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A climber became stranded on a ledge just 6 inches wide about 11,000 feet up a California mountain, with strong winds preventing crews from reaching him by helicopter as the man fought to hold tight.
The climber ran into trouble Aug. 22 while attempting the Mendenhall Couloir on Laurel Mountain, according to a Facebook post from the Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team.
After mistakenly leaving the established climbing route, the man found himself in steep terrain where he could no longer safely move forward or retreat, the team said.
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The climber stopped on the narrow ledge and called for help using a satellite device.
Rescuers said the location was particularly dangerous because of the steep drop below — warning that a fall would “almost certainly be fatal.”
A helicopter was requested — but winds gusting between about 35 and 46 mph at roughly 11,000 feet prevented crews from carrying out an aerial rescue, according to the post.
Technical rescue teams instead had to head up the mountain carrying about 1,200 feet of rope and other equipment needed to reach the climber.
Once rescuers found him, they became concerned about how much longer he could safely remain in place.
The climber appeared to be repeatedly changing the leg he was standing on — which rescuers believed could indicate cramping.
Crews ultimately decided to begin a technical rescue that evening rather than leave him exposed on the ledge through the night.
Four rescuers used anchors and rope systems to reach the climber, secure him and guide him away from the steep gully.
The operation concluded at about 4:43 a.m. the following morning, according to the team.
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“The team commends the subject for their incredible perseverance and determination, as well as for recognizing when help was needed and having the preparedness to call for it,” the organization wrote.
Fourteen responders took part in the rescue, contributing nearly 172 volunteer hours, according to the post.
Fox News Digital previously reported on another climbing rescue in Georgia involving a man who became stranded on the side of Mount Yonah.
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The climber called 911 after realizing he could no longer safely move up or down. Authorities used a drone to locate him on a roughly 20-by-20-inch ledge about 260 feet up the mountain.
White County firefighter Will Roper rappelled down the rock face, secured the climber in a harness and attached him to a rope before he was brought to the top of the mountain.
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The rescue took about 42 minutes, and the climber later told Roper that he was familiar with Mount Yonah but had taken the wrong route and became stuck.
James Cirrone of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.
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