Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
A recent incident on Cloudripper in California’s Eastern Sierra turned into a major search and rescue operation involving Inyo SAR. But what went wrong?
We’ve climbed Cloudripper via the West Chute, so we felt this was an appropriate opportunity to analyze the route, terrain, conditions and decisions that led to the SAR rescue mission this summer.
Cloudripper is one of the higher peaks in the Eastern Sierra, and while the route can look relatively straightforward from a distance (and depending on the beta you read), the West Chute involves steep, technical terrain where conditions and decision-making matter enormously.
This isn’t about judging the people involved. Our goal is to use this real-world incident to encourage safer hiking and climbing and reduce our collective need for SAR efforts.
THANK YOU to the incredible Inyo Search and Rescue team for all the work you do.
#sierra #easternsierra #californiahiking
A recent incident on Cloudripper in California’s Eastern Sierra turned into a major search and rescue operation involving Inyo SAR. But what went wrong?
We’ve climbed Cloudripper via the West Chute, so we felt this was an appropriate opportunity to analyze the route, terrain, conditions and decisions that led to the SAR rescue mission this summer.
Cloudripper is one of the higher peaks in the Eastern Sierra, and while the route can look relatively straightforward from a distance (and depending on the beta you read), the West Chute involves steep, technical terrain where conditions and decision-making matter enormously.
This isn’t about judging the people involved. Our goal is to use this real-world incident to encourage safer hiking and climbing and reduce our collective need for SAR efforts.
THANK YOU to the incredible Inyo Search and Rescue team for all the work you do.
#sierra #easternsierra #californiahiking
