Man! HAPE strikes even the seasoned hikers. Here is a report of a PCT hiker on
Trail Journals that was evacuated from the Tyndall Creek area by helicopter.
Some quotes from the text (Man, these people type more than they hike!!!):
We looked out of our tent to see Half-Ounce huddled up underneath a tree. He was sitting and leaning up against a trunk of a tree with two sleeping bags wrapped around him. He had to sit up to breath and had been there for most of the night.
...We were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Half-Ounce had HAPE, High Altitude Pulmonary Edema and the shortest way out was over Forester Pass, elevation 13,180 feet, the highest point on the entire PCT.
...Half-Ounce walked 10 yards and had to stop and rest. Another 10 yards, stop. Then it was 10 feet, and sit down. Then 3 feet and sit down.
There was no way he could take another step up in elevation. Decisions had to be made and options were now more limited. He had to descend.
...The final decision was that Half-Ounce would descend. Turbo and 10-Spot would go with him and take all of his gear.
They would go to Tyndall Creek Ranger Station (unmanned and closed). It was at the lower elevation of 10,890 feet. If that wasn't low enough, they would follow Tyndall Creek down to the Kern River and then down further if needed.
...At this time, about 6:15am, another hiker came up the trail and just walked into our dilemma. His trail name is Balls.BTW, here's a picture at the PCT/Walker Pass, with "Balls" on the left.
...Balls made it to Forester ahead of us. No cell reception. From the pass he scaled a rock peak, an additional 400 feet, to get a signal. He contacted 911, and then S.A.R. (Search and Rescue). They dispatched personnel.
And from the next day's journal:
Half-Ounce called from the medical center and filled us in on his status. He was still on oxygen and medication. He was better, but he still has a ways to go in his recovery. He will continue to stay in the hospital.
