Man lies partially buried under snow for 9 hours

The Custer County Sheriff’s Office received information from Butte County Sheriff’s dispatch of a possible injured climber below the north face of Mount Borah on Saturday.

23-year-old climber Hao Yan from Devin, Pennsylvania, called 911 from his cell phone while partially buried below the north face routes. He relayed he was at approximately 11,500 feet, just below the north face access routes, only 700 feet below the northeast ridgeline. Around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Custer County Search & Rescue activated and contacted, Two Bear Air Rescue helicopter team out of Kalispell, Montana. The aircraft had a 2 hour flight time to reach the search area, but it was still faster than a ground team to reach the area where Yan was at.

Custer County Search & Rescue Mackay Unit set up a ground rescue climbing team at the Smith Ranch located at the base of Borah. This team could be air lifted into the location if needed.

Early Sunday morning Two Bear Air arrived at Mount Borah and began the search for Yan. About an hour later they radioed in they had located Yan in the snowfield at the base of the north face. By 2:30 a.m. Two Bear Air had Yan onboard the helicopter and were transporting him to an awaiting ambulance at the Smith Ranch.

Shortly after Yan was in the ambulance and being treated for sever hypothermia, he was transported to the Lost River Medical Center, then flown by Life Flight Helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

Yan stated he was climbing alone and had fallen injuring his back. Yan had triggered a small avalanche with his fall and he lie partially buried in the snow slide. He was forced to remained on the snow field for approximately 9 hours before rescuers could reach him.

Custer County Sheriff’s Office thanks all those involved in this operation.