Care Flight Rescues Injured Woman and Her Dog in Palisades Tahoe Backcountry

A winter afternoon in the Sierra Nevada should have been an ordinary alpine outing, but it quickly became a life-threatening situation when a woman suffered a severe lower-extremity fracture in remote terrain near Palisades Tahoe. Immobilised by the injury and unable to seek shelter, she faced dropping temperatures and incoming weather systems that threatened to turn her ordeal into a fatal one. Her only comfort was Lola, the dog who stayed pressed against her as daylight began to fade.

The terrain presented immediate complications for rescuers. Snow concealed rocks and unstable surfaces that made access difficult, and dense backcountry conditions left the woman and her dog far beyond the reach of traditional ground teams. With the risk of hypothermia climbing and her ability to move completely compromised, authorities escalated the situation to Care Flight, knowing that only an aerial response could reach her in time.

The Care Flight Response

Care Flight, the long-established air-medical service supporting Nevada, Northern California, and surrounding alpine regions, moved into action the moment dispatchers relayed the details. Their crews, trained extensively for high-altitude emergencies, prepared for takeoff with the precision of a trauma centre on wings. Weather patterns, wind direction, and elevation were assessed in rapid succession as their Airbus H125 helicopter lifted into the winter sky.

The service’s 43-year history in extreme conditions shaped every step of the response. With thousands of remote rescues behind them, Care Flight teams know how to manage the complexities of aviation, trauma care, and unpredictable mountain landscapes. In this case, their combined experience would prove essential as they flew toward the stranded woman and her loyal dog.

The Crew

On board the aircraft were Pilot Scott, Flight RN Ben, and Flight Paramedic Jake — a three-person team trained to deliver advanced medical intervention in some of the most dangerous environments in the West. Scott’s responsibility lay in navigating narrow alpine corridors and landing zones obscured by snow and uneven terrain, a task that requires unmatched concentration and technical skill.

Meanwhile, Ben and Jake prepared for a trauma scenario that could escalate quickly. Fractures of the lower extremity can lead to shock, internal bleeding, or circulation loss, and the additional challenge of freezing temperatures demanded immediate attention. The crew knew they would be treating both medical risk and environmental exposure the moment they touched down.

The Rescue Operation

The helicopter reached the backcountry location within minutes, beginning a careful search for the woman and Lola as visibility shifted with settling winter clouds. When Scott identified a small patch of terrain suitable for landing, he guided the aircraft into position with deliberate precision, ensuring the snow beneath them could support the contact without destabilising the rotor wash.

Ben and Jake moved quickly to the injured woman, assessing the severity of the fracture and addressing pain and immobilisation needs. Lola remained close to her owner, anxious but protective, requiring the crew to manage both the dog’s safety and the patient’s condition simultaneously. The cabin space inside the helicopter was tight, but the team worked efficiently, stabilising the leg and preparing both woman and dog for immediate evacuation.

Rescuing Lola

The presence of a dog in such a precarious situation introduced unique complications. Backcountry rescues rarely involve companion animals, yet those that do often carry elevated emotional stakes. Many injured owners refuse evacuation without their pets, which can lead to secondary emergencies when individuals attempt self-rescue.

Lola’s behaviour, though loyal and comforting, required careful handling inside the narrow helicopter cabin. The team ensured she was secured safely without obstructing medical equipment or compromising the woman’s care. Their ability to integrate Lola into the rescue not only aided the patient’s emotional stability but also demonstrated the crew’s adaptability under pressure.

Alpine Conditions

The Palisades Tahoe region in early December poses a range of hazards that can turn a straightforward mission into a dangerous operation. Cloud cover, snowfall, and fluctuating winds can impede visibility, while hidden rocks, tree stumps, and corniced slopes create hazardous landing zones. At high elevations, cold temperatures can impact rotor performance and place patients at heightened risk of hypothermia or shock.

Despite these challenges, the Care Flight crew executed their mission with practiced coordination. Their safety-first philosophy, including the widely respected “three to say go, one to say no” protocol, ensures that any team member can halt an operation if conditions become unsafe. This framework has underpinned Care Flight’s strong safety record and remains central to their decision-making in the mountains.

The Medical Emergency

Lower-extremity fractures are medically serious, especially in remote environments where swelling, shock, or vascular compromise can develop before help arrives. The woman’s injury required immediate splinting and stabilisation to prevent further tissue damage, and the cold environment raised the danger of accelerated complications. Ben and Jake provided pain management, circulatory assessment, and immobilisation while monitoring the woman for signs of shock or secondary injury.

Their swift medical intervention ensured that she remained stable for the flight to definitive care, where trauma specialists could evaluate the need for surgical treatment.

Care Flight completed the entire dispatch-to-evacuation operation in just 35 minutes — an extraordinary turnaround given the complexity of the terrain and the presence of a companion animal. The successful rescue was later acknowledged publicly, with Care Flight praising pilot Scott’s exceptional flying and the medical team’s calm, compassionate coordination during a highly technical mission.