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California Alpine Lake Rescue Sparks Heated Debate

Originally posted on Powder | By Matt Lorelli | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 1:49 PM ET

Facebook was started in 2004 for Harvard University students to rate the attractiveness of their classmates.

In 2025, the application has evolved into society's town square. Shouting matches, heated debates, and ignorant political discourse populate the comments section of nearly every post. Anger fuels the conversation.

Such is the case for a recent Facebook post by the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) in California. Similar to many of the Sheriff's Office's posts about Search & Rescue (SAR) efforts, it featured multiple photos and a lengthy description of what occurred.

In this particular case, EDSO SAR was dispatched to assist two backcountry hikers at Eagle Lake, located southwest of Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay. The hikers, which comprised of a man and his 16-year-old son, were stranded on a small island in the middle of the lake.

According to the report, the pair had deliberately swam out to the island, but couldn't make the swim back to shore after suffering, "general body weakness" due to the lake's cold water. EDSO SAR was dispatched, and California State Parks sent multiple lifeguards to assist. The man and his son were successfully brought back to the shore without further incident or injury.

Seems like a simple SAR case, right? Think again.

In the 12 hours since the post went live, over 200 mostly-negative sentiments have flooded the comments section. Commenters argue that the hikers were irresponsible, and that their call was a drain on valuable SAR resources. Let's break it down.

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According to the National Weather Service, cold water shock can happen in temperatures as warm as 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and effects can be as severe as water that is significantly colder. Gasping for breath and rapid breathing from sudden immersion can happen in water as warm as 77 degreed Fahrenheit.

Eagle Lake sits at an elevation above 7,000 feet and is fed by snowmelt through the spring and summer. There's not an official temperature reading to reference, but one can assume that the temperature is still rather cold despite a warm Lake Tahoe summer.

Despite these facts, the majority of commenters believe that this particular SAR call was a, "waste", but EDSO SAR claimed that the pair made the, "right decision" to not swim back without assistance. Ignorance seems to be fueling the fire of the detractors.

"What a waste of our resources. If you can’t handle the cold water, TURN AROUND! Thanks again, tourons," writes a jaded local. "They should be fined and have tomato’s thrown at them. Pathetic!" writes another who needs a grammar lesson. "And now they should be banned from the mountains. Way to waste our resources city folk," adds a final anonymous voice.

Localism, elitism, and other underlying sentiments of distaste for the perceived-to-be-ignorant are rampant throughout the comments. The photos of two shirtless lifeguards swimming to reach the distressed father and son don't help their case.

The irony of this, which needn't be explained to some, is that the commenters expressing negative sentiments are, in fact, the ignorant.

Search & Rescue teams are designed to respond to a laundry list of scenarios. Some involve life or death rescues, others are to retrieve bodies, and quite a few, like the instance covered in this story, are simply to prevent death, regardless of the mistakes made by the afflicted party.

When pro skier Aaron Fox shattered his femoral neck in Jackson Hole's backcountry, the SAR team that saved his life didn't ask him, "What were you thinking?!". Fox made an honest mistake, and SAR was there to help within their abilities. No questions asked.

The hiker and his son made an honest mistake as well. They most likely thought they could swim to the island and back, but when they couldn't, they called for help rather than tough-guying the swim back and potentially risking their lives. SAR commended them for the decision, and wouldn't have responded to the call if it wasn't worth their resources.

Cold water shock can kill. The bodies of three men were recently recovered from an alpine lake north of Lake Tahoe in June. Their cause of death has yet to be revealed, but cold water shock is certainly on the table.

The internet has made everybody feel like an expert. A throwaway comment on a SAR post might feel inconsequential to the individual, but the cumulation of hundreds is dangerous to the well-being of future recreationists.

Do not let the ignorance of others deter you from acting responsibly when recreating in the backcountry. If you make an honest mistake, and fear for your immediate safety or life, call for help. Simple as that.

To all of the folks shaming this father and son—take a look in the mirror. When is the last time you made an honest mistake? Odds are it wasn't that long ago.

Empathy. Google it.