Hats off to the folks at Grand County Emergency Medical Services who responded to a call at to Pucker Pass in Long Canyon where the found a male in his 60’s who had injured his ankle jumping across a gap onto a hoodoo “with a sharp, catastrophic drop on all sides” towering thousands of feet above the canyon below.
Rescue crews rigged ropes and set a ladder over the 5-foot gap and EMT Jensen shimmied his way over the span to rescue the man. Jensen first secured the injured hiker before tending to his injuries. The man was able to make his way back over the ladder and the entire rescue taking just under 3 hours.
Grand County Emergency Medical Services wants to remind other people who may be tempted to make this leap “just ’cause ya saw a picture of it online, doesn’t always mean it’s the best idea.”
Grand County EMS Moab
Saturday, May the 4th, at 1509, Grand County EMS and Grand County Search and Rescue were dispatched to Pucker Pass in Long Canyon for a male in his 60’s with an injured ankle. Upon arrival, he was found stranded on a hoodoo with a sharp, catastrophic drop on all sides.
GCSAR rigged ropes and a ladder spanning the approximately 5 ft. gap to the top of the hoodoo. AEMT Jensen donned her helmet, harness, and medical gear and carefully crawled across the span to the awaiting patient. There Jensen secured the patient with a harness, helmet, and ropes before attending to his injuries. The patient was able to use the ladder to cross safely back. Crews departed the scene at 1745.
A huge thank you to GCSAR for their leadership, technical skills, and unparalleled creativity to access the patient.
As we head into another beautiful weekend here in Moab, remember – just ’cause ya saw a picture of it online, doesn’t always mean it’s the best idea.