Tag Archives: Mount Elden

Multi-Agency Rescue of Injured Hiker on Mt Elden

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Coconino SAR rescue Mt Elden hiker – CCSO photo

FLAGSTAFF — On October 21 at approximately 2:53 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, responded to Mount Elden Trail and Sunset Trail for the report of an injured adult female hiker incapable of extricating herself.

The adult female hiker from Kayenta was reported to have a lower leg injury that made her unable to continue her hike. Bystanders provided aid until emergency responders arrived at the scene. Emergency responders hiked to the patient’s location and initiated care while Search and Rescue hiked in with a litter, litter wheel, and warming blankets to assist with carrying her out.

The Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Helicopter had been staged at the top of Mount Elden. The patient arrived at the top of Mount Elden and was transferred to the helicopter at approximately 6:00 pm and flown to Flagstaff Medical Center for additional treatment.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit, Summit Fire District, Guardian Medical Transport, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Northern Air Rescue Unit responded to the injured hiker on the Mount Elden Lookout Trail near the intersection with the Sunset Trail.

This incident highlights the close working relationship between local public safety agencies to respond to and resolve rescue situations. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the hikers who rendered aid prior to our arrival and remind hikers to be prepared for the unexpected emergency on the trail by carrying at least the Ten Essentials in addition to a charged cell phone.

  1. extra water
  2. extra food
  3. extra warm clothing
  4. navigation equipment
  5. headlamp or flashlight
  6. first aid kit
  7. shelter material (large leaf bag or emergency blanket)
  8. fire starting kit
  9. pocket knife
  10. signaling equipment (whistle/signal mirror)

Amateur radio operators should have local repeaters programmed into their radios. The Mount Elden repeater is 146.980 (162.2 tone – offset), the Bill Williams Mountain repeater is 146.780 (91.5 tone – offset) and the RIMLINK repeater is 146.140 (162.2 tone + offset).

Hiker rescued from Mt. Elden in winter conditions

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FLAGSTAFF – On May 9th at 9:00 am, The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit responded to a report of a hypothermic adult male hiker on top of Mt. Elden. The weather at the time was moderate to heavy snow with approximately 3-5 inches of snow on the ground.

The US Forest Service was contacted by the Sheriff’s Office to determine if the Elden Lookout Tower was staffed. It was determined that a lookout was at the tower and he was asked to look for the hiker near the base of the tower. The lookout located the hiker and assisted him to shelter while waiting for search and rescue to arrive.

Upon search and rescue arrival the hiker was warming up at the lookout tower and his condition was improving. Ultimately the hiker received a ride home from friends who had also responded to assist.

The hiker, a 30-year-old male resident of Flagstaff had gone for a day hike. He had planned to hike to the top of Mt. Elden and arrive there by a certain time to qualify for a free pizza sponsored by a local business. The hiker was either unaware of the weather forecast or disregarded the forecast and set off ill prepared wearing shorts and light clothing.

The Search and Rescue Unit would like to remind hikers that spring weather in Northern Arizona can change rapidly. Hikers should familiarize themselves with the weather forecast prior to setting out for a hike. Hikers should also carry the “Ten Essentials” which include water, food, extra warm clothing, navigation equipment,
headlamp/flashlight, first aid kit, shelter material (space blanket or large leaf bag), fire starting kit, pocket knife/multi-tool, and signaling equipment (whistle and mirror).

Carrying a cell phone is also a good idea although there are still locations in Coconino County that do not have cellular service. Hikers should always leave a detailed itinerary for their hike with a trusted person in case they do not return as expected.

Mount Elden will have 27 acres of forest hand-thinned

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fseprd505663FLAGSTAFF — As part of the Flagstaff Water Protection Project, Coconino National Forest crews will begin hand-thinning 27 acres of forest around Mount Elden Wednesday (June 15) near the Rocky Ridge Trail for the next two months.

The thinning operations will be off of the Mount Elden Lookout Road (Forest Road 557), with the majority of the unit being north and west of the trail causing very little impact to users of Rocky Ridge Trail. The work crews will place signs on the trail on each end stating “tree work ahead” when necessary.

Forest Service personnel will be parking along Mount Elden Lookout road near the Rocky Ridge trail head, so forest goers should be cautious of the firefighters working in the area over the next two months.

Visit the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project for more information about the important work being done to protect Flagstaff area watersheds and communities.

Rescue of fallen climber on Mount Elden

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Coconino County Sheriff photo.

FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Sheriff 911 dispatchers received a report yesterday at about 10:45 a.m. of a 38-year old woman who fell 25-feet while climbing on the Schultz Pass side of Mount Elden in the area of Oldham Falls.

According to the caller a 38 year-old woman who was climbing on a rock face was attempting to place an anchor in a crack in the shear rock face where she was climbing. She fell approximately 25 feet, jerked to a stop at the end of her secured safety line, and slammed with a great deal of force into the rock face.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search Unit and the Flagstaff Fire Department responded to the call for service. When the first responders arrived, by standers had already freed the victim from her line and she was positioned on the ground.

Flagstaff firefighters provided on scene medical care and prepared the victim for transportation in medical litter. Eight Flagstaff firefighters and seven Search and Rescue volunteers took turns carrying the victim approximately three-quarter of a mile to a waiting Guardian Ground Medical Transport unit.

The victim was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Level 1 Trauma Unit where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Man Seriously Injured By Rock Slide

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Photos courtesy of Coconino County Sheriff

FLAGSTAFF—A twenty seven year-old man of the Phoenix area was crushed and trapped by a large boulder weighing more than thirty tons that slid down the mountain side. He was standing on Elden Lookout Road attempting to move another large boulder that had previously fallen into the road.

On Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at about 7:23 am the Coconino County Sheriff’ Office received the report of a man that was crushed by a rock slide on the Mount Elden Lookout Road located approximately 3.3 miles up from the bottom of the mountain. Dispatch immediately sent first responders from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, the Summit Fire Department and Guardian Medical Transport. The Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Helicopter was placed on a standby status pending the arrival of emergency personnel who would assess the conditions and determine if a safe landing zone was available.

rock-slide-02The first to arrive were a Sheriff’s Office patrol Sergeant and Corporal. They observed two very large boulders blocking the road and learned that the four men the victim was traveling with removed him from underneath the boulder. The victim’s legs and pelvic area appeared to have been crushed and severely injured by the weight of the boulder. Due to the condition of the road the responding ambulance and fire truck were not able to drive to the victim’s location. A Sheriff’s Sergeant and a Guardian Battalion Chief who were both operating four wheel drive vehicles were able to drive additional rescue personnel to the scene. A Search and Rescue Coordinator was not able to identify a safe landing zone for air transportation. The victim was prepared for transport and placed in the rear of a Sheriff’s Commander’s assigned SUV and driven to the waiting ambulance, at which point the patient was transferred to the ambulance and transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center.

Investigators learned that the men were from the Phoenix area and were headed up the mountain with the intent of working on one of the radio towers.

The Coconino National Forest has closed Elden Lookout Road and may be temporarily closing other trails and areas affected by the recent rains. Current conditions can be found on their website at www.fs.usda.gov/coconino.