Sheriff's aviation team rescues injured snowboarder on Mt. Baldy

Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press
·2 min read
A sheriff’s helicopter team hoist-rescued 40-year-old snowboarder Travis Robinson who broke his leg during a run down Mt. Baldy over the weekend.
A sheriff’s helicopter team hoist-rescued 40-year-old snowboarder Travis Robinson who broke his leg during a run down Mt. Baldy over the weekend.

A sheriff’s helicopter team hoist-rescued a 40-year-old snowboarder who broke his leg while traveling down Mt. Baldy over the weekend.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department reported that Travis Robinson of Mt. Baldy and his friend hiked the Baldy Bowl on Saturday to go snowboarding.

After hiking up to the mountain's west ridge, Robinson used his snowboard to ride down the Baldy Bowl while his friend used a pair of skis to follow behind him.

About halfway down the bowl, Robinson felt something unusual in his right leg. Thinking that his bindings had broken on his snowboard, he checked them and noticed that his leg was possibly broken.

Robinson was not able to go any further, and his friend was able to place a call to 911.

SBC Fire received the 911 call and requested Sheriff's Aviation to assist in locating Robinson. Helicopter 40-KING-6 responded and found Robinson at the 8,400-foot elevation in steep icy terrain.

The crew of 40-KING-6 requested Sheriff's Air Rescue 306, and they responded with two technical ice rescue team members.

When Air Rescue 306 arrived, the crew confirmed a hoist rescue would be necessary to get Robinson out safely. The team hovered and lowered a paramedic and EMT down to him.

Medics used crampons and other technical rescue gear to stabilize Robinson. The medics worked to place him into a rescue harness, and he was hoisted up to the helicopter, followed by the medics.

Robinson was flown to the San Antonio Dam, where he was transferred to SBC Fire and American Medical Response personnel for further treatment.

Air Rescue 306 crew included Pilot Corporal Ryan Peppler, Crew Chief Deputy Greg Hanrahan, Technical Rescuer Sergeant Jerred Besheer, and Technical Rescuer SBCF Engineer Mike Demoff.

The 40-KING-6 crew included Pilot Sergeant Greg Jimenez and Tactical Flight Officer Deputy Tommy Dickey.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Sheriff's aviation team rescues injured snowboarder on Mt. Baldy