Comments about ‘Helicopters rescue stranded hikers’

The hiker was not lost. The hiker injured their knee while repelling IN Robbers Roost Canyon NOT while hiking near the canyon on a trail. Search and rescue got the injured hiker out but was unable to get the hikers friend out with the helicopter because it was "too dark". Then search and rescue went in after the hikers friend and got them selves stuck because they did not bring their headlamps nor did they know how to repel in order to get out of the canyon. Right now two civilians are going in to rescue the search and rescue team as well as the hikers friend who search and rescue tried to "rescue" but only got themselves in more trouble. Makes you wonder how well trained the SAR is in what they refer to on their web page as "SAR Heaven"!

This information is incorrect. There were 2 hikers (of whom I am one) who entered Larry Canyon on Saturday morning about 10 AM we continued down the canyon for several miles my Dad was down climbing a part of the canyon and slipped and fractured his knee and tore his ACL. We hiked for an extra mile down canyon until my Dad could no longer walk on it. we had enough provisions to spend the night and at about 1 AM the next morning my Brother and his Brother-in-law found us and called the SAR to come get us. Search and rescue eventually came after much confusion and got the injured (my Dad) out by life flight. They weren't able to get the rest of us out (six SAR and I). we had to hike out and we were not able to find the exit at night. We eventually (after 10+ hours of hiking) had to get life flighted out. We had to carry an emergency litter along.
SAR did a great job getting me out. While there were some mistakes made they dealt with the circumstances, which were out of their control very well.

Jeers to the first comment, cheers to the second! It is impossible to understand the ramifications and complications of rescues down here UNLESS you have been on one. Our teams are very well trained AND are ALL unpaid volunteers who risk their lives to help those in trouble without compensation or pay. It is just as Gen. Patton said about war...no plan survives first contact with the enemy-or, in this case, no rescue goes smoothly, as planned without unforeseen complications such as weather, light conditions, patient conditions, actual terrain etc. We here in Wayne Co. are just glad it was a rescue this time and not another recovery.

to sister - make sure the wayne county SAR knows how much their efforts are appreciated. we know how difficult the rescues can be on so many levels. glad everyone got out safely!

Repelling is not dangerous. The EPA claims that DEET has some serious side effects, but like most other powerful chemicals, it can be used safely. There are also some other preparations available that use herbal ingredients.
Rappelling, on the other hand involves ropes, anchor points, and steep drops. As such it has some inherent risks.
I do hope the victim heals from the injury. Perhaps the chopper was overkill, but that is for the SAR team to decide. And these aren't situations where they have hours to study their options.

During SAR good communication is priceless. Hiking at night is extremely dangerous. Glad everyone got out safely.

My Mom and I would just like to thank everyone that was involved! We know how hard it is to first of all come out there and try to rescue people that you don't even know, but it must be even more difficult to let your family come risk their livesto help us!! We were also especially gratefull to the sheriff for being so kind and willing to help the concerned family of the injured. I am just gald that my Dad and I were prepared enough to spend the night and then hike out with SAR. We are very grateful to my Brother and his Brother-In-Law we so experienced and prepared to help. I think with all they did, they deserve to be honorary SAR and and maybe even a deputy badge! Never have I been so comforted and releived to hear my Brother's voice after he hiked to find us in the dark and one in the morning. Again thanks to everyone that was involved. We are very indebted to you!

As a family member that was there for the ordeal I have to say thank you to the Wayne County SAR and their families for the great work they did. We appreciate them and their willingness to help my brother and dad out of the canyon. Mistakes were made by both parties and as long as we all learn from them that is what is important. Had SAR not come out and risked their lives and our family members not been so prepared this could have been alot worse and we could still be there worrying about how to get them out with this storm and surviving. Thank you again!!!!!

To hiker's friend: I had the pleasure of being around SAR at a nearby area who were working to assist a member of my family who was lost on a different occasion It's sad that you berate these good people who VOLUNTEER their time and a great deal of energy in unpleasant and difficult places. Most SAR teams are volunteers with varying degrees of experience but then they always have to start somewhere. They are also not "in charge" of the effort...that falls to the law enforcement jurisdiction of the area and they often make mistakes that the SAR team would prefer not to make. It's impossible to anticipate every situation and not all team members are familiar with the layout of the land and go into places for the first time. In the end these people succeeded and that's the objective...to succeed in the search and rescue. That's what you need to focus on...not on berating them for every petty mistake. I'm sure you wouldn't care to be subjected to your brand of criticism.

Thanks to all of those who know what it is like to volunteer time and resources. And for the respect for what we do. It's easy for some to sit in front of the keyboard and criticize the decisions that my team members & I made in what turned to be an unpleasant situation. Hiker#2 was very helpful with the headlamps & other resources. Thanks! With that said, I would like to invite anyone to throw on the backpack that is loaded for every contingency plan. We live in a remote area with limited money and resources. We put our lives on the line and do what we can with what we have, Is it always right? Maybe not but we stayed there(cold & tired ) until everyone was out safely. So rather than criticize me I would like to invite you to join a volunteer organization and spend your days off in training or trying to help someone.

I am the injured canyoneer that blew out my knee on a fall in the canyon. The Wayne County SAR and Sheriff were awesome during my rescue and I was very impressed with them. They made some decisions that may have been different than my opinion, but they did what they could and were focused on getting me out of there. I am a former EMT and former volunteer ambulance driver, and the Wayne County SAR did a superb and professional job of immobilizing my leg and caring for me. I think they got in trouble later because they were so focused on getting me out. My thanks go to them and their families for sacrificing their safety to get me out, and I am sorry I put them in the situation they found themselves in. A lot of the equipment they used was their own.
They offered me Gatorade and water which I later found out was their personal stash that they would desperately need later. They paid their own fuel (twice) to get to me and beat up their personal vehicles. They sacrificed all for us and for that I am grateful.

Again I am the injured canyoneer…
I am told by those on top that the Wayne County Sheriff was very professional and good at keeping things going despite the impossible double rescue he had in his hands and the changes to the situation he had to deal with. Things could have really gone bad, but in the end the Sheriff got me out of that canyon as well as my son and his crew. He had a lot to juggle and most was out of his control.

The bottom line is the Wayne County SAR and the Sheriff are awesome at what they do. I hope I never put them in a situation like this again, but if I do I would summon them in a second. They were awesome, smart, capable, selfless, dedicated, strong group of individuals. I am grateful to them and their families, thanks for your sacrifices. You are on my list of heroes that day!!!

Dear Search and Rescue members.
Thank you for the VOLUNTEER work you do in such a rugged area. I know that you are NOT PAID for your trainings or your work. There is no opportunity to gain overtime pay because you aren't on anyone's payroll. You do it because that is the kind of men and women that you are. While unexpected challenges may arise due to unknowns and while you cannot be expected to compensate and prepare for EVERY contingency, you guys do an unbelievable job. I don't know how you do it on such a limited budget.

To all of the Monday morning quarterbacks out there... I expect that you are all doing your best to make the most of your communities with no pay and mostly your own resources.

If it makes you feel better, all of you wannabe Rambo's can feel free to go hike and rappel in a county where they have paid personnel and a huge tax base.

Bottom line is they got the call. They responded and got everybody got out. God bless you.