The second injury occurred in Hidden Canyon when 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 patient 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 victim'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. 25 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.
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October 10, 2014
Over a span of ten minutes on the afternoon of October 10th, Zion NP 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 victim'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 patient and then raised the patient and two attendants 350 feet back to the trail.
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Last updated: October 20, 2014