Summer heats up for Search and Rescue teams

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Search and Rescue teams in the region have been busy of late with a record volume of visitors to the area.

Down south, Sublette County’s Tip Top Search and Rescue responded to calls all last weekend.

On Friday, July 23 at approximately 10am, Sublette County Sheriff’s Office was called by a hiking party asking for help with their ill father. Conversations with the son revealed the father was in need of immediate medical attention.

Tip Top SAR (TTSAR) members were activated and a team responded quickly to the Lake Ethyl inlet via SAR helicopter. TTSAR members met the hiking party, assisted the walking man to the helicopter and transported him to the Pinedale Medical Clinic.

It was an example of great teamwork from PMC clinic providers, SCEMS, TTSAR volunteers, SCSO Dispatch, and the Rugged Mountain-leased UH-1H helicopter and pilot. The mission was complete at 12:30pm.

Then on Saturday, July 24 at 12:30pm, Sublette County Dispatch received a call in regards to a man passed out near Photographer’s Point. A second call was received stating the man was awake and refused any medical assistance. A third call was received at 12:59pm from the same party stating they needed help getting the same man in his early 70’s to medical help because the man was unable to walk any further.

Photographer’s Point is located on the Pole Creek trail and about 4.7 miles from the Elkhart Park Trailhead. A phone call with the on-call provider and EMS resulted in the recommendation to fly the man directly to the Pinedale Medical Clinic due to his condition and medical history.

While TTSAR volunteers obtained permission to enter the wilderness with the helicopter, a call from the hiking party stated they were able to move the man to Miller Park which would allow for safer landing and patient access.

TTSAR members flew to the location provided and were able to walk to the current location of the ill hiker. He was assisted to the helicopter and flown to the PMC for further evaluation. Mission was complete at 3:50pm.

Finally, Sunday, July 25, Sublette County was contacted about availability of the SAR team and side-scan sonar equipment to assist with a potential drowning in Fremont County. Arrangements were made and three Tip Top SAR members drove the boat Closure to Pilot Butte Reservoir and assisted Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

The group was able to locate the victim and assist Fremont County Search and Rescue divers with the recovery.

Meanwhile, Teton County Search and Rescue reported six calls in the past seven days including assisting a 7-year-old in Alaska Basin and a 15-year-old on Fox Creek Pass.