A 33-year-old hiker is in the hospital with critical injuries after being trapped by loose a boulder in Little Cottonwood Canyon near Red Pine Lake on Sunday.

Once on scene, the heavy boulder took rescuers nearly 4 hours to remove from the trapped hikers abdomen, after which he was airlifted to hospital.

Authorities want to urge hikers to use precaution when venturing off designated trails and to always carry a cell phone in case of emergency.

Our thoughts are with the injured hiker and his family.

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Francis Xavier is a seasoned writer for Unofficial Networks, bringing a lifetime of outdoor experience to his work. Having lived in a ski resort town for years he has a deep connection to mountain culture....