Incredible insertion by a California Highway Patrol helicopter pilot who dropped off a Yosemite Search and Rescue member on a near vertical wall near the spire area of El Capitan using a specialized “toss-across technique”, a precision maneuver that allows rescuers to reach climbers safely against sheer granite and strong winds.
The rescue happened on October 20th, 2025 after Yosemite Search and Rescue received an emergency dispatch about a climber who suffered serious injuries after a fall on El Capitan. Yosemite Park Ranger and Yosemite Search and Rescue lead Jesse McGahey coordinated the helicopter evacuation from the wall and was the one tasked with lowering onto the small ledge to reach the injured climber.
“Ranger McGahey provided emergency medical care and coordinated the helicopter evacuation from the wall. Thanks to the team’s swift response and expertise in high-angle rescue, the injured climber received urgent surgical care and is now recovering well.”
The true scale of El Capitan can be appreciated when you consider the CHP Airbus H125 helicopter (fuselage length is 35 feet 10 inches) looks like a fly on a kitchen wall next to the 3,000 foot granite monolith.
