70-year-old hiker rescued after fall in Snow Canyon

Written by Julie Applegate
May 9, 2017

ST. GEORGE – A 70-year-old man was rescued from Snow Canyon Tuesday afternoon after injuring his knee while hiking.

First responders carry a 70-year-old man who was injured while hiking in Snow Canyon State Park, St. George, Utah, May 9, 2017 | Photo by Julie Applegate, St. George News

The man was hiking with two family members when he fell or stepped off of a rock on the Gila Trail in the petroglyphs area of Snow Canyon State Park,  Dammeron Valley Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin Dye said.

Rescuers were called at 11:32 a.m. The man was only about a quarter-mile from the Ledges private development, where responders staged, but was in extremely rough terrain.

“Where he landed it looked to be like he was trying to go off kind of a pitched slope and started to slide and twisted his knee,” Dye said.

First responders carry a 70-year-old man who was injured while hiking in Snow Canyon State Park, St. George, Utah, May 9, 2017 | Photo by Julie Applegate, St. George News

Rescuers reached the man and assessed his condition, then made a plan to get him out, Dye said.

The injured man was placed in a Stokes basket; several first responders carried him while one person was sent ahead 50 feet to cut a trail for access.

“The difficult part of some of these trails is they’re narrow which is great for hiking,” Dye said, “but once you’ve got a patient in a basket and you’ve got responders on either side, they’re not even on a trail. ”

“The difficulty is trying to access the trail and get back out and use an existing trail,” he said.

First responders attend to a 70-year-old man who was injured while hiking in Snow Canyon State Park Tuesday, St. George, Utah, May 9, 2017 | Photo by Julie Applegate, St. George News

Nine first responders carried the man out, Washington County Search and Rescue Liason Darrell Cashin said.

The patient was brought back to the ambulance and was transported to Dixie Regional Medical center with a twisted knee, Dye said.

The search and rescue operation wrapped up a little after 1 p.m. Dammeron Valley Fire and Rescue, Washington County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue and Gold Cross Ambulance responded to the accident.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Applegate is a long-time resident and fan of Southern Utah. She brings a strong background in news writing and editing, formerly as a full-time member of the St. George News team and currently as a contributor. Julie spent several years in the software industry. She believes strongly in the role of responsible news media in society, especially at the local level. In her spare time, Julie can be found exploring Southern Utah on foot and by four-wheel drive or spending time with her family.

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