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Yosemite National Park experiences the single highest call-volume of technical rescues incidents of any National Park Service area.  Due to the high call-volume and varied types of rescue incidents as well as the unique problems associated with big wall rescues, Yosemite National Park has formed a specialist rescue team informally known as YOSAR (Yosemite Search And Rescue).  YOSAR team is available for search and rescue operations  24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  The organization is a community-based team with National Park Service rangers at the foundation.

These photos were taken August 31, 2003 during a helicopter shorthaul evacuation from the ice fields on Banner Peak in Mono County in response to a mutual aid call from the Mono County Sheriff's office. The climber was just below the 12,000 foot elevation mark when he slipped while climbing on the icefield. He slid 30 feet and fell an additional 15 vertical feet to the bottom of a bergshrund, injuring his back and pelvis. Ranger Jack Hoeflich and paramedic Keith Lober were inserted into the accident site by shourthaul. The victim was then flown to Mammoth Lakes for medical care. Click on photos for larger versions. (NPS photos)