MP 727    Have been running into more downed trees from last winter's windstorms.    I understand that about 75 miles of the trail was made essentially impassible.   Trail crews have been working to clear the downed timber but it is uncertain how hikable the trail will be up ahead around Yosemite.

At MP 715 I ran into Tourist and K_____ (no trail name).    K______ said she had hurt her neck somehow and Tourist was waiting with her and looking for someone with a SPOT device (locator beacon with satellite SOS signal).   Another group of thru hikers had been there earlier, one of whom had a SPOT, but K's symptoms did not seem severe at that time and everyone was reluctant to activate the SPOT (repercussions are huge) so they decided to hike to a nearby ridge top to see if they could get a cell phone connection.    By the time I arrived, K had stroke-like symptoms, she was complaining of a headache, was unable to recognize me and was vomiting from the pain.   I undertook to hike after the first party to tell them to activate the SPOT but was unable to find them.   Fortunately they had ran into yet another thru-hiker who had a satellite phone and was able to make a 911 call.    K was airlifted out by a helicopter at 6 pm, about 4 hours after I came through.   No word on how she is.

Tourist: