matt returned to me I stood up in it and was immediately warming.
Mike, you and Matt, are compassion superheroes! Your selflessness to help others strengthens the bonds of the community of adventure seekers. Thank you both for your sacrifice
I've been up Whitney several times in all different directions, but helping and saving a person's life is way more powerful and satisfying than any summit top. A story that will last a lifetime. Great job, and glad everyone is safe. #1 on the list should be know what you're getting yourself into, and know your limitations. Whitney is an easy hike for most experienced hikers up the main trail, but if weather / conditions change or if someone has issues with altitude, it can go from an easy trail hike to dangerous or deadly. Be aware that temperatures and conditions can change quickly in the Sierras.
Agreed. I did my research months before I went and went with someone experienced. You can't take it lightly. I trained specifically for this hike but I'm glad I have an extra year now for that. I could definitely use it. Thank you for your comment 🙂
Hello Mike, you were absolutely respectful how you documented this and it is very important for people to see. All folks in the hiking/climbing/mountaineering community need these reports. It is like the accidents and mountaineering American Alpine Club puts out every year or so. We truly do learn from each other and these things can happen to the best and most prepared and it often does. Mount Whitney will be there for you and you will be even more prepared and even more grateful when you reach that summit. Sometimes Mount Whitney can be enjoyable as a one day but don't be afraid to put in for an overnight or two. You can still give it the 24 hour but having that extra time can give you an extra shot if you have to stay put or come back due to weather or a rescue although after a morning like that I would probably need a day or two to decompress. My hat is off to you, Matt, and the others that helped and to the ones you helped. Hopefully they too will heal and get back out there. Thank you for sharing such a great story with everyone making it home safe.
We actually considered going back out the next day but once we got to the motel there was no way, especially for me. Matt may be going back this weekend but I will wait until next year. I'd like to get stronger first. Thank you for this comment I really appreciate it. Yes I have even more respect for this mountain and wilderness in general. Hopefully everyone will get something out of this video, I know I learned a lot. And ya I think summiting it will be a different experience now than it would have been before. Take care! 🙂
Very tastefully done video, being sensitive to the victims, yet capturing the impromptu efforts taken to help other human beings in deep trouble. Thankfully, others pitched in to help along the way. When I go hiking, I always over-pack in order to increase my chances for survival, should I become lost, or injured. I also carry a Mini inReach 2, large capacity battery pack etc. It's all heavy, but puts me in a better position to self-rescue, if at all possible. Thanks for a great summary at the end, this is a great video for training. Best to you on your next attempt!
Tons of people summit mountains each day, but only so many can say they saved people's lives. Definitely a more impressive accomplishment than any mountain peak. Congrats on a very successful hike.
You guys saved that women’s life! You should be proud. It really is a dangerous mountain. I hiked it on October 17th and the amount of people I saw that didn’t have the right gear or that were attempting to summit way to late in the day was mind blowing.
All hikers should be required to pass a thorough equipment and knowledge checklist. The same type of insanity takes place every summer on the cable climb up to the top of Half Dome.
@@Patrick_Ross just no way to do that. Some people can get by with shorts and a T-shirt because of their conditioning and the speed and short amount of time ot their exposure, while others can have four times the equipment and not be able to endure. The bottom line is people have to be smarter. And you cant take away these adventures and make everything risk free. People that I’ve done it multiple times can suddenly have an event with AMS that they have not had on prior Whitney excursions
I watched this video sitting at the edge of my chair. You both guys are super heroes without cape. Truly Mt Whitney’s angels. Thank you very much. You both make this world much better place to live. Let your good karma bring peace and joy to your life.
I'm glad so many people are getting something good out of an otherwise bad situation. The comments are overwhelming. Thank you for the kind words. I just wanted to use this as a teaching video and not about me, it feels weird to accept personal compliments because someone was in really bad shape in this video. But if me and my brother's actions inspire someone then that is good too. 😀❤✌
Thank you, Mike and Matt, for saving our friends. I am forever grateful for the selfless act, and bravery you demonstrated. Also, for educating the novice like me about how dangerous Whitney is and is required to be prepared. I was part of the lost party trying to get off the mountain. Thank you for pointing us in the right direction. 🙏🏻
You are so welcome and it's great to hear from you! I learned a lot too that night. I would never have gone if I didn't have Matt with me, he's done Whitney many times. I'm so glad we were able to help and that everyone came out of this okay. I'm also happy so many people are getting something out of this video, the response is overwhelming. Matt was able to go back and summit Whitney a few weeks ago. I didn't go, I figure I could use more training so I will wait. But I'll be back this summer. Thank you for commenting it means a lot. Take care and keep hiking! 🙂👍
Thanks for sharing. You and your brother saved a life and did what you had to do. You also shared it in a very respectful manner. Years ago I encountered an emergency situation 16 miles into the backcountry of Colorado, a young fellow. He ended up with a broken back and badly fractured leg. It was many hours before Search and Rescue arrived, and like your situation it was very difficult to get the victim down to where they could load and transport. I still remember the details of that incident, these kinds of things are life’s lessons to carry with us on our future exploits.
I think one of the most important lessons is that it isn't likely that a team of people are sitting around with a specially equipped rescue chopper in your area just waiting for a call. I was surprised to see that we got a CHP chopper, and it took hours for SAR to get that set up. It isn't a simple matter of hitting S.O.S. and waiting. We can prepare for emergencies better with that knowledge and have more realistic expectations. Thanks for the kind words and for sharing your story!
Pretty good evac for people who aren't trained in rescue, it would have been a difficult situation for those who are trained! Great ending remarks; I could not agree more about the importance a two way emergency sat comms capability, Being prepared - people must educate themselves on the essentials in the outdoors and how to be safe, as well as what to do when things go sideways. Your care for others and humility is evident, at a summit level... Well done!
Thank you so much for the compliments. I started taking a Wilderness 1st Aid course online to learn more. It's a series of videos and tests that you can get certified with. I don't know that I will get certified, I'm just enjoying learning a LOT of new stuff. Really interesting. I highly recommend everyone to at least look into it. The one I'm using is called "American Outdoor School" but there are many others. Cheers! 😀
so cool that the hiking guy commented! watch his stuff all the time. Good job to you and your brother and your tips at the end are on point. Even in the best circumstances rescue takes way way longer than you might think. I was caught in an avalanche snowboading in Alaska a couple years ago, long story short I survived, I had major trauma and couldnt move. I could see the helicopter from where I ended up, the weather was perfect and even with the resources of guides and a helicopter on site I was not out of there for over 2 hours. Shit takes way more time than people might think.
I am overwhelmed by the response this video has had. And I'm glad so many people, like you, have shared their own stories. It's a real eye-opener. Glad you were able to get the help you needed. Thank you so much for commenting!
Thank you so much for your service ! I discovered quite by accident that I can suffer severely from the effects of altitude. Several years ago, I took my daughter on her first backpacking trip on a section of the JMT. On the second day I was laid out on the trail just below Silver pass unable to make and coherent decisions or move. About 6 backpackers helped me out, one of them took my back to a lower elevation(going down the way he just came up), dropped my pack and came back up to continue on his trek. My daughter and myself made it down (sans pack) to the lower camp, spent the night and made it out the next day. Thank god for the kindness of the trail community. I went out and purchased my first in reach device, and now take meds for my altitude issues. I now make sure that I help my fellow backpackers in any way possible. Charging a device, food, ride, whatever.
That's awesome! Yes it's a great community. We all gotta help each other out there. It could be me next time. I think it's our responsibility to do so. Thank you!
I’ve been on Whitney multiple times, and it’s no joke! I once got so sick, I was hallucinating, but through sheer luck, made it down on my own, from Outpost Camp, (thank goodness it wasn’t Trail Camp). You did a fantastic job on this video….balancing showing the reality, with education, compassion and discretion. A blood ox level of 75 is very serious. Thank you for doing the right thing, and abandoning your summit to help these people. You’ll bag Whitney next year, and you had a far more satisfying experience by saving a life. Once again….thank you!
It was meant for you to missed your first attempt for a reason. God had prepared you both for a higher purpose than Mt. Whitney. I’m a beginner hiker in my 50s and have learned a lot by your experience and video. Thank You so much and God blessed you both and all the people involved and that means everyone!!
First attempt had to give up... to much ice on the switch backs... plus my mates underdressed & were getting hypo. Came back a year later different crew and no problem. I practiced metered breathing(I scuba) no prob altitude sickness, but not my buddy. Weather was great, but I had to carry his pack down for him. Stop every 20 ft and encourage him to keep going... took forever... he wanted to give up.... took major effort to keep convincing him to go down.
I watch a ton of mountaineering videos and this is probably the best I’ve seen so far. You posted not just a story but documented so many important factors. The most important in my opinion is not to take your safety and preparedness lightly. Everybody thinks about going so light but when you need extra warmth, food, 10 essentials no one would ever regret the preparation. You’re both heroes and did an incredible job taking leader ship in this rescue as SARs not always gonna be able to be on site fast. So impressed with you and your video. I just watched a video yesterday have a guy promoting a new iPhone andIt’s GPS features, which looks silly for people who are thinking of doing some thing that they may need to put their life in the hands of the equipment. So happy this woman and family are OK and able to write you. You guys are amazing!
Thank you so much for your comment. I finally summited Oct 14th, 2024 with Matt, my cousin and 7 other people (it's the most recent vid on my channel now). The weather was great this time which made it so much easier. But I had all the gear I would need if I needed to spend a cold night up there. I'm glad so many people got something out of this video. Even my cousin bought her GPS after watching this. And she's done Rainier, Shasta and Kilimanjaro plus many others. I can't imagine relying on a phone for a life saving device out in the wilderness. Thank you for taking the time to write, it means a lot to me to hear from others such as yourself. 😃
Obviously you did something far more important than summiting Whitney - you helped save someone's life. I was rescued after a climbing fall that broke many limbs & put me in shock - and I'm eternally grateful for a couple of Australian hikers who helped me and assisted the multi-agency, raft & helicopter rescue. I've climbed Whitney many times via the mountaineer's route - but I hold the lives I saved during my years as an EMT much higher than those summits. I don't know how much paricord you guys carry, but i would have used trekking poles (or tree branches) and paricord to help turn the sleeping bag into more of a stretcher that could be more efficiently carried. Good on you guys for valuing human life over the top of a mountain.
We discussed doing that but thought it would take too long. Once I found volunteers it went much faster. The mountain will be there waiting for me next year and something tells me it's going to feel much different after this. As an EMT you must have had plenty of good and bad experiences, I can only imagine. It's a very intense feeling helping someone like that and I'm so glad it turned out positive. Thank you for the comment and for the lives you have saved. 🙂👍
Holy cow. The footage of you all carrying her down the trail had me holding my breath. It looked treacherous. Kudos all around. The ripples from this incident are obviously broad and significant; your video brought it all together nicely, sensitively and impactfully. Thanks for sharing.
Heroic effort by you and your friend. Many lessons to be learned from this. You've started with a list of things to bring, but there are points to cover before considering the climb. (1) Test your fitness for strenuous climbing at ANY altitude. (2) Develop your acclimation to altitude. Take hikes at increasing altitude over time. 5000', 6000;' 8000' etc. (3) If you feel dizzy at the trailhead, don't go on! (4) Don't take anyone who doesn't meet your requirements.
There a lot of things people need to know and do before such a trip for sure. I did a lot of studying and reading for months before I went. Bought new gear, decided whether or not to try diamox, learned all I could about the trail, and training specifically for the trip. Testing yourself at altitude is great, absolutely, but I don't think you can develop a long term resilience to it unless you live up there. Your body will readjust as soon as you come down for a few days, far as I know anyways. For my first attempt I camped at the portal for a few nights and that helped after a day or so. My first day there I could feel the difference but by the time I did my practice hike I was getting a little used to it. I highly recommend going a few days early, staying at altitude (minimum 8,000 ft) and going for a few hikes, or other activity. Some people are fine with altitude on one trip and have problems the next. Knowing how the symptoms actually feel ahead of time can be a big help. And keep an eye on each other. Thanks for the comment! People need to take this mountain seriously and learn all they can ahead of time.
This was a valuable experience to share. Thank you! For anyone considering such hikes, they can only benefit from this story. Well worth your desire to put it into circulation.
Great job and I have a lot of respect for what you all did. For those that have never carried anyone off the mountain, it’s very difficult, especially without a proper stretcher. I am an avid outdoorsman and long distance backpacker and I always tell people if you spend enough time in the backcountry your help will be eventually needed, sometimes more than once. You would not say it but I will please people know your fitness and skill level and listen to your body. The mountains will always be there. Don’t be afraid to turn around. We all have done it and some of us many times. One more thing please don’t get a false sense of security because you are carrying an In Reach. We had a women in NH die depending on one of those devices saving her. The pings from her device were all over the place. Again thanks.
We were fortunate to get the sleeping bag. We were trying to get her standing (don't think she could have) and figure out out how to get her down when the friend showed up with it. That was immensely helpful in getting her down. I think we all learned a lot on that day and I'm glad I could share it and educate others. Thank you for the comment. The mountain will still be there next year and so will I! 🙂
Thank you is not enough to express my gratitude to you, Mike and Matt, for saving someone’s life and sharing what you’ve learned from it that can certainly help many of us! Sending you both, the others who helped out, and the ones you saved lots of love and light.
That's awesome, thank you so much for this. I somehow felt I was intruding in a way when I asked the other people for help, a few looked confused or bothered at first, or so I thought. I'd probably just woke some of them up ;) But everyone who was in earshot of me walked up and helped us. It was a beautiful thing. I'm glad the video has helped so many people. Last month at Whitney (I finally summited, video is up now) someone I was talking to at the portal store asked if I was the one who made this video. After 71,000 views I figured many Whitney hikers had seen it. I'm glad some good things came out of all of this. 😃 Thanks again for commenting!
Great video and very respectful to all involved. Learned about a bivvy from this video. Also learned to really consider not leaving others even if SOS has been called. The help needed in getting that person to where the helicopter can land is no joke and saved precious time not waiting for rescuers to hike all the way up there.
It's nice to hear of people being so selfless and helping others. Nice job, Mike & Matt! It's very cool that the folks who received the help were able to thank Mike & Matt via this forum. I've successfully hiked Mt Whitney once but it took 2 attempts (strong winds cut one attempt short). Mike is correct, Whitney is very serious business and you should be well informed and prepared. It's great to hear everybody is doing fine. Thanks for the video!
Thank you, I appreciate the comment. And it was great that most of those involved commented here, it made me feel better about making the video. Going again on Sept 14th, not sure I'm ready for it but I'm workin on it.
Wow that was incredible. When I was searching for an SOS device, I went with a Mini 2 just in case my phone dies or breaks. I'll sync up the route if get lost too. I'll definitely bring an emergency bivy/blanket no matter what now. Maybe an iPhone charging cable if someone with an iPhone needs a charge. It's a trip to think back on your journey. From getting the invite to attempt Whitney. Getting in shape and losing all that weight. All the training and motivation to get to that point. With the weather turning the week before resulting in another try that day. To saving their lives if you weren't there. Amazing. All the props to you and your bro. Thanks for sharing. 👏👊
I have been to Lone Pine Lake, i think it was June or July and thats as far as you can go without a permit. The hike was brutal. Kudos to anyone who attempts to the top. I risk my life often, exploring mines, and its self rescue or die, there is no signal in the earth. I think its rather reckless to go to Mt Whitney in October, especially someone with pre existing health issues. But anyone going in October, if you fail, your rescue team has to come out in the cold weather. Yes of course bring supplies, but much safer to go when the weather is warm. Not for you, but for your rescue team, just in case. But humans are humans and usually dont think about , what if i cant make it, what if i fall, can i survive the cold.
You guys did a great thing! I’m a hiker and a nurse. I definitely would’ve stopped and helped, that’s the most important thing. And thank goodness someone had a Garmin. I hike with one, wouldn’t be without it. It’s good to put the video out to help others with their own plans. It was tastefully done.
Matt made me trade in my Zoleo for a Garmin after our first Whitney trip together, only because we couldn't communicate reliably with each other through the different devices. I only realized the importance of being able to text directly from the device during this recent trip. Thank you for the kind words, I'm glad people are liking the video!
Great video, very thoughtful. To the really helpful advice you gave I would also point out an insight from yourselves when you were starting the hike (had to scroll back: it's at 2:05) and said, "the top is only halfway". So many injuries, accidents, incidents of getting lost, occur on the way down, when the energy of the summit push is gone but the work to get back safely remains.
Yep there's a sign there that says that (in case people didn't notice). The trip down is something I considered all along even in my training. If I have issues when I hike it's when I'm descending. Thank you for commenting! 🙂
I just happemed upon this and was on pins and needles (and shed some tears as well). You were in the right place at the right time to save her life. You were supposed to be there at that moment. You did a very respectful job of filmimg. I've always wondered what a real life rescue situation would look like and what would happen if I hit my SOS on my Garmin (for me or someone else). This helps me know what to expect if that should ever happen. Great job, guys! I have spent many nights far out in the backcountry, many of those before Garmins existed. When Garmin came out I was hesitant to buy one because of the cost, but $400 to save a life is well worh it. So thankful I have it with me when I'm out, especially solo.
Thank you for the great comment. Ya it's good to know the realities of Search And Rescue, what to expect and what not to. It's awesome this video is reaching so many people, and that so many have said they got something from it. It's unbelievable, all of it. I'm a glad a bad and scary situation has brought some good to people. Couldn't have asked for more. 🙂👍
😳 Hell of a video - well done guys 🤩. So often I have left the bivy bag at home to save a few ounces... now I truly see the value. For myself OR someone else.
Wow amazing job cousins!! Definitely made the right choice! So proud and grateful she is ok. Also loved the video… definitely putting my bivy back in my backpack and FINALLY getting the satellite phone I should already have. Big hugs ❤
I wondered if that was you when I saw the "new subscriber" picture earlier! Duh I should have figured it out. So cool! If you wanna do Whitney with us next year let me know. Cousin Brett says he wants to. Great to hear from you we'll have to keep in touch! Hug back!!! ❤🤩
I thank you two for being there for those people. I was up there and experienced a similar situation with a group that didn’t want to turn back and didn’t know the symptoms of altitude sickness. We told them they better turn around while the person was still some what mobile they finally did. But when we saw them again they were at the bottom of the switch backs with a doctor that happened to be hiking on the trail waiting for a helicopter to pick her up. Not sure what the final outcome was but the doctor kept telling whoever he was talking to he needed a helicopter now.
I’ve been to the summit and back twice on the Whitney Trail, both times with different groups of people. Everyone without exception was a licensed amateur radio operator carrying a handheld transceiver like a small walkie-talkie. We were able to communicate with everyone in the group at all times, even though people were at different places on the mountain depending on pace. No network required, can put in new batteries if they die, and can reach outside repeaters or other stations if trouble arises. Indispensable in the backcountry.
Nice job on the video and just want to say thanks for looking out for others on the trails. Just wanted you to know I appreciate the way you told the story, and believe that SAR services are underappreciated and underfunded in the US. People who risk their lives to save others are a special breed of individual, and we need more of them and they deserve to be recognized.
Thank you I really appreciate that. That's got to be a tough job, and to think that often the person in distress cannot be saved...man I'm just so glad things worked out the way they did. These guys did a great job. The pilot told us he's landed on the summit before...wow. I have nothing but respect and awe for those who do it as their job.
Great job making a difference for those hikers. Don’t second guess yourself. Your actions saved her life for sure. Your video is insightful and respected patient privacy. It is an excellent learning experience … from managing the situation to recognizing your limitations (need to get more help/rescuers) to reflecting on the magnitude of what could have happened if you didn’t assist. Your closing observations are spot on. Thank you for caring enough to stop for strangers and change the trajectory of their lives forever.
Thanks for telling/showing this story. I've volunteered more than 20 years on the Mt Hood Wilderness trails for the Forest Service and an event happens like this every week or two, sometimes it's just hikers and other times it's climbers. Sadly, one or two people do not make it back every year. Your advice to be prepared with contact plans, extra clothing and shelter, and snacks/water, is some of the same advice we give daily, the same 10 Essentials the Seattle Mountaineers codified almost 100 years ago in their first printing of The Freedom Of The Hills. Thank you for reinforcing the idea of preparation, which is also the first practice of LNT.
In 1981 or 82 a friend of mine from Oregon called and asked me if I wanted to do some climbing on Mt. Whitney. Having just opened a business I couldn't go. He found a partner and they were pretty high up on a climb when the lead climber, 20 feet above him, pulled up on a large boulder that appeared to be quite sound. It wasn't. My friend was in a semi hanging belay and got hit with a rock that he estimated was around 200 pounds. It broke his femur but he was able to hold on to the rope while his partner sailed past him and then climbed back up to where he was. It took an Army helicopter 8 hours to rescue them. He told me that just as they were leaving the car he decided to throw some pain pills in his pack that had been given to him by a friend. Without them, he told me, he would have jumped off the mountain because the pain was so great. Way to go Johnny. I hope you are still climbing mountains wherever you are. As for the men in this rescue, YOU ARE HEROES IN MY BOOK. THANK YOU.
Scary story. I'm thinking I should carry a splint on my longer treks. a "SAM Splint", it comes rolled up. I'm always counting the pounds in my pack but some things are worthwhile. Thank you for sharing and for the kind words.
Super lucky. Femur fractures have a very high mortality rate because they can cut the main artery when the break. First SAR I was on was a femur and person didn't survive. 4 hours to get her out and there wasn't enough time and before we had femoral traction splints (and not sure that would have been enough...). Glad your buddy was ok! I vaguely remember the SAR -- though wasn't on it -- I was Crabtree ranger in 82 but that's on the west side of the crest.
What you guys did was great helping those people.there will always be another day to get to the summit. I was fortunate to hike to the top in 1985.beautiful up there.wind is unreal at the top.glad there is a stone shelter up there
Best hiking video I've seen yet, real people and relatable situations. Once you walk into one of those, you never forget. I hope you've recovered from the "re-play loop" in your mind after that experience, they can be hard to shrug off the first few days.
It was an emotional and weird few days for me afterward. Maybe seeing it on video while editing it helped. It was hard to believe it happened. Hats off to those who do this for a living, especially when there isn't a good ending. Thank you! 🙂
Thanks for all you did! On my last attempt on the mountaineers' route, a hiker had been struck by a boulder and had to be carried to a lower altitude for helicopter rescue. And then, a bit later, I missed being hit by an airborne boulder by 1 second. We turned around and went home. We were so close!
Thank you, Mike, for sharing this video. I commend you for your kindness and selflessness. I am also touched by every person that was there and jumped in to help. This video put a smile on my face ❤
You guys are heroes and God used you to serve his will on this trip. You did reach a summit because guess what, you just skipped to the front of the line when it comes time to enter Heaven. This definitely should be the video of the year when it comes to Mount Whitney. It is a relief to see in the comments all the praise instead of criticism. If the vultures on the Mt. Whitney Facebook Group catch wind of this, they'll be attacking the hiker and the annoying admins would literally be printing posters about this incident. Yes, rescues ARE guaranteed. This also shows why the Garmin is superior to the other devices. Hike on brother!
It is great to see all the positive feedback, I really didn't know what to expect. I believe that it was every individual's decision whether or not to help that day and that they deserve 100% of the credit for doing so. Thank you for your comment. 🙂
Also if I see any comments that are too nasty I will remove them. I don't know if the people rescued will watch this and I don't want them to have to read anything from haters. Constructive criticism is no problem.
@@outsidewithmike Hopefully next year you guys will get a chance to return under better circumstances (and weather). I have witnessed distressing situations where people just strolled on by without so much a thought to a hiker in distress, and sadly it's usually the younger generation. I have much more faith in humanity after seeing what you guys did. A couple questions: How is the hiker doing now? And approximately how far past Trailside Meadow were you guys when you set up their camp until sunrise? I think recognized the ledge where you set up, and if I'm not mistaken that's one of the spots that almost tricked me (in the dark) on my descent that if you don't see that sharp left turn you're going to have a bigger problem down below.
Mike and Matt - Good on both of you for saving this woman's life! You guys really saved the day as evidenced by "The gal" below. I summited Whitney way back in '91 and we got through some hurdles. My brother suffered mightily with altitude sickness at trail camp(el. 12k) and in the morning he decided to go down and I decided to summit. What a trip it was to say the least! Hiking mount Whitney is no joke, you better be very fit and prepared if you want to summit.
Good job! A couple of suggestions for everyone. Sat phones are cheap these days and 'emergency only' plans are not much more than that for a Garmin. They are light and the battery lasts forever if turned off. Ditch the texting solutions and carry a Sat phone. Also take the NOLS wilderness first aid class. It is intended exactly for these situations. Will give you a lot of confidence. Again. Good job!
Good suggestions. I have heard people talking about Sat phones I will look into it. And thanks for the mentioning the first aid class, I'll check that out too! 🙂
I'd still stick with the Garmin. I've never known a Sat phone -- especially in mountainous terrain -- to hold a signal more than about 4 minutes. You have to know who to call and it won't give lat/long. Call gets dropped, you have to reconnect, sometimes waiting 20 minutes each time for satellite to get in position. You'll have to tell SAR lat/long separately, which means you need to read it from map or another gizmo. Garmin automatically gives lat/long, even with a non-emergency text message or, of course, ping. Shorter data burst that what's needed for a phone so more likely to get to their emergency ops dispatch.
What a selfless act you and Matt performed. You were in the right place at the right time to make a huge difference in someone else's life. Thanks for sharing this remarkable experience. You are also helping more people with this video and your learnings. Well done guys.
Thank you. It does seem that a lot of people are getting something out of this video, more than I ever imagined actually. I watched plenty of "How to climb Whitney" videos, read websites before our trips, but didn't see anything like this. Hopefully everyone finds this video before they go. Edit to add: Your channel looks cool I'll check it out
Helping that woman out was more important than submitting the mountain - you guys totally did the right thing! I imagine saving a life is much more satisfying than climbing a mountain you could do on another day! Well done Sirs.
Great job you two and the other folks that helped. The hiking community is amazing and even better in a time of crisis. I've no doubt that you and Matt will summit next year. All the best.
@20:00 even the rescuers put their own life in danger. Kudos to a difficult rescue. A hiker always has to be mindful, the supplies they carry may have to be shared with those in unexpected distress.
Thank God it was you guys who came across them and that you had your Garmin on you and the will & ability to help. I know you didn’t help or post this video for gratitude or attention, but thank you for helping.
You, Matt, and other hikers are truly the wonderful human beings. We were there and coming down that day, walked across some backpacks left on the side of the trail on top of the hill before the Mirror lake below. Having seen the helicopter landing in the Outpost camp area, we figured must be someone were trying to help someone else. We also noticed a black sleeping bag on the side of the trail entering Outpost camp going down, and from your video, that was the one used to carry the lady down. Now I know a bit more about the story. Thank you for your selfless and compassion. Have a great life.
Yep, those packs were left by their friends that hiked up and brought the sleeping bag in the morning. It was great that so many people offered their help throughout the night...water, food, emergency blankets, a couple of doctors who checked her out (and told us to get her down ASAP), as well as those who helped get her down the hill. What a great community we are a part of. Thanks for the comment! 🙂
Heya: Retired NPS backcountry ranger here. I've done hundreds of rescues and many on Mt. Whitney.O2 sat of 75% is, for sure, close to fatal (in fact, I"ve never seen anyone with it that low...). Your decisions almost definitely saved her life. Solid work on all aspects of this: protecting the privacy of the injured; evaluating and making the right decision to self-evac. Without a litter -- jeez! That's just incredible in that terrain, narrow trail and actual danger with drop-offs. At the risk of second-guessing Inyo SAR, I'm surprised they didn't blitz a ground team your way with a litter. Would have taken 3 hours, minimum, to get them together and even start up, so maybe they thought CHP was quicker. CHP does have hoist capability but, at that altitude, it's not a first choice. Landing is way better. Also surprised you didn't hold at Trail Camp. Could have landed there though maybe in the dark you didn't notice? Also, CHP is an extremely heavy helicopter. They do a lot of SAR there but have to offload a huge amount of equipment to be light enough to land. Anyway, your lessons learned are also solid. I always recommend the Garmin. Two way texting is critical to explain the problem to SAR. Cell phones are ALWAYS iffy, especially in the Sierra. Note to Garmin people coming on an emergency: I know it affects your planned trip but it's really best to stay with the injured and not just hit emergency beacon, then walk off. The beacon keeps going and will just confuse SAR tracking you. Always carry a light bivvy sack and ensolite pad. You lose a LOT of heat just lying on ground. Even if you hate or are offended by tech in Wilderness, get a Garmin. Saves SAR folk a lot of time and 2nd guessing. Anyway, great job folks! Reach around and give yourselves a strong pat on the back!
Hey thanks a lot for this! We found them below Trail Camp, I'd have to check a map to see how far we were from there. And ya I learned later that CHP chopper is for rescue missions and has a hoist. I'm curious as to what the Zoleo signal did for them...if anyone started to prepare for a rescue, etc. They certainly weren't there that night or next day. I stand firmly behind having a full featured GPS device (as do you). A few here have argued against it, but as you said phones fail...too many links in the chain. I appreciate all the rescues you have performed, that's great! Thank you for the comment! Edit: CHP took 9 hours from first call to arriving.
@@outsidewithmike Had never heard of the Zoleo but you're right, if the phone's not working it's not as effective. As you likely know, some Garmin models have an app (all have it??) so you can use the phone to text & address book but you can also do that without phone app. The Zoleo looks like it should work without the app engaged. Too late now but I would have followed up with them to see if the SOS was received. Maybe too techy but it works with Iridium sat system -- same as most sat phones and, I think, SPOT -- which, in the old days (2015 or so) I found not as reliable as Garmin.
Great video. I was a W-EMT , climber, mountaineer, wilderness instructor 20-25 years ago. I am old now but this helps me make soem choices as to what gear to keep handy on my rig we're designing. A stokes litter and some light alum extendable poles (strong enough to carry a human) and some alum junctions to make a field expedient litter.
Thanks. We thought about using the trekking poles and rope to make a stretcher but we decided it would take too long, if we could even manage it haha. The poles aren't that long and we'd have to bunch them together for strength. Thanks for commenting!
@@outsidewithmike i NEVER leave home without hiking poles. Multi use. ..my first aid kit looks like half a tool kit. I tease my sons about the bone saw..."that bastard stuck in the slot canyon WISHES he had my bone saw" .... be safe out there...slow and steady wins the race. Thanks for taking your time to help others.
@@outsidewithmike likely poles would have not been long enough or strong enough . Not many trees around for pole stock either (rangers probably would've ticketed you....lol)
Even if you didn't manage to do the summit this time, you should feel really great about yourself saving that woman and helping those people! Good luck on attempt 3
I'll reach the summit next time. We'll go in better weather too. The mountain isn't going anywhere ;) Thanks, it does feel good helping someone like that. It was great that so many others asked to help my brother and I in different ways too. We gotta take care of each other out there. It could be me one day. Cheers! :)
What an ordeal to go through. Everyone is in a precarious situation in the middle of the night on a mountain where it's dark, cold and time is the essence to keep this lady alive. Thanks for sharing and providing lessons learned for hikers.
I'm so happy people are getting something out of this. So many people here have said they are buying or upgrading satellite equipment, or getting bivvys or other things because of the video, and offering advice, I think it's great. This is so much more than I expected! 🙂👍
Well done gentlemen. You said it exactly right at the end... you won't be remembered for reaching the summit, you'll be remembered for pulling off an amazing rescue and being prepared to do so. Great job, seriously.
You guys did splendidly. I’ve done Whitney a few times and could picture where on the MMWT you were. What you guys did seems to have fallen out of fashion in places like Mt Everest. May you find a winning lottery ticket in the summit hut when you finally make it !
Haha I could use one! Thank you so much for the comment/compliment. I'm glad people are still watching this and getting something out of it. I watch it every once in awhile and there are a few spots where it still makes me a little teary-eyed and emotional. It was a very intense night.
Wow Mike.. I’m so incredibly proud of you man!! What a great video encapsulating all the hard work, your feelings, your respect and admiration of the challenge! Great job on this video! Hope to adventure with you again soon!! Keep up the great work! You will no doubt be an inspiration to many 💪
Hey Jon thanks it means a lot to me! Was great finally meeting you and hiking with you! I guess I will have to do it again next year haha. Matt thinks very highly of you and so do I. I'm proud of you too bro, it was a big accomplishment and was not definitely not easy. Cheers! Hope to see you again soon too.
Good job guys! Mountaineering in high altitude is no joke. Having had a close call myself several years ago, I now carry Garmin inreach mini (texting), big anker 20K battery pack, and necessary gear to spend the night in the cold if it came down to it. Also, in very cold temps, i make sure my phone and battery pack is close to my body inside my jacket as batteries will die in freezing temps. That's happened to me! Glad you found a way to get this video out. And so glad all parties involved are safe and ALIVE!
You guys were wonderful for saving the lives of the folks you rescued. Big props for your life-saving efforts. Kudos and best of luck climbing Mt. Whitney the next time!🙏❤️
Thank you for telling this story and I'm glad everyone made it out alive. I see comments from some of the people who were there and I'd like to hear the story about how this whole situation came to be. It's valuable for us to know what conditions and decisions led to this event so we can all learn how to prepare, be aware, and know when to head back before it turns into a life threatening situation. (Thank you for your tips at the end)
Team effort and absolute heroism! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing rescue and for sharing all of the helpful information that will definitely help others. 💓
Hey thanks for the comment! Just glad we were there to help. Going back on Sept 14th so hopefully will have a much different video (with me on top)! Make sure to check for it soon :)
Something that saved myself, my wife and my brother in a situation like this was my over preparedness. I brought 10 hot hands super warmers, and 5 body warmers (that stick). I also brought 1 can of bottled air because my wife has asthma. Ended up having to use them when it dropped to 7 degrees (supposed to be 45...) and my wife had to use her inhaler 5 times in 2 hours. Those hot hands and bottled air helped her get through the night and we hiked out the next day. Now i always have them and when my brother complains about my (over preparedness) i just look at him and he laughs lol.
That's great, glad to hear it all worked out. One of the many things I didn't get on camera was all the help other hikers offered. Hand warmers were one of those, though the ones we got didn't work ;) Too old probably. But we did get some emergency/space blankets and offers for food and water. But before that we were alone with them for several hours. Fortunately we had supplies of our own. We did jumping jacks and jogged in place to keep warm after awhile...we got pretty cold ourselves. I'm going back in September and will be even more prepared. I'm taking a wilderness first aid course, bringing a SAM Splint and a few more warm clothes. Like you said, being prepared is everything. I learned so much that night. Thank you for commenting!
Glad we could help. And I'm happy so many people got something out of this video. I never know quite what to say. The response has been overwhelming. Going back to Whitney on Sept 14th to try again! Thanks for the comment!
You guys are angels. The summit wasn’t in the cards for you that day, but obviously there was another plan for you…and you helped save a life. What is extremely coincidental as I watched this video is that I returned to Whitney portal at 8pm on Friday 10/13 after day hiking to the summit. I very likely passed this group of hikers at some point above where they had stopped (assuming they were in the process of descending). I hope you reach your goal of the summit one day!
Few things are as satisfying as saving someone from a life-threatening situation. Congratulations on being instrumental in coordinating a challenging search and rescue mission.
Amazing efforts from you and Matt! You both went above and beyond. Compassion, kindness, and caring are a beautiful characteristics. of us human beings. I went through a similar experience in Kauai’s canyons with a couple in their 40’s. They didn’t have enough water, food, and were in no shape to be where they were. They were both dehydrated. There was no cell phone service but I had my garmin and contacted rescue. They were helicopter out. Thanks for your advice at the end. I’ve hiked alone many times but have never brought a bivy with me. I will purchase one now after seeing your video and your experience having to use them. Awesome teamwork everyone 🥾👍👊
Carrying her down was definitely a team effort. If her friends hadn't come up that morning with the sleeping bag it would have taken much longer to get her down. I don't think we had a lot of time to spare. And once we found volunteers we were able to use 4 - 6 people to carry instead of 3. Huge difference. Nice job of you helping those people! I'm glad this video has helped so many people rethink their strategies. These two trips definitely taught me some lessons. Thank you for the comment!
One of the best videos I’ve seen in a long time. You guys are God sent. Thanks for sharing this and thank you for being such good humans. I wish you both the best on your next summit attempt. Stay safe boys!🤙🏻 Also so happy to hear she made a full recovery.
Mike! Its me!!! The gal you saved. This video was so well done and helpful as it is very choppy in my mind. The amount of gratitude I have for you and Matt is indescribable. You saved me, my precious daughter and my good friend. Thank you for being answered prayer and being so selfless. I am fully recovered and back at the grind. There really aren't words to express how I feel. Thank you again.
Wow it's so great to hear from you!!! You are very welcome and I'm just happy you're all okay. We were glad to help and it's something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. The mountain will be there long after I'm gone and I will return to it next year. I am also relieved that you are okay with the video. The whole time I put it together I kept thinking to myself that you might see it and I approached it from that perspective.
I'm glad we were there and were able to help. Climbing the mountain is trivial in comparison. Your commenting here means a lot to me, thank you so much for this. I hope you and your daughter continue to hike together!
🙂❤💪 - Mike
WOW so glad to hear everyone is ok. We are hearing such terrible news around the world It is great that so many people will stop what they are doing and help someone.
@@outsidewithmikeespecially if you are multiple people and you can spread the weight,....you need a tent. Always. A broken ankle turns into a fatality really quick if a chopper can't get there fast. If you have treking poles, a tent may be as little as two pounds.....three pounds for a cheap one. Small weight penalty for massive safety improvement.
Wow God bless you that's so awesome they were able to help! I'm a climber I would have suggested a descent asap In that situation also and I would have given my Boost Oxgen on way down which are cans of pure oxygen that can be inhaled. Glad all are recovered and alright! High altitude sickness can occur when not acclimated properly and for some who are vulnerable.
I’m so glad you came out if it okay. Things happen, I hope this little setback doesn’t discourage you from future endeavors.
This is Stephanie, the first lost hiker you came across. I was never so happy to see your headlamps coming yes, I thought you were our SAR, we were so cold and disoriented. Thank you for being kind to me and my friend and giving us the confidence, we needed to make it back. And thank you for helping our friend who was down and sharing your story. No doubt you both would have summited that day.
Hey great to hear from you! We were glad to help! I'm glad you found your way back. We were happy to help, summiting doesn't compare. I'm sure we all learned a lot, I know I did. Thank you so much for the comment, it means a lot. 😀👍
Why did you leave your friends “ who were down” in the trail? And what were you doing hiking at night? This makes zero sense to me
@@Starfish2145if you listen to the video he says that they said they've been on the mountain for over 24 hours.
@@Starfish2145most people will hike in the dark on Whitney. And absolutely will during the fall. Breaking up into smaller groups isn't uncommon, maybe they went down to try and get signal/help. the lost group also had a bivy & a sat messenger, but not enough battery so it's not like they were entirely unprepared.
FYI ChP helos are all a stars staffed with one pilot and one paramedic. They are ALS same as a paramedic ambulance. Sometimes they also have a third person.
They are equipped with a 450 foot winch/hoist and patient packaging so they could have rescued her from the initial injury point but only during daylight hours although they are working on all their ships to be nighttime certified for rescue.
They don’t like to do a hoisting operation with only two people or without fire crews on the ground to do the packaging as the medic can’t be lowered without a third person on the airship.
The bowman bag they lower for packaging does have simple instructions that comes down with it but again, it’s risky to trust an unfamiliar civilian.
I am a respiratory therapist and an avid outdoorsman especially hiking. 75% oxygen saturation is extremely critical. You saved with the help of God this lady. Thank you for sharing this story. It’s so touching to hear how you and your friend were able to help this family in trouble. I have helped lost individuals,including myself, to get safely home. I’m also a wildlife first responder and you guys did an excellent job of figuring out how to get her the help she needed. I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Strange, I'm sure I answered this comment already, sorry. Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I appreciate the feedback very much!
Glad everyone is safe. The 75% O2 reading seems peculiar to be related to altitude. At the summit I would still be surprised. Sounds like the cold is attributed to that low O2 due to hypothermia.
Hiker in the LA area here. You saved a life for sure. People, these mountains are serious, especially in October for gosh sakes! If you feel bad at all, turn around! Muscles being tired is one thing; not being able to breathe is another! Turn around! Bravo for a great video.
Thank you for this comment. One of my main worries before my first attempt was the hike back down. Sometimes my knee hurts on downhills for various reasons. There's a sign at the start of the hike that says "The top is only halfway!" You can see it near the start of the video. 😁
@@outsidewithmike Downhill can be hard indeed! A great lesson of your video is that pretty often you are carrying that bivvy, satellite communicator and/or water for people you encounter who are in trouble. We gotta take care of each other out there and this video is a terrific example of that.
I’m a huge believer in fate. The universe prevented you from making it on attempt 1 so that you would come back on attempt 2 and be there on the mountain that night to save these people. Bravo to you and your brother! I’ll be watching for attempt 3!!!!
Thank you! I will have to wait until next year but there will be other adventures for me in the meantime.
Thank you for helping my dad and friends down the mountain!! ❤️
We were both very glad to be there! You are very welcome! 🙂👍Thank you so much for commenting! I'm glad everyone is okay.
I'm glad you guys did what you did. I've been in a similar situation on Whitney before. And I'd say for those trying to hike Whitney, you shouldn't be pushing yourself to the point where you can't even walk anymore.. Know you limits, pay attention to altitude sickness symptoms, and don't be afraid to play it safe and turn around. This isn't like pushing yourself through a marathon. This is harsh and rugged terrain. If the weather was different and a helicopter couldn't fly in, the injured hiker might have died.
So true. My first attempt was 2 weeks earlier and I burned out at Trail Camp. It's in another video. The snow also made us decide to turn around. I was with others and hiking a faster pace than I'm used to.
On this last trip I was doing great. I'll be back next year. Thank you for the comment and for sharing the vid. ✌ 😀
I checked your Mt Whitney guide at least once or twice before my first trip. Thank you for that. I had to check and see if you were "that" Hiking Guy. Good stuff!
@@outsidewithmike ha yea, that's me - glad the guide helped, subbed as well... see you out on the trails..
@@Hikingguy An idea for your channel is to have these guys on for an interview. This incident is a treasure trove for real-world things to learn from: Being prepared (dead phones and empty power banks, did they use low power mode/how cold drains power/etc), Preparing for emergencies (bivvy), SOS devices and how they can fail you as the Zoleo did in this case (not fault of the device but its dependence on a phone is concerning). Plus the actions taken by these rescuers is a great lesson for those of us who could stumble upon a similar situation. This one deserves some exposure as many people could learn a good lesson.
@@Hikingguy Back atcha!
I summited Whitney in 2015 and along the way saw people making this climb without a backpack and with only a 16 oz bottle of water. Several sitting along the trail with bloody noses, altitude sickness, dehydration, etc. It made me realize that proof of fitness and preparedness should be required in order to get a permit for this climb. Too many people just don’t take it seriously enough.
When we were sitting with these people at around 4:00 am a guy walked up with thin shorts and a white T-shirt. He was sweating and said that's just how he hikes. Must have been in the low 30 degrees. He was in good shape so whatever! Saw several in a group behind him in shorts. They had packs though but wow.
I don't know what to think I didn't see what you saw but then I didn't get far enough to maybe either. That's crazy. Whitney is the first and only hike I've ever turned around on. Also the hardest.
I live in Scotland and our highest mountain is just over 4000 feet. It still manages to kill a lot of the unprepared with folk even trying it in winter in trainers - I kid you not. We are lucky in that the whole country has dedicated volunteer rescue teams trained to first responder level with helicopter backup (dedicated large choppers for remote rescue and smaller ones for local stuff). You are spot on with all your tips on kit to take, and thankfully most winter climbers here are well equipped, but you still get idiots who just disregard all the advice - Darwin’s law in action.
Need to do away with the permits. Only thing they do is make folks continue who otherwise would have turned around because there's no second tries.
Ultra athletes, the ones who do the iron man comps etc. There’s a bunch who do whitney like that in 8 hours or less. I see them all the time in my local mountain San Jacinto doing the whole trail under two hours while everyone else does it in 6-9 hours. Even in my youth when I was doing marathons in the low threes I’d still bring a full pack. You never know and the mountains is one place you don’t gamble like this.
Yes more govt oversight, exactly what we all need lol
For me, you count this as your summit completed & way better 👌 kudos mate 👏
Thank you. This was much more important for sure. 🙂
Good of you to make the video to try and help educate. You might consider an addendum to the video to interview someone on a SAR team or with more experience dealing with AMS/HAPE/HACE. In this instance, you were far down the mountain, on a well-groomed, easy piece of trail, with lots of manpower. In the most difficult AMS/HACE/HAPE cases, you don't get that break. Step #1 is do everything you can to get the impaired person to aid in their own rescue. My first aid kit always has Dex and Diamox, and I've twice had to use it to get people off a mountain (once on Whitney, ironically). Electrolytes and emergency sugar source are a must. You will rarely find a person in that condition who isn't dehydrated and running an electrolyte imbalance. Get the hydration, electrolytes and sugar in. Then get the Dex and Diamox down. It's good that people take away that you've often got to get your subject to a suitable extraction location. At a minimum, that is helped greatly by a coherent subject (pray you don't ever wind up needing to get someone down off a mountain after AMS has taken them to the uncooperative hallucinatory stage), and the temporary boost in energy from the Dex and sugar is a big help. I have carried a Garmin for years. I have very mixed feelings about their widespread use. There are WAY too many people who take risks they otherwise wouldn't because they think they can "just press S.O.S." You were kind in your assessment, but the reality is, there are a lot of people on Whitney who have no business being there. If you can't make the commitment to properly prepare, do SAR and others whose climbs and hikes you will ruin a favor and stay home. Way, way too many out in the wilderness these days without a full sense of personal responsibility.
Thanks for the excellent and informative post. I think she received Diamox when the chopper came, I can't remember for sure. Not from us. A few doctors hiked by and checked her out too and gave advice. I can't remember if we tried to get fluids or electrolytes in her. I think my brother did.
The person they were with has done Whitney many times and tried to get the group to turn around. Ya things could have been far worse too. I'm glad it was something we could all handle.
Hopefully this video will be a wakeup call to some. It was for me.
Diamox can be useful for some when taken ahead of a high altitude trip and, mostly, if you know you have a history of serious altitude problems. I've not heard of it being given for those actively in HAPE or HACE or even AMS (severe altitude sickness). In short, I wouldn't give it in an active situation without Rx from MD (on scene). Still doubt it would be helpful. But the rest of your advice on electrolytes is spot on. But the main solution is that given by Peter Hackett (MD & mountaineer) 40+ years ago: Descend, descend, descend!
In this case -- and most every HAP/HACE/AMS case, just getting them down 4,000' will relieve almost all symptoms. NPS at Crabtree RS has a Gamow bag and a 2nd one at NPS heliport. Ranger/EMS pressurizes it to simulate a lower elevation. Gotta keep pumping it every few minutes to keep fresh air in the bag but they work!
@@gdurkee You clearly have no knowledge on real-world use of Diamox, so why speculate? If you'd talked to people who have spent real time at altitude, you wouldn't have to guess or "doubt." In fact, you are wrong - while it's best to titrate in advance, Diamox is routinely used by those who go to altitude as a firstline response to AMS . Yes, the goal always is to get someone down. But have you ever tried to assist in rescue of someone who's suffering serious AMS and HACE? If you had, you'd know they're often incoherent, belligerent, lack enough motor coordination/function to get down in that condition. A gamow bag 5,000 below is of absolutely no use until you can get the person down.
@@biscaynediver Hiya. Glad you asked. Cool your jets camper. No need to come out of the box ranting. As luck would have it, yes, I was a backcountry ranger for 45+ years in the Sierra -- Whitney to Mt. Darwin. I'd see 2 - 5 HAPE cases per season. I was an EMT and, for several years, a paramedic level responder.
Also, yes, diamox used prophylactically is definitely of benefit, as I said, but that's not what we're disagreeing on here.We did not carry, nor was it recommended (by our control University Medical Center in Fresno, CA), to use Diamox as treatment for active cases in the field.
Now, I don't always keep up but we -- who treat A LOT of AMS, HAPE and, occasionally, HACE (much less common) just don't use it. I've recommended it prophylactically for folks who have a history of altitude problems but, again, in the lower 48, no one comes across HAPE & HACE more that our rangers in Sequoia Kings do and it's just never been recommended as an effective treatment by UMC.
So, just looking it up, apparently Dex can be used and that probably makes sense on an expedition-level climb, though the evidence doesn't seems strong. Anyway, we're talking about the Sierra and Mt. Whitney. I don't know of a single case where it's used as treatment for an active case.
And, oh yeah, gamow bag. Heh. We carry it up to the sick person. It's been done probably two dozen times on Whitney and other nearby high peaks and kept people alive through the night waiting -- hoping! -- for a helicopter &/or a carry out team in the morning. From Crabtree RS to Whitney is about 3+ hours by the gnarly ranger (alas, no longer me). Lifesaving.
And, also yes, I did my first carry out with a litter in 1971 and my last in 2015 -- though not all HAPE. Still a lot of experience with getting people down to a helispot. Generally, it's a time vs. good helispot vs. how critical the patient is.
The HAPE/HACE fatalities I've seen have been so rapid -- a matter of hours from first obvious symptoms of labored breathing -- that nothing, nothing would have helped other than an immediate helicopter evac. Tragically, impossible at night in mountainous terrain. Certainly neither Diamox nor Dex would have made the slightest difference.
Fellas, that was a very good thing you did. And showing this video is an excellent reminder to fellow hikers that we all need to properly prepare. Get in shape, bring First aid, have a way to communicate, acclimate to the altitude, and bring emergency supplies. Thanks for the video.
I'm glad it's helping some people. I just ordered my new bivvy from REI. You can get it on Amazon too, I added it to the description. Thank you for the comment! 🙂
We attempted to summit on 10/1. Temp at Trail Camp was about 20 degrees at 4 AM departure. We made it about 1 mile past Trail Crest before "calling it" Blowing snow and single digit temps. Very slick conditions on the trail. We staggered back down the 99 switchbacks and flopped into our bags. I had a 0 degree down bag and I was cold. REALLY cold. We warmed in the bags until we could pack and made it to the portal at 6 pm. While it was difficult to abandon the hike, it was better to be safe :)
Yep, we called our first trip due to snow. Turned out not to be too bad but better safe than sorry. Glad it worked out for you.
Note: my bivvy bag didn't keep me warm when I laid down in it (on trip #1). I think it was the cold ground. When Matt returned to me I stood up in it and was immediately warming.
Mike, you and Matt, are compassion superheroes! Your selflessness to help others strengthens the bonds of the community of adventure seekers. Thank you both for your sacrifice
Thank you for the kind words and nicely put. We both appreciate it 🙂
I've been up Whitney several times in all different directions, but helping and saving a person's life is way more powerful and satisfying than any summit top. A story that will last a lifetime. Great job, and glad everyone is safe. #1 on the list should be know what you're getting yourself into, and know your limitations. Whitney is an easy hike for most experienced hikers up the main trail, but if weather / conditions change or if someone has issues with altitude, it can go from an easy trail hike to dangerous or deadly. Be aware that temperatures and conditions can change quickly in the Sierras.
Agreed. I did my research months before I went and went with someone experienced. You can't take it lightly. I trained specifically for this hike but I'm glad I have an extra year now for that. I could definitely use it. Thank you for your comment 🙂
Hello Mike, you were absolutely respectful how you documented this and it is very important for people to see. All folks in the hiking/climbing/mountaineering community need these reports. It is like the accidents and mountaineering American Alpine Club puts out every year or so. We truly do learn from each other and these things can happen to the best and most prepared and it often does. Mount Whitney will be there for you and you will be even more prepared and even more grateful when you reach that summit. Sometimes Mount Whitney can be enjoyable as a one day but don't be afraid to put in for an overnight or two. You can still give it the 24 hour but having that extra time can give you an extra shot if you have to stay put or come back due to weather or a rescue although after a morning like that I would probably need a day or two to decompress. My hat is off to you, Matt, and the others that helped and to the ones you helped. Hopefully they too will heal and get back out there. Thank you for sharing such a great story with everyone making it home safe.
We actually considered going back out the next day but once we got to the motel there was no way, especially for me. Matt may be going back this weekend but I will wait until next year. I'd like to get stronger first. Thank you for this comment I really appreciate it. Yes I have even more respect for this mountain and wilderness in general. Hopefully everyone will get something out of this video, I know I learned a lot. And ya I think summiting it will be a different experience now than it would have been before. Take care! 🙂
Very tastefully done video, being sensitive to the victims, yet capturing the impromptu efforts taken to help other human beings in deep trouble. Thankfully, others pitched in to help along the way. When I go hiking, I always over-pack in order to increase my chances for survival, should I become lost, or injured. I also carry a Mini inReach 2, large capacity battery pack etc. It's all heavy, but puts me in a better position to self-rescue, if at all possible. Thanks for a great summary at the end, this is a great video for training. Best to you on your next attempt!
Thank you very much for your thoughtful post. My pack is getting a bit heavy for backpacking trips. My only solution is to get stronger ! 😀 Cheers!
Tons of people summit mountains each day, but only so many can say they saved people's lives. Definitely a more impressive accomplishment than any mountain peak. Congrats on a very successful hike.
So true!!
Thank you!!! I guess it WAS successful! Well put.
Tears in my eyes. You all were selfless and courageous. Be proud. Sharing this may save other lives.
I hope it does, thank you 🙂
You guys saved that women’s life! You should be proud. It really is a dangerous mountain. I hiked it on October 17th and the amount of people I saw that didn’t have the right gear or that were attempting to summit way to late in the day was mind blowing.
Scary stuff, especially so late in the year. Thank you for the comment!
All hikers should be required to pass a thorough equipment and knowledge checklist. The same type of insanity takes place every summer on the cable climb up to the top of Half Dome.
@@Patrick_Ross just no way to do that. Some people can get by with shorts and a T-shirt because of their conditioning and the speed and short amount of time ot their exposure, while others can have four times the equipment and not be able to endure. The bottom line is people have to be smarter. And you cant take away these adventures and make everything risk free. People that I’ve done it multiple times can suddenly have an event with AMS that they have not had on prior Whitney excursions
You can summit a mountain any time of day. I don't get it. I hike in the evening usually.
I watched this video sitting at the edge of my chair. You both guys are super heroes without cape. Truly Mt Whitney’s angels. Thank you very much. You both make this world much better place to live. Let your good karma bring peace and joy to your life.
I'm glad so many people are getting something good out of an otherwise bad situation. The comments are overwhelming. Thank you for the kind words. I just wanted to use this as a teaching video and not about me, it feels weird to accept personal compliments because someone was in really bad shape in this video. But if me and my brother's actions inspire someone then that is good too. 😀❤✌
Thank you, Mike and Matt, for saving our friends. I am forever grateful for the selfless act, and bravery you demonstrated. Also, for educating the novice like me about how dangerous Whitney is and is required to be prepared.
I was part of the lost party trying to get off the mountain. Thank you for pointing us in the right direction. 🙏🏻
You are so welcome and it's great to hear from you! I learned a lot too that night. I would never have gone if I didn't have Matt with me, he's done Whitney many times. I'm so glad we were able to help and that everyone came out of this okay. I'm also happy so many people are getting something out of this video, the response is overwhelming.
Matt was able to go back and summit Whitney a few weeks ago. I didn't go, I figure I could use more training so I will wait. But I'll be back this summer. Thank you for commenting it means a lot. Take care and keep hiking! 🙂👍
Thanks for sharing. You and your brother saved a life and did what you had to do. You also shared it in a very respectful manner.
Years ago I encountered an emergency situation 16 miles into the backcountry of Colorado, a young fellow. He ended up with a broken back and badly fractured leg. It was many hours before Search and Rescue arrived, and like your situation it was very difficult to get the victim down to where they could load and transport.
I still remember the details of that incident, these kinds of things are life’s lessons to carry with us on our future exploits.
I think one of the most important lessons is that it isn't likely that a team of people are sitting around with a specially equipped rescue chopper in your area just waiting for a call. I was surprised to see that we got a CHP chopper, and it took hours for SAR to get that set up. It isn't a simple matter of hitting S.O.S. and waiting.
We can prepare for emergencies better with that knowledge and have more realistic expectations.
Thanks for the kind words and for sharing your story!
Pretty good evac for people who aren't trained in rescue, it would have been a difficult situation for those who are trained! Great ending remarks; I could not agree more about the importance a two way emergency sat comms capability, Being prepared - people must educate themselves on the essentials in the outdoors and how to be safe, as well as what to do when things go sideways.
Your care for others and humility is evident, at a summit level... Well done!
Thank you so much for the compliments. I started taking a Wilderness 1st Aid course online to learn more. It's a series of videos and tests that you can get certified with. I don't know that I will get certified, I'm just enjoying learning a LOT of new stuff. Really interesting. I highly recommend everyone to at least look into it.
The one I'm using is called "American Outdoor School" but there are many others.
Cheers! 😀
so cool that the hiking guy commented! watch his stuff all the time. Good job to you and your brother and your tips at the end are on point. Even in the best circumstances rescue takes way way longer than you might think. I was caught in an avalanche snowboading in Alaska a couple years ago, long story short I survived, I had major trauma and couldnt move. I could see the helicopter from where I ended up, the weather was perfect and even with the resources of guides and a helicopter on site I was not out of there for over 2 hours. Shit takes way more time than people might think.
I am overwhelmed by the response this video has had. And I'm glad so many people, like you, have shared their own stories. It's a real eye-opener. Glad you were able to get the help you needed. Thank you so much for commenting!
Thank you so much for your service ! I discovered quite by accident that I can suffer severely from the effects of altitude. Several years ago, I took my daughter on her first backpacking trip on a section of the JMT. On the second day I was laid out on the trail just below Silver pass unable to make and coherent decisions or move. About 6 backpackers helped me out, one of them took my back to a lower elevation(going down the way he just came up), dropped my pack and came back up to continue on his trek. My daughter and myself made it down (sans pack) to the lower camp, spent the night and made it out the next day. Thank god for the kindness of the trail community. I went out and purchased my first in reach device, and now take meds for my altitude issues. I now make sure that I help my fellow backpackers in any way possible. Charging a device, food, ride, whatever.
That's awesome! Yes it's a great community. We all gotta help each other out there. It could be me next time. I think it's our responsibility to do so. Thank you!
I do need to get a bivy, I only have a space blanket. @@outsidewithmike
I’ve been on Whitney multiple times, and it’s no joke! I once got so sick, I was hallucinating, but through sheer luck, made it down on my own, from Outpost Camp, (thank goodness it wasn’t Trail Camp). You did a fantastic job on this video….balancing showing the reality, with education, compassion and discretion. A blood ox level of 75 is very serious. Thank you for doing the right thing, and abandoning your summit to help these people. You’ll bag Whitney next year, and you had a far more satisfying experience by saving a life. Once again….thank you!
Thank you for your thoughtful post. It will definitely feel different going back next year. Glad you made it back okay! 🙂👍
It was meant for you to missed your first attempt for a reason. God had prepared you both for a higher purpose than Mt. Whitney. I’m a beginner hiker in my 50s and have learned a lot by your experience and video.
Thank You so much and God blessed you both and all the people involved and that means everyone!!
Thank you for commenting and it means a lot that I was able to help. That's awesome!
First attempt had to give up... to much ice on the switch backs... plus my mates underdressed & were getting hypo.
Came back a year later different crew and no problem. I practiced metered breathing(I scuba) no prob altitude sickness, but not my buddy.
Weather was great, but I had to carry his pack down for him. Stop every 20 ft and encourage him to keep going... took forever... he wanted to give up.... took major effort to keep convincing him to go down.
I watch a ton of mountaineering videos and this is probably the best I’ve seen so far. You posted not just a story but documented so many important factors. The most important in my opinion is not to take your safety and preparedness lightly. Everybody thinks about going so light but when you need extra warmth, food, 10 essentials no one would ever regret the preparation. You’re both heroes and did an incredible job taking leader ship in this rescue as SARs not always gonna be able to be on site fast. So impressed with you and your video. I just watched a video yesterday have a guy promoting a new iPhone andIt’s GPS features, which looks silly for people who are thinking of doing some thing that they may need to put their life in the hands of the equipment. So happy this woman and family are OK and able to write you. You guys are amazing!
Thank you so much for your comment. I finally summited Oct 14th, 2024 with Matt, my cousin and 7 other people (it's the most recent vid on my channel now). The weather was great this time which made it so much easier. But I had all the gear I would need if I needed to spend a cold night up there.
I'm glad so many people got something out of this video. Even my cousin bought her GPS after watching this. And she's done Rainier, Shasta and Kilimanjaro plus many others. I can't imagine relying on a phone for a life saving device out in the wilderness.
Thank you for taking the time to write, it means a lot to me to hear from others such as yourself. 😃
Obviously you did something far more important than summiting Whitney - you helped save someone's life. I was rescued after a climbing fall that broke many limbs & put me in shock - and I'm eternally grateful for a couple of Australian hikers who helped me and assisted the multi-agency, raft & helicopter rescue. I've climbed Whitney many times via the mountaineer's route - but I hold the lives I saved during my years as an EMT much higher than those summits.
I don't know how much paricord you guys carry, but i would have used trekking poles (or tree branches) and paricord to help turn the sleeping bag into more of a stretcher that could be more efficiently carried.
Good on you guys for valuing human life over the top of a mountain.
We discussed doing that but thought it would take too long. Once I found volunteers it went much faster. The mountain will be there waiting for me next year and something tells me it's going to feel much different after this. As an EMT you must have had plenty of good and bad experiences, I can only imagine. It's a very intense feeling helping someone like that and I'm so glad it turned out positive. Thank you for the comment and for the lives you have saved. 🙂👍
Holy cow. The footage of you all carrying her down the trail had me holding my breath. It looked treacherous. Kudos all around. The ripples from this incident are obviously broad and significant; your video brought it all together nicely, sensitively and impactfully. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you I appreciate that 🙂
Thank you for making this video, great information.Every hiker needs to see this video and heed the lessons learned. Glad to hear everyone is ok.
Thank you very much. I'm happy so many people are seeing it and learning something. 😀
Thank you for your kind help! God bless you all!
I'm guessing you are one of the people that were there on this day. You are very welcome!!! Glad everything turned out okay.
Heroic effort by you and your friend. Many lessons to be learned from this. You've started with a list of things to bring, but there are points to cover before considering the climb.
(1) Test your fitness for strenuous climbing at ANY altitude.
(2) Develop your acclimation to altitude. Take hikes at increasing altitude over time. 5000', 6000;' 8000' etc.
(3) If you feel dizzy at the trailhead, don't go on!
(4) Don't take anyone who doesn't meet your requirements.
There a lot of things people need to know and do before such a trip for sure. I did a lot of studying and reading for months before I went. Bought new gear, decided whether or not to try diamox, learned all I could about the trail, and training specifically for the trip. Testing yourself at altitude is great, absolutely, but I don't think you can develop a long term resilience to it unless you live up there. Your body will readjust as soon as you come down for a few days, far as I know anyways.
For my first attempt I camped at the portal for a few nights and that helped after a day or so. My first day there I could feel the difference but by the time I did my practice hike I was getting a little used to it.
I highly recommend going a few days early, staying at altitude (minimum 8,000 ft) and going for a few hikes, or other activity.
Some people are fine with altitude on one trip and have problems the next. Knowing how the symptoms actually feel ahead of time can be a big help. And keep an eye on each other.
Thanks for the comment! People need to take this mountain seriously and learn all they can ahead of time.
This was a valuable experience to share. Thank you! For anyone considering such hikes, they can only benefit from this story. Well worth your desire to put it into circulation.
Thank you for the comment. I'm glad it is useful to people. Everyone needs to "Be repared"....yes I made that typo in the video haha.
Great job and I have a lot of respect for what you all did. For those that have never carried anyone off the mountain, it’s very difficult, especially without a proper stretcher. I am an avid outdoorsman and long distance backpacker and I always tell people if you spend enough time in the backcountry your help will be eventually needed, sometimes more than once. You would not say it but I will please people know your fitness and skill level and listen to your body. The mountains will always be there. Don’t be afraid to turn around. We all have done it and some of us many times. One more thing please don’t get a false sense of security because you are carrying an In Reach. We had a women in NH die depending on one of those devices saving her. The pings from her device were all over the place. Again thanks.
We were fortunate to get the sleeping bag. We were trying to get her standing (don't think she could have) and figure out out how to get her down when the friend showed up with it. That was immensely helpful in getting her down. I think we all learned a lot on that day and I'm glad I could share it and educate others. Thank you for the comment. The mountain will still be there next year and so will I! 🙂
You guys are true heroes. Hats off.
I'm glad we were there to help. I think I'm just a regular guy who happened to be there. Thank you for the compliment. 🙂
Thank you is not enough to express my gratitude to you, Mike and Matt, for saving someone’s life and sharing what you’ve learned from it that can certainly help many of us! Sending you both, the others who helped out, and the ones you saved lots of love and light.
That's awesome, thank you so much for this. I somehow felt I was intruding in a way when I asked the other people for help, a few looked confused or bothered at first, or so I thought. I'd probably just woke some of them up ;) But everyone who was in earshot of me walked up and helped us. It was a beautiful thing. I'm glad the video has helped so many people.
Last month at Whitney (I finally summited, video is up now) someone I was talking to at the portal store asked if I was the one who made this video. After 71,000 views I figured many Whitney hikers had seen it. I'm glad some good things came out of all of this. 😃 Thanks again for commenting!
Great video and very respectful to all involved. Learned about a bivvy from this video. Also learned to really consider not leaving others even if SOS has been called. The help needed in getting that person to where the helicopter can land is no joke and saved precious time not waiting for rescuers to hike all the way up there.
Thank you, and I'm glad the video helped out. I am overwhelmed by the response here. 🙂
You two were where you were supposed to be at the time. They’re angels everywhere ❤️❤️
It's nice to hear of people being so selfless and helping others. Nice job, Mike & Matt! It's very cool that the folks who received the help were able to thank Mike & Matt via this forum. I've successfully hiked Mt Whitney once but it took 2 attempts (strong winds cut one attempt short). Mike is correct, Whitney is very serious business and you should be well informed and prepared. It's great to hear everybody is doing fine. Thanks for the video!
Thank you, I appreciate the comment. And it was great that most of those involved commented here, it made me feel better about making the video. Going again on Sept 14th, not sure I'm ready for it but I'm workin on it.
Wow that was incredible.
When I was searching for an SOS device, I went with a Mini 2 just in case my phone dies or breaks. I'll sync up the route if get lost too. I'll definitely bring an emergency bivy/blanket no matter what now. Maybe an iPhone charging cable if someone with an iPhone needs a charge.
It's a trip to think back on your journey. From getting the invite to attempt Whitney. Getting in shape and losing all that weight. All the training and motivation to get to that point. With the weather turning the week before resulting in another try that day. To saving their lives if you weren't there. Amazing.
All the props to you and your bro. Thanks for sharing.
👏👊
Thank you, my friend. It's definitely a trip to think about it all. Great post!
It's good to see people with compassion and conscience. Great job!
Thanks, I'm sure there others like us out there. I sure hope so I may need help one day! ❤🙂
I have been to Lone Pine Lake, i think it was June or July and thats as far as you can go without a permit. The hike was brutal. Kudos to anyone who attempts to the top. I risk my life often, exploring mines, and its self rescue or die, there is no signal in the earth. I think its rather reckless to go to Mt Whitney in October, especially someone with pre existing health issues. But anyone going in October, if you fail, your rescue team has to come out in the cold weather. Yes of course bring supplies, but much safer to go when the weather is warm. Not for you, but for your rescue team, just in case. But humans are humans and usually dont think about , what if i cant make it, what if i fall, can i survive the cold.
If Lone Pine Lake is brutal, you don't belong on that trail. People need to know their physical capabilities and their limits.
You guys did a great thing! I’m a hiker and a nurse. I definitely would’ve stopped and helped, that’s the most important thing. And thank goodness someone had a Garmin. I hike with one, wouldn’t be without it. It’s good to put the video out to help others with their own plans. It was tastefully done.
Matt made me trade in my Zoleo for a Garmin after our first Whitney trip together, only because we couldn't communicate reliably with each other through the different devices. I only realized the importance of being able to text directly from the device during this recent trip. Thank you for the kind words, I'm glad people are liking the video!
Great video, very thoughtful. To the really helpful advice you gave I would also point out an insight from yourselves when you were starting the hike (had to scroll back: it's at 2:05) and said, "the top is only halfway". So many injuries, accidents, incidents of getting lost, occur on the way down, when the energy of the summit push is gone but the work to get back safely remains.
Yep there's a sign there that says that (in case people didn't notice). The trip down is something I considered all along even in my training. If I have issues when I hike it's when I'm descending. Thank you for commenting! 🙂
I just happemed upon this and was on pins and needles (and shed some tears as well). You were in the right place at the right time to save her life. You were supposed to be there at that moment. You did a very respectful job of filmimg. I've always wondered what a real life rescue situation would look like and what would happen if I hit my SOS on my Garmin (for me or someone else). This helps me know what to expect if that should ever happen. Great job, guys!
I have spent many nights far out in the backcountry, many of those before Garmins existed. When Garmin came out I was hesitant to buy one because of the cost, but $400 to save a life is well worh it. So thankful I have it with me when I'm out, especially solo.
Thank you for the great comment. Ya it's good to know the realities of Search And Rescue, what to expect and what not to. It's awesome this video is reaching so many people, and that so many have said they got something from it. It's unbelievable, all of it. I'm a glad a bad and scary situation has brought some good to people. Couldn't have asked for more. 🙂👍
Helping someone in this amount of need is a much greater adventure than a summit. Great video.
🙂👍 thank you!
😳 Hell of a video - well done guys 🤩. So often I have left the bivy bag at home to save a few ounces... now I truly see the value. For myself OR someone else.
Never thought I'd use it either! Thank you!
Wow amazing job cousins!! Definitely made the right choice! So proud and grateful she is ok. Also loved the video… definitely putting my bivy back in my backpack and FINALLY getting the satellite phone I should already have. Big hugs ❤
I wondered if that was you when I saw the "new subscriber" picture earlier! Duh I should have figured it out. So cool! If you wanna do Whitney with us next year let me know. Cousin Brett says he wants to. Great to hear from you we'll have to keep in touch! Hug back!!! ❤🤩
I thank you two for being there for those people. I was up there and experienced a similar situation with a group that didn’t want to turn back and didn’t know the symptoms of altitude sickness. We told them they better turn around while the person was still some what mobile they finally did. But when we saw them again they were at the bottom of the switch backs with a doctor that happened to be hiking on the trail waiting for a helicopter to pick her up. Not sure what the final outcome was but the doctor kept telling whoever he was talking to he needed a helicopter now.
It's a scary situation. Seems like a chopper could land there at least. Hope all went well. Thank you!
I’ve been to the summit and back twice on the Whitney Trail, both times with different groups of people. Everyone without exception was a licensed amateur radio operator carrying a handheld transceiver like a small walkie-talkie. We were able to communicate with everyone in the group at all times, even though people were at different places on the mountain depending on pace. No network required, can put in new batteries if they die, and can reach outside repeaters or other stations if trouble arises. Indispensable in the backcountry.
Interesting. A friend of mine suggested that but I didn't think they'd work well. I'll have to look into it. Thank you.
You, my friend, are a pro.
@@bekejebe Well, that might be stretching it a little! But the ham radio gear has been super helpful in a lot of situations.
Agree: I’ve hiked it twice and our group all had radios. We had the frequency the rangers use pre programmed in.
Nice job on the video and just want to say thanks for looking out for others on the trails. Just wanted you to know I appreciate the way you told the story, and believe that SAR services are underappreciated and underfunded in the US. People who risk their lives to save others are a special breed of individual, and we need more of them and they deserve to be recognized.
Thank you I really appreciate that. That's got to be a tough job, and to think that often the person in distress cannot be saved...man I'm just so glad things worked out the way they did. These guys did a great job. The pilot told us he's landed on the summit before...wow. I have nothing but respect and awe for those who do it as their job.
Thank God you guys were hiking up the mountain. You guys are good human beings!
Thank you I'm glad we were able to help 🙂
Great job making a difference for those hikers. Don’t second guess yourself. Your actions saved her life for sure. Your video is insightful and respected patient privacy. It is an excellent learning experience … from managing the situation to recognizing your limitations (need to get more help/rescuers) to reflecting on the magnitude of what could have happened if you didn’t assist. Your closing observations are spot on.
Thank you for caring enough to stop for strangers and change the trajectory of their lives forever.
Thank you very much.
Thanks for telling/showing this story. I've volunteered more than 20 years on the Mt Hood Wilderness trails for the Forest Service and an event happens like this every week or two, sometimes it's just hikers and other times it's climbers. Sadly, one or two people do not make it back every year. Your advice to be prepared with contact plans, extra clothing and shelter, and snacks/water, is some of the same advice we give daily, the same 10 Essentials the Seattle Mountaineers codified almost 100 years ago in their first printing of The Freedom Of The Hills. Thank you for reinforcing the idea of preparation, which is also the first practice of LNT.
🙂👍Thank you for the comment. I'm glad so many people are getting something out of this video.
In 1981 or 82 a friend of mine from Oregon called and asked me if I wanted to do some climbing on Mt. Whitney. Having just opened a business I couldn't go. He found a partner and they were pretty high up on a climb when the lead climber, 20 feet above him, pulled up on a large boulder that appeared to be quite sound. It wasn't. My friend was in a semi hanging belay and got hit with a rock that he estimated was around 200 pounds. It broke his femur but he was able to hold on to the rope while his partner sailed past him and then climbed back up to where he was. It took an Army helicopter 8 hours to rescue them. He told me that just as they were leaving the car he decided to throw some pain pills in his pack that had been given to him by a friend. Without them, he told me, he would have jumped off the mountain because the pain was so great. Way to go Johnny. I hope you are still climbing mountains wherever you are. As for the men in this rescue, YOU ARE HEROES IN MY BOOK. THANK YOU.
Scary story. I'm thinking I should carry a splint on my longer treks. a "SAM Splint", it comes rolled up. I'm always counting the pounds in my pack but some things are worthwhile. Thank you for sharing and for the kind words.
Super lucky. Femur fractures have a very high mortality rate because they can cut the main artery when the break. First SAR I was on was a femur and person didn't survive. 4 hours to get her out and there wasn't enough time and before we had femoral traction splints (and not sure that would have been enough...). Glad your buddy was ok! I vaguely remember the SAR -- though wasn't on it -- I was Crabtree ranger in 82 but that's on the west side of the crest.
What you guys did was great helping those people.there will always be another day to get to the summit. I was fortunate to hike to the top in 1985.beautiful up there.wind is unreal at the top.glad there is a stone shelter up there
👍👍
Best hiking video I've seen yet, real people and relatable situations. Once you walk into one of those, you never forget. I hope you've recovered from the "re-play loop" in your mind after that experience, they can be hard to shrug off the first few days.
It was an emotional and weird few days for me afterward. Maybe seeing it on video while editing it helped. It was hard to believe it happened. Hats off to those who do this for a living, especially when there isn't a good ending. Thank you! 🙂
Much respect to you both. I am very happy the lady recovered fully.
Thank you and so are we! ❤👍
Thanks for all you did! On my last attempt on the mountaineers' route, a hiker had been struck by a boulder and had to be carried to a lower altitude for helicopter rescue. And then, a bit later, I missed being hit by an airborne boulder by 1 second. We turned around and went home. We were so close!
Scary stuff man. Thanks for sharing. Whitney doesn't mess around 😉
Thank you, Mike, for sharing this video. I commend you for your kindness and selflessness. I am also touched by every person that was there and jumped in to help. This video put a smile on my face ❤
I'm glad you liked it. It was definitely a team effort. Thank you 🙂
You guys are heroes and God used you to serve his will on this trip. You did reach a summit because guess what, you just skipped to the front of the line when it comes time to enter Heaven.
This definitely should be the video of the year when it comes to Mount Whitney. It is a relief to see in the comments all the praise instead of criticism. If the vultures on the Mt. Whitney Facebook Group catch wind of this, they'll be attacking the hiker and the annoying admins would literally be printing posters about this incident. Yes, rescues ARE guaranteed. This also shows why the Garmin is superior to the other devices. Hike on brother!
It is great to see all the positive feedback, I really didn't know what to expect. I believe that it was every individual's decision whether or not to help that day and that they deserve 100% of the credit for doing so. Thank you for your comment. 🙂
Also if I see any comments that are too nasty I will remove them. I don't know if the people rescued will watch this and I don't want them to have to read anything from haters. Constructive criticism is no problem.
@@outsidewithmike Hopefully next year you guys will get a chance to return under better circumstances (and weather). I have witnessed distressing situations where people just strolled on by without so much a thought to a hiker in distress, and sadly it's usually the younger generation. I have much more faith in humanity after seeing what you guys did. A couple questions: How is the hiker doing now? And approximately how far past Trailside Meadow were you guys when you set up their camp until sunrise? I think recognized the ledge where you set up, and if I'm not mistaken that's one of the spots that almost tricked me (in the dark) on my descent that if you don't see that sharp left turn you're going to have a bigger problem down below.
You guys are heroes, and that’s all there is to it. Thank you for making the world better
The messages we are getting are just overwhelming and all I can do sometimes is humbly say thank you. 🙂❤
Mike and Matt - Good on both of you for saving this woman's life! You guys really saved the day as evidenced by "The gal" below. I summited Whitney way back in '91 and we got through some hurdles. My brother suffered mightily with altitude sickness at trail camp(el. 12k) and in the morning he decided to go down and I decided to summit. What a trip it was to say the least! Hiking mount Whitney is no joke, you better be very fit and prepared if you want to summit.
Thanks for the comment and I hope this video helps some people.
Good job! A couple of suggestions for everyone. Sat phones are cheap these days and 'emergency only' plans are not much more than that for a Garmin. They are light and the battery lasts forever if turned off. Ditch the texting solutions and carry a Sat phone. Also take the NOLS wilderness first aid class. It is intended exactly for these situations. Will give you a lot of confidence. Again. Good job!
Good suggestions. I have heard people talking about Sat phones I will look into it. And thanks for the mentioning the first aid class, I'll check that out too! 🙂
I'd still stick with the Garmin. I've never known a Sat phone -- especially in mountainous terrain -- to hold a signal more than about 4 minutes. You have to know who to call and it won't give lat/long. Call gets dropped, you have to reconnect, sometimes waiting 20 minutes each time for satellite to get in position. You'll have to tell SAR lat/long separately, which means you need to read it from map or another gizmo. Garmin automatically gives lat/long, even with a non-emergency text message or, of course, ping. Shorter data burst that what's needed for a phone so more likely to get to their emergency ops dispatch.
What a selfless act you and Matt performed. You were in the right place at the right time to make a huge difference in someone else's life. Thanks for sharing this remarkable experience. You are also helping more people with this video and your learnings. Well done guys.
Thank you. It does seem that a lot of people are getting something out of this video, more than I ever imagined actually. I watched plenty of "How to climb Whitney" videos, read websites before our trips, but didn't see anything like this. Hopefully everyone finds this video before they go.
Edit to add: Your channel looks cool I'll check it out
Helping that woman out was more important than submitting the mountain - you guys totally did the right thing! I imagine saving a life is much more satisfying than climbing a mountain you could do on another day! Well done Sirs.
👍👍👍 Thank you, and yes it is. So glad we could help.
Great job you two and the other folks that helped. The hiking community is amazing and even better in a time of crisis. I've no doubt that you and Matt will summit next year. All the best.
Yes it's a great community. Matt summited a few weeks later. I will wait until next year :)
@@outsidewithmike Good luck for next year Mike, it looks an epic trail.
@20:00 even the rescuers put their own life in danger. Kudos to a difficult rescue. A hiker always has to be mindful, the supplies they carry may have to be shared with those in unexpected distress.
Well put. Thank you for the comment!
This is just so frightening. Thanks for the rescue of these hikers.
🙂👍Glad we were able to help
Thank God it was you guys who came across them and that you had your Garmin on you and the will & ability to help. I know you didn’t help or post this video for gratitude or attention, but thank you for helping.
So glad we were there and able to make a difference. Thank you!
You, Matt, and other hikers are truly the wonderful human beings. We were there and coming down that day, walked across some backpacks left on the side of the trail on top of the hill before the Mirror lake below. Having seen the helicopter landing in the Outpost camp area, we figured must be someone were trying to help someone else. We also noticed a black sleeping bag on the side of the trail entering Outpost camp going down, and from your video, that was the one used to carry the lady down. Now I know a bit more about the story. Thank you for your selfless and compassion. Have a great life.
Yep, those packs were left by their friends that hiked up and brought the sleeping bag in the morning. It was great that so many people offered their help throughout the night...water, food, emergency blankets, a couple of doctors who checked her out (and told us to get her down ASAP), as well as those who helped get her down the hill. What a great community we are a part of. Thanks for the comment! 🙂
great job Mike. You and Matt are hero's. The world needs more like you. Thank you for the video
I'm glad the video is informative for so many people, thank you very much.
Heya: Retired NPS backcountry ranger here. I've done hundreds of rescues and many on Mt. Whitney.O2 sat of 75% is, for sure, close to fatal (in fact, I"ve never seen anyone with it that low...). Your decisions almost definitely saved her life. Solid work on all aspects of this: protecting the privacy of the injured; evaluating and making the right decision to self-evac. Without a litter -- jeez! That's just incredible in that terrain, narrow trail and actual danger with drop-offs.
At the risk of second-guessing Inyo SAR, I'm surprised they didn't blitz a ground team your way with a litter. Would have taken 3 hours, minimum, to get them together and even start up, so maybe they thought CHP was quicker. CHP does have hoist capability but, at that altitude, it's not a first choice. Landing is way better. Also surprised you didn't hold at Trail Camp. Could have landed there though maybe in the dark you didn't notice? Also, CHP is an extremely heavy helicopter. They do a lot of SAR there but have to offload a huge amount of equipment to be light enough to land.
Anyway, your lessons learned are also solid. I always recommend the Garmin. Two way texting is critical to explain the problem to SAR. Cell phones are ALWAYS iffy, especially in the Sierra. Note to Garmin people coming on an emergency: I know it affects your planned trip but it's really best to stay with the injured and not just hit emergency beacon, then walk off. The beacon keeps going and will just confuse SAR tracking you. Always carry a light bivvy sack and ensolite pad. You lose a LOT of heat just lying on ground. Even if you hate or are offended by tech in Wilderness, get a Garmin. Saves SAR folk a lot of time and 2nd guessing.
Anyway, great job folks! Reach around and give yourselves a strong pat on the back!
Hey thanks a lot for this! We found them below Trail Camp, I'd have to check a map to see how far we were from there. And ya I learned later that CHP chopper is for rescue missions and has a hoist.
I'm curious as to what the Zoleo signal did for them...if anyone started to prepare for a rescue, etc. They certainly weren't there that night or next day. I stand firmly behind having a full featured GPS device (as do you). A few here have argued against it, but as you said phones fail...too many links in the chain.
I appreciate all the rescues you have performed, that's great! Thank you for the comment!
Edit: CHP took 9 hours from first call to arriving.
@@outsidewithmike Had never heard of the Zoleo but you're right, if the phone's not working it's not as effective. As you likely know, some Garmin models have an app (all have it??) so you can use the phone to text & address book but you can also do that without phone app. The Zoleo looks like it should work without the app engaged. Too late now but I would have followed up with them to see if the SOS was received. Maybe too techy but it works with Iridium sat system -- same as most sat phones and, I think, SPOT -- which, in the old days (2015 or so) I found not as reliable as Garmin.
Outstanding video and an important lesson for all of us. Thank you for sharing the full experience, including all of the multiple lessons learned.
Thank you I'm glad you liked it! 🙂
Great video. I was a W-EMT , climber, mountaineer, wilderness instructor 20-25 years ago. I am old now but this helps me make soem choices as to what gear to keep handy on my rig we're designing. A stokes litter and some light alum extendable poles (strong enough to carry a human) and some alum junctions to make a field expedient litter.
Thanks. We thought about using the trekking poles and rope to make a stretcher but we decided it would take too long, if we could even manage it haha. The poles aren't that long and we'd have to bunch them together for strength. Thanks for commenting!
@@outsidewithmike i NEVER leave home without hiking poles. Multi use. ..my first aid kit looks like half a tool kit. I tease my sons about the bone saw..."that bastard stuck in the slot canyon WISHES he had my bone saw" .... be safe out there...slow and steady wins the race. Thanks for taking your time to help others.
@@outsidewithmike likely poles would have not been long enough or strong enough . Not many trees around for pole stock either (rangers probably would've ticketed you....lol)
Even if you didn't manage to do the summit this time, you should feel really great about yourself saving that woman and helping those people! Good luck on attempt 3
I'll reach the summit next time. We'll go in better weather too. The mountain isn't going anywhere ;) Thanks, it does feel good helping someone like that. It was great that so many others asked to help my brother and I in different ways too. We gotta take care of each other out there. It could be me one day. Cheers! :)
What an ordeal to go through. Everyone is in a precarious situation in the middle of the night on a mountain where it's dark, cold and time is the essence to keep this lady alive. Thanks for sharing and providing lessons learned for hikers.
I'm so happy people are getting something out of this. So many people here have said they are buying or upgrading satellite equipment, or getting bivvys or other things because of the video, and offering advice, I think it's great. This is so much more than I expected! 🙂👍
Well done gentlemen. You said it exactly right at the end... you won't be remembered for reaching the summit, you'll be remembered for pulling off an amazing rescue and being prepared to do so. Great job, seriously.
Thanks man. I'll be back next year more ready than I was this year.
You guys did splendidly. I’ve done Whitney a few times and could picture where on the MMWT you were. What you guys did seems to have fallen out of fashion in places like Mt Everest. May you find a winning lottery ticket in the summit hut when you finally make it !
Haha I could use one! Thank you so much for the comment/compliment. I'm glad people are still watching this and getting something out of it. I watch it every once in awhile and there are a few spots where it still makes me a little teary-eyed and emotional. It was a very intense night.
Wow Mike.. I’m so incredibly proud of you man!! What a great video encapsulating all the hard work, your feelings, your respect and admiration of the challenge! Great job on this video! Hope to adventure with you again soon!! Keep up the great work! You will no doubt be an inspiration to many 💪
Hey Jon thanks it means a lot to me! Was great finally meeting you and hiking with you! I guess I will have to do it again next year haha. Matt thinks very highly of you and so do I. I'm proud of you too bro, it was a big accomplishment and was not definitely not easy. Cheers! Hope to see you again soon too.
@@outsidewithmike anytime Mike! Thank you!! Sorry, I posted this comment on the wrong video, lol
@@JonChristley Ya I noticed haha but that's okay! I'll have to check out your vids.
Good job guys! Mountaineering in high altitude is no joke. Having had a close call myself several years ago, I now carry Garmin inreach mini (texting), big anker 20K battery pack, and necessary gear to spend the night in the cold if it came down to it. Also, in very cold temps, i make sure my phone and battery pack is close to my body inside my jacket as batteries will die in freezing temps. That's happened to me!
Glad you found a way to get this video out. And so glad all parties involved are safe and ALIVE!
Good point about the batteries in cold weather. Thank you for commenting! 🙂
You guys were wonderful for saving the lives of the folks you rescued. Big props for your life-saving efforts. Kudos and best of luck climbing Mt. Whitney the next time!🙏❤️
Thank you! We will be back for sure!
Bravo Mike n Matt! It was your destiny to be there to help so much! What a feeling I’m sure! Overwhelming! Wow. Much Kudos for looking out!💪🏻👍🙏🏻👌
Thank you, yes overwhelming is a good word. 🙂
You guys more than likely saved her life. Dude, you’re amazing. People like you are hard to find. Thanks for doing all that you did.
Thank you for the comment! 👍🙂
Thank you for telling this story and I'm glad everyone made it out alive.
I see comments from some of the people who were there and I'd like to hear the story about how this whole situation came to be.
It's valuable for us to know what conditions and decisions led to this event so we can all learn how to prepare, be aware, and know when to head back before it turns into a life threatening situation. (Thank you for your tips at the end)
Thank you for the comment
Team effort and absolute heroism! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing rescue and for sharing all of the helpful information that will definitely help others. 💓
Hey thanks for the comment! Just glad we were there to help. Going back on Sept 14th so hopefully will have a much different video (with me on top)! Make sure to check for it soon :)
Something that saved myself, my wife and my brother in a situation like this was my over preparedness. I brought 10 hot hands super warmers, and 5 body warmers (that stick). I also brought 1 can of bottled air because my wife has asthma. Ended up having to use them when it dropped to 7 degrees (supposed to be 45...) and my wife had to use her inhaler 5 times in 2 hours. Those hot hands and bottled air helped her get through the night and we hiked out the next day.
Now i always have them and when my brother complains about my (over preparedness) i just look at him and he laughs lol.
That's great, glad to hear it all worked out.
One of the many things I didn't get on camera was all the help other hikers offered. Hand warmers were one of those, though the ones we got didn't work ;) Too old probably. But we did get some emergency/space blankets and offers for food and water.
But before that we were alone with them for several hours. Fortunately we had supplies of our own. We did jumping jacks and jogged in place to keep warm after awhile...we got pretty cold ourselves.
I'm going back in September and will be even more prepared. I'm taking a wilderness first aid course, bringing a SAM Splint and a few more warm clothes. Like you said, being prepared is everything. I learned so much that night.
Thank you for commenting!
Thank you for the heroic efforts you guys took to save this woman.
Glad we could help. And I'm happy so many people got something out of this video. I never know quite what to say. The response has been overwhelming. Going back to Whitney on Sept 14th to try again! Thanks for the comment!
Great work. Glad you were there to help out and were willing to sacrifice your trek to help someone. Proud to share the planet with someone like you.
Right on, thanks!
You did not summit Witney but you and your bother summit a higher peak that is harder to achieve !!!!! Thanks for you video .
Thank you for this, that awesome and means a lot to me.
You guys are angels. The summit wasn’t in the cards for you that day, but obviously there was another plan for you…and you helped save a life.
What is extremely coincidental as I watched this video is that I returned to Whitney portal at 8pm on Friday 10/13 after day hiking to the summit. I very likely passed this group of hikers at some point above where they had stopped (assuming they were in the process of descending).
I hope you reach your goal of the summit one day!
Thank you I'll get there. Matt went back a few weeks ago and summited for his 4th or 5th time. Thank you for the comment!
Thank you for such important video you did a great job keeping it respectful
Thank you that is great to hear. 🙂😎
Few things are as satisfying as saving someone from a life-threatening situation. Congratulations on being instrumental in coordinating a challenging search and rescue mission.
It is a good feeling. Fortunately it all turned out okay. I can't imagine if it didn't.
Amazing efforts from you and Matt! You both went above and beyond. Compassion, kindness, and caring are a beautiful characteristics. of us human beings. I went through a similar experience in Kauai’s canyons with a couple in their 40’s. They didn’t have enough water, food, and were in no shape to be where they were. They were both dehydrated. There was no cell phone service but I had my garmin and contacted rescue. They were helicopter out. Thanks for your advice at the end. I’ve hiked alone many times but have never brought a bivy with me. I will purchase one now after seeing your video and your experience having to use them. Awesome teamwork everyone 🥾👍👊
Carrying her down was definitely a team effort. If her friends hadn't come up that morning with the sleeping bag it would have taken much longer to get her down. I don't think we had a lot of time to spare. And once we found volunteers we were able to use 4 - 6 people to carry instead of 3. Huge difference. Nice job of you helping those people!
I'm glad this video has helped so many people rethink their strategies. These two trips definitely taught me some lessons. Thank you for the comment!
One of the best videos I’ve seen in a long time. You guys are God sent. Thanks for sharing this and thank you for being such good humans. I wish you both the best on your next summit attempt. Stay safe boys!🤙🏻
Also so happy to hear she made a full recovery.
Thank you very much. Matt went back and summited last Sunday. I can wait til next summer haha! So glad things turned out well. 😀👍
I saw your post on the Mt Whitney FB page. Well done and much respect for helping these people! 👊
Thank you from both of us 🙂
What a blessing that you were in the right place at the right time. Wow.
Thanks for the comment, just glad we could help.