Hikers keep rescuers busy

SANDY — Two rescues in the Wasatch Mountains less than a half hour apart kept search and rescue crews busy Wednesday afternoon.

The events happened just as Salt Lake County Search and Rescue was about to hold a press conference reminding outdoor enthusiasts to be safe during the upcoming holiday weekend. That press conference was canceled as crews were sent to the emergencies.

The first incident began in Bell Canyon, near 3450 E. Stone Mountain Lane (10000 South), just after 1 p.m. A youth education group from the University of Utah called 911 for help after one girl in the group twisted her ankle and two others became dehydrated. The group consisted of 15 juveniles and three adults.

The hikers were only 1 1/2 miles up Bell Canyon, so rescue crews were able to reach them quickly, said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Shane Hudson. The injured girls were driven down the mountain and given IVs, Hudson said. They were then taken to a local hospital, where they were reportedly in good condition.

While crews were responding to that incident, dispatchers got a call from a 19-year-old man who had fallen while hiking to a waterfall just down the road near 11300 South and 3100 East in the Rocky Mouth Canyon area. He reportedly fell 20-30 feet onto a steep ledge.

The man called for help on his cell phone. He initially reported he didn't have any feeling in his legs, Hudson said.

Rescuers rappelled down the mountain to the man. He was lowered to the ground and transported to LDS Hospital by ambulance in serious condition. "They do believe he may have broken both ankles," Hudson said.

All this happened on a day the sheriff's office had planned to talk about safety in the outdoors during the Fourth of July weekend.

That weekend has traditionally been busy for search and rescue teams because of people going into the backcountry unprepared.

To help hikers be better prepared, the sheriff's office is offering a list of safety tips.

The first is people should know their skill levels and their environment.

People traveling into the outdoors should also always carry along "the 10 essentials." Those items include water, sunscreen, a coat or sweater, flashlight, first aid supplies, matches or a lighter, a knife, food, a map or compass and some type of emergency shelter such as a tent or tarp.

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