White County emergency crews pulled off a successful high-angle rescue in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Tuesday evening, freeing a climber who had gotten stuck partway up Mount Yonah’s west face.
The call came into White County 911 shortly after 7 p.m. on August 25, 2026. The caller explained he had been free climbing the mountain (no ropes or safety gear) when he found himself trapped and unable to move safely in either direction on a narrow ledge partway up the rock face. Though shaken, the climber wasn’t hurt.
Here is a look Tuesday evening’s technical rescue on the face of Mount Yonah:
Multiple agencies mobilized in response, including White County Fire Services, White County EMS, White County Emergency Management, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Locating the climber quickly became the first priority, and that’s where a drone made the difference. White County Emergency Management launched its unmanned aircraft system and used it to pinpoint the person’s location roughly 260 feet up the mountainside. Once fire crews reached the area, they got a clearer picture of just how precarious the situation was: the climber was perched on a ledge measuring only about 20 by 20 inches, with no way to climb out safely on their own.
To reach the stranded climber, Firefighter Will Roper rappelled down the cliff face while a team above managed the rope system supporting him. Rescuers secured the climber and guided him down to safety.
From the moment crews arrived on scene to the moment the rescue wrapped up, roughly 42 minutes had passed. Afterward, White County Public Safety praised the effort, highlighting the smooth coordination between all the responding agencies and the skill of the personnel who brought the rescue to a safe end.
Amazing work by all of the responders involved in safely reaching and rescuing the stranded climber. Cheers!
