Hiker Rescued From High Country

Search and Rescue comes to aid of man who would have died were it not for his friends and passing hikers

Register Staff, Inyo Register, May, 2, 2007

With warmer temperatures come more visitors to the Eastern Sierra backcountry, and, inevitably, more backcountry accidents, mishaps and injuries. That proved true last weekend when an Oregon man had to be carried down the Sheppard’s Pass trail near Mt. Whitney.

According to Inyo County Search and Rescue Commander Keith Hardcastle, Jeff Wagnell, 22, of Grants Pass, Ore. is lucky to be alive after suffering from altitude sickness. Had it not been for a wilderness first responder, who happened to be hiking the Sheppard’s Pass trail that day, Wagnell may have died.

The Inyo County Sheriff”s Department received a call from a satellite phone at about 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 4 from Ryan Kern, of Los Angeles, a wilderness first responder. Kern requested help for a hiker on Sheppard’s Pass suffering from altitude sickness.

According to Hardcastle, Kern and his three companions had come across Wagnell and his brother on the Pacific Crest Trail near the west slope of Mt. Whitney earlier in the week. Kern, due to his training, noticed that Wagnell looked ill, and attempted to convince the pair to head home. Wagnell, however, was determined to continue, and convinced Kern that he was OK to proceed. The Wagnell brothers continued hiking towards their descent point at Onion Valley.

Hardcastle said the two groups crossed paths again on Friday, and Kern noticed that Wagnell’s condition had deteriorated, and he appeared to be having trouble breathing. 

Kern, suspecting that Wagnell was suffering from altitude sickness, suggested that the pair descend as fast as possible from the closest pass, which was Sheppard’s Pass. 

Concerned for the young man, Kern and his companions left their gear behind, and helped the Wagnells make the hike down, but the ill brother’s condition continued to deteriorate, raising alarm for Kern. According the Hardcastle, “the drop in elevation did not seem to be having any effect on Wagnell.” And approximately five miles from the trailhead, Kern used his satellite telephone to make the call that Hardcastle says may have saved Wagnell’s life. 

Wagnell continued to walk down the pass, but his affliction continued to worsen. A local SAR team was dispatched to Sheppard’s Pass with oxygen. The team met Wagnell and Kern’s party, and the young man was in serious condition.

The SAR carried Wagnell down the pass in a wheeled litter to the Independence Fire Department ambulance that was waiting at the trailhead.

He was transported to Southern Inyo Hospital where his condition did not improve. He was later transferred to Loma Linda University Hospital.

“Wagnell’s survival is credited to Kern and his friends for their unselfish dedication to assist and carry Wagnell down one of the steepest trail passes in Inyo County,” Hardcastle said in a press release.

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