SAR - Crestone peak 08/15

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Fr3ako
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SAR - Crestone peak 08/15

Post by Fr3ako »

As some of you climbing Crestone peak on Saturday 08/15 might have noticed, a helicopter rescue took place early in the morning around 8.30am. One of our party of 3 got a broken ankle on the way down the slippery red gully on Friday 08/14 around 2pm and couldn't move anymore.

A SOS was sent out from a SPOT device + a 911 emergency call. A Custer county SAR team arrived around 8pm and managed to get the injured climber down to the flat area safely. While he was located at the bottom of the red gully, it still took 4 hours in the dark to bring him down crawling to the flat area after Cottonwood lake for a helicopter lift the morning after.

These guys are volunteers!! And they spend their time saving people's life every week on the mountain. Please support SAR ASAP should you have climbed 1 or 1000 peaks around, you can always have 1 sec of inattention in the mountain.

PS: a huge thanks to Sam, Linda + Jim, who came helping us in the dark, just after finishing the 14ers by Peak + Needle the same day!
Last edited by Fr3ako on Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Custer County SAR
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Re: SAR - Crestone peak 08/15

Post by Custer County SAR »

Fr3ako,

Glad everything worked out and a shout out as well to Lifeguard 4, who picked up the patient on Saturday morning. It's been a very busy year for SAR teams in the Crestone Group and this weekend has been exceptionally busy with Saguache County having two additional call outs yesterday, while this mission was still winding down. The afternoon weather pattern has produced short, but very powerful storms in the region with severe lightning, hail and heavy rains. Yesterday evening's 911 switchboard was lighting up, including a call from hikers still trying to descend Broken Hand Pass when the storm hit. Please plan ahead and watch the weather. Get an early start and be prepared in the back country for an overnight emergency bivy, if necessary. https://www.facebook.com/CusterSAR?ref=hl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; http://custersar.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.facebook.com/CusterSAR" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Always tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back, even if you aren’t hiking alone.
That person should also know what vehicle you are driving, what trail head you will be parked at and what your intended route is.
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scottaskinger
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Re: SAR - Crestone peak 08/15

Post by scottaskinger »

Wow, great post. Very easy to take for granted, but thank you VERY MUCH for volunteering and being there. I hope to never meet you...in the backcountry at least. :)
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Tigerbear
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Re: SAR - Crestone peak 08/15

Post by Tigerbear »

Way to go Custer Cty SAR! You guys probably know Broken Hand pass rock by rock! Nice post on how to be prepared! =D>
people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel...
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Re: SAR - Crestone peak 08/15

Post by MountainHiker »

Thank you again SAR.

Something for us city dwellers to keep in mind - the counties where most of these back country rescues take place have a lot less population (tax payers) than where we live and pay taxes. So make sure you have a CORSAR card. Available online and at your favorite outdoor retailer. http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DO ... 1592090523

Also consider donating directly to a SAR.
Custer County SAR. http://custersar.org/
Saguache County: http://www.saguachecounty.net/index.php ... management
You'll find with a minimum of Googling the other SARs also have websites. Perhaps pick a different SAR to support each year. Or see if you have payroll deduction as an option. SARs are choices with United Way or CFC.
Red, Rugged, and Rotten: The Elk Range - Borneman & Lampert
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ORION
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Custer to the rescue...again!

Post by ORION »

Great job Custer County SAR...

Nice to know you and your fellow Colorado SAR units are there when we need you. Thanks!
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CGB
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Re: SAR - Crestone peak 08/15

Post by CGB »

No 911 is the best way to call for help. However, once that initial contact is made with 911 they usually provide us with the phone number of the party or someone with them.
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Re: SAR - Crestone peak 08/15

Post by Custer County SAR »

Please call 911. Tell the dispatcher where you are, what route, what elevation, what the problem is and how prepared you are, (rain gear, food, etc). SAR teams will try to contact you directly; and texting you may save battery life and also may work in areas where voice calls won't. If you have a cell phone, consider powering it down or putting it into airplane mode during your hike to conserve the battery.
https://www.facebook.com/CusterSAR" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Always tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back, even if you aren’t hiking alone.
That person should also know what vehicle you are driving, what trail head you will be parked at and what your intended route is.
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Re: SAR - Crestone peak 08/15

Post by kushrocks »

To everyone at SAR . . . thank you so much for all that you do!
“The best climber in the world is the one who is having all the fun.” – Alex Lowe
" Don’t be afraid to move out of your comfort zone. Some of your best life experiences and opportunities will transpire only after you dare to loose."
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Re: SAR - Crestone peak 08/15

Post by Glass_half_full »

To SAR's everywhere: you guys and gals are passionate, kind and full of badassery toughness!
Thank you for saving lives and educating us on where we may fall short.
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Re: SAR - Crestone peak 08/15

Post by Upwardlybound »

Some of our group were on Crestone Peak during the evac, some down at the lakes. Most impressed with Custer County SAR. Your professionalism and commitment are appreciated by all of us. Thanks to all the SAR teams. Hope we never need your skills, but sure glad you're there just in case of an accident. Stay safe everyone.
"He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals His thoughts to men, He who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth -- the Lord God Almighty is His name." Amos 4:13
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