Featured – 

This is textbook “Survival 101” material. Family gets lost and forced to spend night out in frigid conditions – http://www.wbir.com/story/news/local/2014/10/19/rangers-help-lost-family-off-mt-leconte/17551633/

and click here if you want to prepare for the same  – http://www.bigpigoutdoors.net/survival-101-1.html

News – 

Three rescue divers receive advanced training in my home county. Congrats Brian!! –   http://www.thedailytimes.com/news/three-blount-rescue-divers-receive-advanced-certification/article_5c67c219-3d2b-5b8c-897b-f4380d3f0973.html

Hiking – 

Teen hiker falls to death – http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/58533131-78/amp-canyon-cottonwood-hoyal.html.csp

Ongoing rescue for hikers stranded in avalanche – http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/nepal-avalanche-survivors-could-wait-days-for-rescue-on-isolated-mountains-1.2054428

Hunter/Gatherer – 

Missing hunter found – http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/10/16/3431585/missing-boise-hunter-found-alive.html?sp=/99/101/

Search continues for missing fisherman – http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/search-resumes-for-second-missing-fisherman-2014101606

Teen hunter survives the night with survival kit – http://www.9news.com/story/news/local/2014/10/20/lost-teen-wilderness/17604079/

Climbing – 

Zion National Park (UT)
Rangers Conduct Two Simultaneous Rescues

Over a span of ten minutes on the afternoon of October 10th, the park received reports of two visitors requiring evacuation by means of technical rope rescues from two separate locations.

A 35-year-old canyoneer in Pine Creek Canyon had jumped five feet into a pool of water.  He thought that the pool was deep enough to cushion his landing, but landed on a ledge hidden just below the surface.  He broke his fibula and was unable to bear any weight on his injured leg.

Ranger/Medic Matthew Chuvarsky rappelled through the canyoneering route to the man’s location.  The Canyon Overlook Trail follows the rim of Pine Creek Canyon; rangers set up a lowering system to lower a litter and attendant from the trail to the man’s location, then raised him and two attendants 350 feet back to the trail.

The second injury occurred in Hidden Canyon, where a 51-year-old woman jumped a short distance while she was down climbing an obstacle. She also suffered from a broken fibula.

Evacuation of a victim from Hidden Canyon requires the construction of a 400-foot-high line to bypass a section of the trail carved into a cliff face. Ranger/Medic Matthew McCarthy hiked to the woman’s location and explained the challenges of a litter evacuation to her. She decided to attempt to hobble out of the canyon with assistance from crutches and rangers and was able to complete the task.  A litter team met her just past the cliff face and carried her to the trailhead.

Twenty-five SAR team members assisted during the two incidents.  Jumping, as opposed to using a rope or down climbing, is the leading cause of preventable injuries in the Zion Wilderness.

Woman rescued after fall from cliff – http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&ID=50127

Water Safety – 

Vehicles – 

Injured mountain biker rescued – http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x782601564/Mountain-biker-rescued-after-crash-near-Kernville

Injured cyclist rescued – http://www.todmordennews.co.uk/news/local/team-carry-out-mission-to-rescue-cyclist-1-6901998

Urban – 

Woman rescued from chimney – http://twitchy.com/2014/10/19/woman-rescued-from-a-chimney-in-california-sleigh-eight-tiny-reindeer-still-at-large-photos/

Missing dementia sufferer rescued – https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/islands/inner-hebrides/374865/missing-man-found-after-night-in-the-wild/