Rangers Evacuate Ailing Snowshoer
Posted: Feb 10 2011 6:51 pm
Grand Teton National Park (WY)
Rangers Evacuate Ailing Snowshoer
On February 6th, rangers conducted a lengthy rescue operation to evacuate an 'incapacitated' (see below) snowshoer from the Phelps Lake overlook.
Michelle Harvey, 40, of Sacramento, California, became ill while snowshoeing to the overlook with her husband, Don Happel, and could not continue hiking the final two-and-a-half miles to their vehicle at the Death Canyon trailhead.
Ten rangers and park staff coordinated a multi-phase evacuation that involved both rescue skiers and snowmobiles. Rescue skiers hauled a toboggan with Harvey aboard down the steep Phelps Lake moraine, and rangers on snowmobiles, who had staged on the northwest shore of Phelps Lake below the moraine, transported her the remaining distance to the trailhead, located on the Moose-Wilson Road. The rescue and evacuation took nearly eight hours to complete.
Although Sunday’s weather was sunny with mild afternoon temperatures, physical conditions changed as the evacuation stretched into the evening hours. With darkness and colder temperatures, rangers resorted to using headlamps for visibility and emergency gear to keep Harvey warm and protected from the cold nighttime air.
After reaching the trailhead, Harvey declined further medical attention and departed the area with her husband in their personal vehicle. Harvey and Happel, who arrived in Jackson Hole on February 3rd, had a couple of days to acclimatize to the higher elevations of the Teton backcountry before their Sunday excursion. They were equipped with good winter clothing, water, and high energy snacks for their snowshoe outing. They also carried a GPS unit, a compass, and a cell phone, which they used to summon help. (how about some FITNESS and RESOLVE)
So, she just wanted a RIDE……..
Rangers Evacuate Ailing Snowshoer
On February 6th, rangers conducted a lengthy rescue operation to evacuate an 'incapacitated' (see below) snowshoer from the Phelps Lake overlook.
Michelle Harvey, 40, of Sacramento, California, became ill while snowshoeing to the overlook with her husband, Don Happel, and could not continue hiking the final two-and-a-half miles to their vehicle at the Death Canyon trailhead.
Ten rangers and park staff coordinated a multi-phase evacuation that involved both rescue skiers and snowmobiles. Rescue skiers hauled a toboggan with Harvey aboard down the steep Phelps Lake moraine, and rangers on snowmobiles, who had staged on the northwest shore of Phelps Lake below the moraine, transported her the remaining distance to the trailhead, located on the Moose-Wilson Road. The rescue and evacuation took nearly eight hours to complete.
Although Sunday’s weather was sunny with mild afternoon temperatures, physical conditions changed as the evacuation stretched into the evening hours. With darkness and colder temperatures, rangers resorted to using headlamps for visibility and emergency gear to keep Harvey warm and protected from the cold nighttime air.
After reaching the trailhead, Harvey declined further medical attention and departed the area with her husband in their personal vehicle. Harvey and Happel, who arrived in Jackson Hole on February 3rd, had a couple of days to acclimatize to the higher elevations of the Teton backcountry before their Sunday excursion. They were equipped with good winter clothing, water, and high energy snacks for their snowshoe outing. They also carried a GPS unit, a compass, and a cell phone, which they used to summon help. (how about some FITNESS and RESOLVE)
So, she just wanted a RIDE……..