A free climber stranded on Mount Yonah in North Georgia called 911 after finding himself unable to safely continue up or down the mountain. White County officials located him by drone on a ledge about 260 feet above the ground. Firefighter Will Roper rappelled down the west face, secured the climber in a harness and helped bring him to safety. The rescue on Aug. 25 took approximately 42 minutes.
| 1) | Emergency call from Mount Yonah |
| 2) | Drone locates climber on a narrow ledge |
| 3) | Firefighter rappels to the stranded man |
| 4) | Climber explains how he became stuck |
| 5) | Technical training supports a swift rescue |
Emergency call from Mount Yonah
The climber, whose name was not released, contacted emergency services at about 7 p.m. on Aug. 25. He reported that he was stranded on the west face of Mount Yonah and could not safely climb either upward or downward. The incident occurred on the 3,166-foot mountain ridge in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in North Georgia.
His call enabled White County public safety personnel to begin searching for him after nightfall. Because the climber could not provide a safe route out, rescuers needed to determine his precise position before sending a firefighter onto the rock face.
Drone locates climber on a narrow ledge
Officials used a drone to locate the stranded man and assess the terrain. The aircraft found him standing on a ledge measuring approximately 20 inches by 20 inches, about 260 feet up the mountain.
The drone search gave rescuers a clearer view of the climber’s position and helped guide the approach. The small ledge left little room for movement, making a direct descent by a trained responder the practical way to reach him.
Firefighter rappels to the stranded man
White County firefighter Will Roper went over the edge of Mount Yonah and rappelled down toward the climber. Drone footage showed him maneuvering beneath the man before reaching the ledge.
Roper secured the climber in a harness and clipped him to the rope system. The climber was then hoisted to the top of the mountain. Officials said the entire operation lasted about 42 minutes, from the response through the climber’s return to safety.
“It was a little nerve-racking going over the edge,” Roper said.
Climber explains how he became stuck
Roper said the climber remained notably calm during the encounter. The two exchanged a lighthearted remark while the firefighter prepared the rescue equipment and positioned himself below the ledge.
“Have you been rescued before? You’re pretty good at this,” Roper recalled asking him.
The climber told Roper that he had previous experience on Mount Yonah but had chosen the wrong route. That route choice left him unable to continue safely in either direction, prompting the emergency call.
Technical training supports a swift rescue
The operation was the first mountain rescue involving a live subject for Roper. He had practiced rappelling and related procedures with training dummies and fellow firefighters, but this was his first opportunity to apply those skills during an actual emergency.
“I’ve done a lot with dummies and a lot with other firefighters in training, but that’s the first time that I’ve ever done it, kind of in the heat of the moment with a live subject,” Roper said.
Roper said the rescue gave him confidence in the value of his technical training and satisfaction from helping the climber. The combination of the emergency call, drone location and rope-based response allowed authorities to complete the extraction without extending the man’s time on the exposed ledge.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | The climber called 911 at about 7 p.m. after becoming unable to move safely on Mount Yonah. |
| 2 | A drone found him on a roughly 20-inch-by-20-inch ledge 260 feet up the mountain. |
| 3 | Firefighter Will Roper rappelled down, attached a harness and helped hoist the climber upward. |
| 4 | The rescue operation took approximately 42 minutes and was Roper’s first live mountain rescue. |
Summary
A climber who selected an unsafe route on Mount Yonah was rescued after calling 911 from a narrow ledge. White County responders used a drone to identify his location, then relied on a firefighter’s rope skills to reach and secure him. The coordinated response brought the climber safely back to the top in about 42 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the climber rescued?
He was rescued from the west face of Mount Yonah, a 3,166-foot mountain ridge in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in North Georgia.
How did authorities find him?
White County public safety officials used a drone to locate him on a ledge approximately 260 feet up the mountain.
How was the rescue completed?
Firefighter Will Roper rappelled down to the climber, secured him in a harness and clipped him to a rope before the climber was hoisted to the top.
