Anthony Yates
A Utah Search and Rescue team rescued a hiker from a mountainside over the weekend. He reportedly ran into difficulty when a snowstorm rolled in.
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What happened: The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team posted a news release about the operation on Facebook. The incident occurred on Saturday on the South Ridge of Mt. Superior in Little Cottonwood Canyon.
- The hiker reportedly started climbing the mountain earlier in the day, intending to reach the summit. However, he ended up wandering off the trail when a snowstorm approached. Temperatures dipped below freezing, and the snow and low-light limited visibility.
- The Search and Rescue team received a call from the hiker at around 7:04 PM. They gathered at the base of Alta Ski Resort before splitting into two teams and heading up the mountain.
- Per the news release, rescuers had to break trail on a “technical, steep ascent” for an hour and a half before reaching the stranded hiker.
The Search And Rescue Team Had To Wait For The Storm To Clear
Weather-dependent: The Search and Rescue team “assessed a cliff-edge traverse through a waterfall,” to reach their target. Authorities reportedly waited for a break in the storm so a helicopter team could retrieve the rambler.
- The news release explains they transported the “now-hypothermic hiker” to a waiting ambulance. Emergency services took him to the hospital in a stable condition.
- The rescue mission reportedly took around four hours, and the team was off the mountainside before midnight.
Another high-tech operation: A climber found himself in trouble in the Sequoia National Forest earlier this year. Law enforcement was notified that 46-year-old Ryan Wardwell planned to rappel down a waterfall in the area, but never returned to his car.
- Officials received the missing persons call on August 11, one day after Wardwell visited the “Seven Teacups” waterfalls. Authorities used drones with infrared cameras to narrow down the search area. However, the low-light conditions forced them to resume the search the following day.
- Rescuers eventually located the weary climber behind the waterfall with drone assistance, alive and responsive. He told authorities the force of the water forced him off his rappel lines, trapping him.
- Despite getting stuck behind the waterfall for two days, emergency services treated the climber for minor injuries and dehydration.
