[Aaron]

At around 5:00 p.m. today, July 14, park rangers received a call from International Emergency Response Coordination Center, indicating they had received an emergency activation from a SPOT device in Rocky Mountain National Park. Park rangers determined from the latitude and longitude coordinates that it had been activated near Lost Lake in the northeast section of the park.

At 6:50 p.m. two park rangers, including one parkmedic, flew with the pilot and helicopter crew member from the Grand Teton National Park helicopter staged in the area for the Cow Creek Fire, to the general area where the SPOT had been activated. The crew was able to see people on the ground needing assistance. At 7:15 p.m. park rangers reached a 27-year-old man who had slid 30 yards on a snowfield to the west above Lost Lake. The man had suffered a broken leg.

At 8:45 p.m. the patient and parkmedic flew with the pilot back to a helispot in the park near Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. The man was taken by ambulance to Estes Park Medical Center. Due to nightfall, the other ranger and helicopter crew member will remain overnight at a backcountry patrol cabin in the northern part of the park. The 27-year-old man was camping with another person who will remain overnight at their backcountry site.

The man's name and hometown will not be released until family members are notified.

View the full article

[Rhonda]

My goodness...what would they have done this summer without that Grand Teton helicopter crew? Sounds like RMNP needs one on standby.

[Bill 007]

Rhonda, on 15 July 2010 - 08:03 AM, said:

My goodness...what would they have done this summer without that Grand Teton helicopter crew? Sounds like RMNP needs one on standby.

Ain't it the truth!
This seems to be a rough summer in the Park! And it's only mid-July!

Bill

[hahn23]

Bill 007, on 15 July 2010 - 07:13 AM, said:

Ain't it the truth!
This seems to be a rough summer in the Park! And it's only mid-July!

Bill

The heat is on. We're only partially through the fire season. Just beginning the worst lightning risk. Should be interesting. The photo below shows the big Heli used in the Cow Creek Fire. That might be the Grand Teton rig, but I don't know for sure. When the guy was rescued off the summit of Long's Peak, the helicopter looked like this.

This post has been edited by hahn23: 15 July 2010 - 07:41 AM

[Igloo Ed]

hahn23, on 15 July 2010 - 07:40 AM, said:

When the guy was rescued off the summit of Long's Peak, the helicopter looked like this.

Oh man, I can't imagine the hourly rate on a helicopter like that. A beauty though.

[bjhime]

I'll bet the slide was fun while it lasted.

[hahn23]

Igloo Ed, on 15 July 2010 - 08:36 AM, said:

Oh man, I can't imagine the hourly rate on a helicopter like that. A beauty though.

A beauty, for sure. I'll go ask the guys what the hourly rate is, although I think it's on a contracted basis.
Excellence in Precision Rotocraft (Photo below from that site.)

[DrCloud]

I bet that helicopter pilots love to fly those, especially without the water/slurry tank module. HPH

[Rhonda]

Bill 007, on 15 July 2010 - 08:13 AM, said:

Ain't it the truth!
This seems to be a rough summer in the Park! And it's only mid-July!

Bill

Bill, please try to keep off this helicopter while you are there in August! I don't want to read about any Forumers getting a free ride.

[hahn23]

I have fresh (more accurate) information on the helicopter "on loan" from the Grand Tetons. The helicopter which has been helping with RMNP rescues during the past week or so is the yellow helicopter from Helicopter Express.
Helicopter Express, an Image of Success

My photo from this morning, just after the helicopter landed from completing the Lost Lake rescue.



The photo below from Helicopter Express:

This post has been edited by hahn23: 15 July 2010 - 12:42 PM

[Bill 007]

Good job on the up date Richard!!!

Bill

Rhonda, on 15 July 2010 - 11:59 AM, said:

Bill, please try to keep off this helicopter while you are there in August! I don't want to read about any Forumers getting a free ride.

I've already had my one helicopter ride. It was enough.

Bill
( But thanks for worrying.)

[Adventurist]

Bill 007, on 15 July 2010 - 08:13 AM, said:

Ain't it the truth!
This seems to be a rough summer in the Park! And it's only mid-July!

Bill

Its in my opinion that park officials are making sure that each and every rescue with that helicopter is publicized in order to support a purchase/lease.

Also, I've spoken with a man on the trail that admitted that he and his nephew once took a shortcut down Icefield Pass above Lost Lake. They were unaware that the snowfield increases in pitch midway and they both dropped through the air and landed at the bottom. The nephew walked away pretty beat-up but without any broken bones. However he admitted to landing at the bottom and breaking both ankle upon impact. Rangers had to take him out by horseback.

I believe the helicopter on loan was also used on a rescue on Flattop last weekend (Sunday) however I never saw it in the news. Anybody see anything?

-John

[jflo]

Rhonda, on 15 July 2010 - 11:59 AM, said:

Bill, please try to keep off this helicopter while you are there in August! I don't want to read about any Forumers getting a free ride.

I was thinking the same thing!!

(Bill, I'll hike in front of you...)

[Aaron]

Adventurist, on 16 July 2010 - 09:38 PM, said:

Its in my opinion that park officials are making sure that each and every rescue with that helicopter is publicized in order to support a purchase/lease.

-John

I've wondered the same. It is too good of an opportunity to pass up if the park is truly interested in having "their own" helicopter.

--Aaron