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Trip Report Index

Mt. Hayden Rescue ~ August 19, 2001

Photos by Cheryl Soshnik

All's well that ends well...Jan is OK except for some cuts and bruises...but we weren't going to take any chances after he took a tumble while hiking down from Mt. Hayden. As an experienced cliff diver, I had told him "if you HAVE to fall off a cliff, make sure to land on your PACK, not your head." So, what did he do? He landed on his head anyway....! I still say it happened because he didn't share his candy bar with the trip organizer on the summit. Whatever the reason for the fall, the pics of the rescue were great.

There are some additional links at the bottom of this page. If you don't like blood, you may want to bypass the third photo...it's the only bloody shot.

 

Topo Map of Hayden Peak. Red splotch marks the location of the rescue (107,436 bytes)Looking directly up the slope to the ridge. Jan went over the short cliff then cartwheeled over the boulders (77,960 bytes)Cheryl and Carol providing initial first aid, Life Flight has been called (76,618 bytes)The first view of Life Flight, with Baldy and Reid in the background (49,949 bytes)Life Flight assessing the scene, trying to determine the best approach for the rescue (33,902 bytes)
After descending to the Highline Trailhead and preparing for a short-haul rescue, Life Flight returns and lowers one rescuer on the ridge above us. (56,409 bytes)Life Flight hovering on the ridge above us. (56,136 bytes)Life Flight hovering on the ridge above us. (62,560 bytes)Life Flight hovering directly overhead. (25,914 bytes)Jake arrives on the scene, is impressed with our makeshift cervical collar, and decides that a seat harness rescue will be used for the rescue. (36,083 bytes)
We reinforce our first aid with more duct tape in preparation for the windy flight. (52,256 bytes)We all scramble to the side as the chopper comes back, lowers the cable to Jake, who is attaching it to both him and Jan. (89,323 bytes)Jake and Jan being lifted off of the slope via Life Flight. (87,696 bytes)Jake and Jan continuing to ascend off the rocks via Life Flight. (52,864 bytes)The helicoper flying off, while winching the cable up towards the body of the helicopter. (20,966 bytes)
Jan waving a greatful 'thank you' to those of us remaining on the mountainside. (23,075 bytes)The final shot of the rescue. They landed at the trailhead, transferred Jan into the helicopter, then continued to LDS Hospital. (19,650 bytes)After retrieving packs blown down-slope by the propwash, we then contined the hike down the mountain. (55,217 bytes)This spot required pack-passing and spotting as we worked our way down the cliffband. (59,831 bytes)Mountain Mama coiling the rope and grinning at the end of our long day. (42,098 bytes)

NEW: Click here for Carol Masheter's trip report of the incident.

Click here for Michael Wenzbaurer's page on Hayden Peak

Click here for Pete Mimmack's trip report of the incident.

Click here for the Wasatch Mountain Club's home page.

Click to email me with comments or other theories on just why he fell in the first place :-)