On June 3, El Paso County Search and Rescue responded to a medical emergency in the area of the 14,115-foot Pikes Peak summit, along with American Medical Response and Flight for Life.

According to a report from the rescue team, the subject of the rescue was a hiker who was located less than a mile from where the Barr Trail reaches the top of the peak. Rescue members made their way to the hiker from the summit and after a medical evaluation and some rehab, the hiker was able to walk the rest of the way to the top of the mountain with the team.

Another evaluation took place at the summit, with everyone safely leaving the top of the mountain – presumably via the road – before dark. While the ‘medical emergency’ that prompted the rescue wasn’t detailed in the report, the hiker didn’t require transportation to the hospital.

“This was the best possible outcome,” said El Paso County Search and Rescue spokesperson Chris Valentine. “The staff from Pikes Peak were very helpful.”

This case is a good example of how it’s the right move to call for help before a situation gets worse. As has been noted in past interviews with search and rescue personnel, this is preferred, as a response when things start going wrong opposed to after a negative situation has had time to develop can lead to a better chance of a positive result. Don’t hesitate to call search and rescue while on the trail in Colorado if you need help, but also don’t hit the trail if you’re not prepared for the hike. Make sure you’ve got the 10 essentials with you, that you’ve checked the forecast, that you’ve studied the route, and that you’ve told somewhere where you’re headed and when you’ll be back. It’s also important to ensure you’ve got a means of communication if the need for help arises – don’t merely rely on cell phone connection to be present, with a satellite-based communication device being the best option (some modern cell phones come with this functionality, but it’s important to know if your phone is one of those and how to use it beforehand).

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