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Rescues In Two Parks Illustrate Value Of Helicopters In Remote Area Emergencies

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The helicopter evacuation saved considerable time in getting the victim to the hospital. Photo by Rocky Mountain National Park.

Modern technology, including cell phones and helicopters, can be a mixed blessing when emergencies occur in remote locations in parks. The downside is some people will expect quick results when things go awry, and due to weather, terrain or other factors, cell phones don't always work, and helicopters aren't always available. When everything comes together, however, those modern devices can make a big difference for rescuers and victims alike.

That was certainly the case in recent incidents in two different parks in the West.

At 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31, park rangers were notified via a 911 cell phone call of an incident above the Loch in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was later determined that a 28-year-old female, Janet Heung from Boulder, Colorado, reportedly took an 80 to 100 foot roped fall near or on a climbing route called Deep Freeze. She was with a climbing partner and was located in steep scree roughly 500 feet above The Loch on Thatchtop Mountain. The Loch is three miles from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead.

Park rangers reached the woman at 2:30 p.m. and determined she had received numerous injuries and was conscious. Rangers, assisted by personnel from Larimer County Search and Rescue and Rocky Mountain Rescue, lowered Heung down a steep scree slope to The Loch where an air ambulance was able to land on the frozen lake.

Shortly after 7:00 p.m. Flight for Life transported Ms. Heung to St. Anthony’s Hospital. A total of eighteen rescue personnel then hiked back to the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, arriving at approximately 8:00 p.m.

Park spokesperson Kyle Patterson notes, "Fortunately, weather conditions and the location were conducive for assistance from a helicopter. Otherwise, it would have been an even lengthier rescue operation."

Last week, another rescue played out in under much different conditions at Death Valley National Park.

On Monday evening, March 23, park officials received a report of a man stranded on a ledge in a popular area known as Golden Canyon. Rangers hiked into the area in the dark using headlamps, but were unable to locate the individual.

With the arrival of daylight Tuesday morning, rangers were able to make voice contact with the man, who was trapped at the top of a series of dry waterfalls, some of which were greater than 100 feet high. A technical, ground-based rescue would require considerable time and additional personnel, so a U. S. Navy search and rescue helicopter from the Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake was requested. That aircraft and crew were available, and successfully hoisted the man into the helicopter.

The visitor was flown to the Furnace Creek Airfield, where he was medically evaluated and debriefed. That discussion revealed one mistake and one good decision by the hiker.

The mistake? The man said that he left the main trail system and began following a series of social trails until he became “cliffed out,” unable to either proceed or retrace his route. Lesson learned: Unofficial "social trails" can sometimes turn out to be trails to nowhere, with no way out. If you're not familiar with the terrain, stick to established routes.

The good decision? Once the man realized that he was trapped, rather than making the situation worse and risking a fall, he sheltered in place overnight and awaited rescue.

In addition to the outstanding help from the Naval Air Weapons Station, this search and rescue effort was supported by members of protection, fee collection, interpretation, resource management, maintenance, and management branches at the park.

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