Helicopter hoist rescue, Pacific Crest Trail, April 2024.  Riverside County Sheriff RESQ-9. 

This rescue occurred on April 17, 2024 at the 8700 foot level of the Pacific Crest Trail in Riverside County California. This male hiker who is from Europe, fell and sustained a dislocated shoulder. Subfreezing temperatures were forecasted overnight, and this became a contributing factor to deciding that he needed to be hoisted out to the hospital. folks please remember, most agencies will not charge you if you have to be rescued. 

[@ColtonCarter]

You may have been the guy(s) who rescued my gf and I on Dripping Springs in 95 degree heat last year. Truly owe you guys a few 6 packs and a meal, we made a grave mistake on that run by not bringing enough water and the rescue team treated us kindly, professionally and with grace. It did not cost us anything for our mistake. Thanks for what y'all do, wish I could get involved to give back.

[@Hook-in-hand]

Hello sir, I remember you both! I was one of the pilots on that rescue. I'm glad you are doing well. We appreciate your gratitude, but this is simply our job. Keep enjoying the great outside !

[@imdabeast100]

⁠@@Hook-in-handyou guys are truly blessings on this earth. ending it with “keep enjoying the great outside!” brings so much joy to my heart

[@richardksimpson800]

This is an amazing channel. You guys are doing an amazing job. Keep it up.

[@TahoeLand]

I witnessed a rescue like this after stumbling upon an injured mountain biker near Ramona, CA some years ago. Poor guy had a fractured pelvis and was going into shock. Lucky we got a weak cell signal and Cal Fire showed up lickety-split and plucked him right up. I remember being on the phone with dispatch while the helicopter was heading to our general direction. The pilot hadn't seen us yet and dispatch asked if we can see the helicopter and if they're on course. I was like, "yeah but I think we're at more like their ten o'clock" and boom the pilot turned and headed right at us. Blew my mind.

[@luckystrike482]

Nice that they let the hiker take his pack up. I've seen other ones where they have to leave it with the people on the ground. Some of those packs can have thousands of dollars of equipment in them.

[@Hook-in-hand]

Thank you! Whatever we have to rescue mountain bikers as well, we also hoist up their mountain bike for them. I think I have a video of that on this channel.

[@rfcdgaf]

Hahha, army basic training for you! INjured man on your squad? Yeah you gonna carry all his shit as well!!

[@AmandaDouin]

Hope he was ok and thank you for your service!! Clean rescue. 🎉

[@koltonbellamy3777]

Thank you for another great video! You guys are a dialed team. So cool to see first hand with the comms!!

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

Incredible skill !!! Thanks for all your training and dedication to saving lives !!!

[@HuskyMike]

Great work. Thank you for your service.

[@kristymoore7052]

I have never seen from that perspective. Subscribed and thank you.

[@NeonDreams7]

What a neat perspective! Thanks for sharing. be safe

[@skyepilotte11]

Great work by the air rescue team. Well done.

[@fritziii2137]

The guy was smiling and moving around on his feet just fine

[@melaVOLENCE]

Thank you so much for all you do!

[@RoyADane]

Thank You for all that you do. I will do my very best to make sure you don't have to rescue me ( PCT Hiker )

[@JoJa015]

Thank you for all you do!

[@ebhkkc1]

Thank you for all that yall do

[@gregknipe8772]

an expensive hike. glad these first responders are home safe.

[@SandCrabNews]

I was an AE in the Navy, one of my helicopters made an emergency landing on a LPH. Myself and a Mech were selected to go fix it. We were briefed about a "personnel transfer". I vaguely comprehended what was going to happen. We go to the ship fast and the aircrewman told me to sit on the deck, then he put the horse collar under my arms. I was then hanging below the helicopter thanking everyone who had ever worked on that helicopter for doing a good job. We got down on deck, our bird had a Main Gear Box Chip Light. The mech cleaned the sensor and we go in that one we just fixed and returned home.

[@alissa_thornton]

Wow that was incredible and scary all at the same time! Thank you for being there for us! #PCT 2025

[@janetbailey6727]

Very nice as always! especially love the inclusion of the landing

[@smileyhappyradio]

This is what makes America Great, because we care, and people like this.

[@avinandanbhadra1274]

RESPECT FOR THE REAL LIFE SUPER HEROES 🙂🙂🙏🙏🙏

[@thecanadianadventureaddicts]

Outstanding!

[@larryjanson4011]

couple years back a crew was practicing doing this out of a culvert in the trees. they are a crew a bunch of people will buy the beer for.

[@BayAreaMotorcycleCommuting]

Funny to see the green hoist power button get accidentally bumped / shut off at the 5:00 mark (then switched back on at 5:09)

[@Hook-in-hand]

Yes that was a first!

[@FROGMEDIC]

What is your prior experience? Military? I tried this job, briefly, and it does require a certain finesse and communication skills through every step. I love to fly and though combining love of flight with sacrifice of rescue would be a sure fit? Nope. lol I’m staying urban and will continue my passion of mountain rescue on foot. As always gentlemen…you are awesome and providing excellent rescue services! “Others above Self”. God bless you all and keep you safe!❤🚁🚑

[@Hook-in-hand]

Hi thank you for the support! I was a Marine infantryman many years ago and learned to fly via the sheriff's department sending me, like others, to flight school. It does in fact take a level of passion for this job to do it safely.

[@thomasquigley7040]

It never occurred to me, but it was obvious when I heard it. They need to communicate in advance what direction they'll break off to in the event of a power loss.

[@doggonenomads]

Awesome video but I can't help but think about that 30K invoice he is going to receive later on that week, lol...hopefully he has insurance through Garmin (if that is what he used). Glad everyone is safe and the mission was a success!

[@m34tba11]

since it was a rescue by the county there will not be a bill (unless it was deemed the injuries were sustained due to negligence).

[@miteco1]

Here is the rescue ship training at the Lake Hemet sub station. Very interesting to see onboard operations and comms. Very professional and dialed in. Confidence inspiring. RCS is a good man and so is his posse. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qniwnIBrrpuXY7Msi=MQ_4m-eVfRPbb69I Airbus HC-145

[@wuss15]

Curious to why you start forward flight as soon as hoist is clear of the trees. Is it to get to destination quicker or to give wind drag for the hoist person to use to stop spinning? Or is possible vortex ring state a problem while in a steady hover?

[@Hook-in-hand]

Hi thank you. Yes once a swing, oscillation, or spin starts we just initiate forward flight and the aerodynamic slipstream corrects it to a manageable level.

[@wuss15]

Thanks for the answer! That makes sense. Fascinating to see these videos and the use of technology and technique. Many thanks for sharing it 😁

[@thomasquigley7040]

Swing amplifies as the line gets shorter. Learnt that in high school physics, but this is a real world application.

[@honeyLXIX]

It would be interesting to know what the most dangerous helicopter rescue you've ever done was. The most intense helicopter rescue I have seen was a coast guard rescue in bad weather on Deadliest Catch. I'm relieved to know there are awesome professionals like you that are able to help people when they are experiencing an issue while hiking.

[@helloneighbor11]

There are lots of bad weather coastguard rescues on you tube. Those guys are amazing

[@dmac4097]

Here in Scotland if anyone hiked around in shorts and running shoes when there’s snow on the ground the local cops would detain you under the mental health act for your own safety.

[@Themanisred]

It's southern california. Even though you see snow on the ground it's probably 65° Fahrenheit. It drops down into the thirties at night but during the day it's up in the sixties and seventies

[@hsoderberg6505]

Not the same in CA.

[@Jerrymc1975]

It could be snow and 75 degrees in Cali or warmer.

[@tetra8909]

cali is way further south and hot.

[@theyetti8811]

What can the person on the ground do to make it easier being located and extracted ?

[@helloneighbor11]

Having actual GPS coordinates would be the best thing they can do.

[@gowine504]

badass

[@mrwest5552]

EC-135 or H145 ? no crew injured, clean rescue.

[@Hook-in-hand]

Thank you, H145.

[@trailingupwards]

He just needed to get to Inn and Out lickety split.

[@MajorAddiction]

What do the numbers being called out mean?

[@TheRightONe-et3gh]

a dislocated shoulder? Well you grind your teeth and you walk down. This is ridiculous.

[@sheriffjohnbird3179]

Well done! Makes me feel a lot safer exploring with my boys knowing you guys are out there! Do you have a RECCO detector on board? I was thinking of making my boys bracelets to wear with the reflectors.

[@_Dolofonia]

clean

[@DanielOutdoors]

Dyneema tent jinxing at the Sierras again?

[@cholomackdaddy]

Can you spell hospital bill?

[@helpfulcommenter]

Who pays the bill here

[@Hook-in-hand]

No charge for the helicopter rescue.

[@helpfulcommenter]

@@Hook-in-hand No charge to the hiker, but who pays for the gas and maintenance on the helicopter, salaries for the rescuers, etc

[@hsoderberg6505]

​@@helpfulcommenterthe county

[@helpfulcommenter]

@@hsoderberg6505 So the taxpayers of that county

[@helloneighbor11]

Taxpayers

[@JamesOfEarth]

Looks to be another ill-prepared PCT hiker in shorts and sneakers in winter alpine conditions who bought into the false “SoCal is the desert section” narrative. Witnessed the same thing in ‘19 in the Apache Peak area. Thanks for your service!

[@wio2189]

You don't know that and pretending to do so while casting judgement on a fellow hiker is pretty whack.

[@helpfulcommenter]

@@wio2189 I've hiked this section, they're right. In the "Desert" section many hikers especially from abroad or non Western US states don't understand they'll be hiking through mountainous terrain with snow and ice even into May some years. There are too many unprepared PCT hikers who get gassed up on social media idealized version of a long distance hike and dont' have the gear, skills, or stamina to tackle the early challenges of the PCT, and they all carry Garmins so they can push their panic button whenever they face adversity. This hiker had a dislocated shoulder. Certainly could have hiked to a road.

[@trexinvert]

5:12 I see shorts, sneakers, no socks and no spikes. Actually, sneakers are trail runner shoes. Perfect for absorbing freezing water to cool off and numb your feet any sensitivity for traction or slippage. Whether you have spikes or not if you take one step onto the terrain you "should know" if footing/balance will work or not. Hard snow, soft snow, ice, wet gravel,..etc. Well? You want to go on? Turn back? Unless you are dead set to do 20 miles/day despite altitude, fatigue, low water, late morning start, SanJac report. Just keep one hand on the garmin tx and be ready to push the button. The hand that is free because it's not holding an ice axe. Rock and Roll.

[@csn583]

Shorts and trail running shoes aren't the problem.

[@helpfulcommenter]

@@trexinvert I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic but you just described half the thru hikers on the pct

[@lutomson3496]

Hope the hiker paid for this instead ot taxpayers

[@lancairdriver]

I assume you’re kidding. Rescuing an injured hiker after a fall is exactly the kind of thing I want my tax dollars used for.

[@mmedved5567]

Search and rescue groups, whether public or private live for this type mission. They are volunteers who train intensively and actual rescues are the best training possible. Maybe you would like to pay for any service from police, fire or paramedic service you or your family get.

[@Hook-in-hand]

I really need to do a public service announcement video on why we do not charge! This is free to the public and I echo the other replies here. Most of the comments on our videos seem to be 70-80% this question!

[@rstats2127]

The ambulance ride cost him if he didn’t AMA and get his own transportation, the majority of rescues by public safety entities are funded by tax dollars. The ambulance at the landing zone was a private company.

[@rstats2127]

@@Hook-in-handnothing is free, the taxpayers in the region paid for the time, Jet-A and the wear and tear on the aircraft.