HikeArizona.COM

September 21, 2010 11:34 PM ET

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - Northern Arizona authorities say they have rescued four Nevada men reported missing after base jumping along the Little Colorado River.

The Coconino County Sheriff's Office says the Las Vegas-area men were located late Tuesday afternoon halfway down a canyon outside Grand Canyon National Park. They were airlifted out by helicopter and were being treated for severe dehydration, but none of the men were reported to be injured.

The men's names and ages were not immediately released. Authorities say it's unclear how the men got stranded (gee... I wonder how) after parachuting off sheer cliffs along the river Sunday. They were due to return home Monday and when they didn't, concerned relatives called Arizona authorities.

Imike put it very well.

Plus, SAR people love to get called out. In our area, most of the calls are for lost hunters deep in the woods. Nowadays they use GPS to mark where their trucks are parked, thus getting lost much less often. So, there are consequently fewer calls. So, the youth search and rescue group I'm involved in has found other things to do instead.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. SAR should be just another regulated ambulance service. Charging the patient's insurance would be a snap just like it is for FD runs.

That would sure be nice for our youth group budget!

azbackpackr wrote:Plus, SAR people love to get called out.

totally true-- SAR is as much of a hobby as it is work. Those folks totally get off on being badass.

I didn't claim that people shouldn't engage in risky behavior, but rather "excessively" risky behavior. Heading out for a hike, hunt, climb, etc. is risky. Even going out w/out a GPS, safety contact, gear to stay the night, etc. isn't excessively risky in most circumstances. Sometimes caca occurs. However, jumping off of a cliff w/ no plan how to get back is excessively risky. No amount of testosterone or machismo on the part of the rescuers excuses that. Consider a helicopter lowering into a canyon to rescue someone. What if the helo blades hit the canyon wall and the crew dies? It's akin to driving down the freeway and driving down the freeway at a high rate of speed while weaving through traffic after drinking 10 shots of vodka. Both activities can result in grievous injuries to many people, but only one is likely to do so.

Not all that long ago a DPS rescuer was killed under circumstances not too different from what Jim is describing...

jeffmacewen wrote:Not all that long ago a DPS rescuer was killed under circumstances not too different from what Jim is describing...

It has happened in Yosemite, too.