Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Injured Hiker Rescued from Hanging Canyon in Grand Tetons
And yet another rescue in Grand Teton National Park. Rangers had to
rescue an injured hiker yesterday, after he slipped and tumbled 20 feet
on rocky terrain and sustained facial and lower leg injuries. Paul
Danes, 23, of Raleigh, North Carolina was scrambling alone and off trail
near the mouth of Hanging Canyon at the time of his accident.
Other day hikers who were in the Hanging Canyon area heard cries for
help and discovered Danes. They provided basic care for his injuries and
placed a cell phone call for help at 12:45 p.m. that was received by
Teton Interagency Dispatch Center.
Based upon the call and the relatively close location to the Jenny Lake
westshore trail, rangers made preparations to evacuate Danes by a
wheeled-litter handled by four rescuers. Upon reaching Danes by foot,
rangers determined that a helicopter short-haul evacuation was the more
prudent rescue technique. The decision was made because of a combination
of Danes' injuries and the rough and rocky terrain over which the
wheeled-litter would be hauled to complete an evacuation by ground.
A Teton Interagency contract helicopter was summoned at 3 p.m. and an
aerial evacuation of the injured hiker was completed by 4:15 p.m. Danes
was transported by park ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in
Jackson for further medical treatment.
Danes is working as a seasonal concession employee in Yellowstone
National Park for the summer.
This is now the 7th major search and rescue operation in Grand Teton
National Park this summer.
Jeff
Glacier National Park Hiking