Paraglider collides with steep terrain

On the morning of Dec. 28, Kern Barta, age 45, of Truckee, Calif., was paragliding with a group of friends above the west aspect of the craters when he collided with the steep terrain. His friends were able to reach him and found that he had sustained back and leg injuries and had briefly lost consciousness due to the impact of the fall. The Mono County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a call regarding the downed paraglider in the area of the Mono Craters at approximately 10:30 a.m. and Mono County Paramedics, Lee Vining Fire Department, a Mono County Sheriff’s Deputy, and the Mono County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Team responded. Following a medical evaluation and stabilization, Barta was transported down the side of the crater via a technical low angle lowering. A Care Flight helicopter was on scene and transported Barta to Renown Medical Center in Reno for further treatment. –MCSD