Delta County Search and Rescue (DelSAR) was activated by the Delta County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, September 1st, following a report of a fallen hiker on the Grand Mesa. The incident occurred near Crag Crest at approximately 3:00 PM when a local female hiker in her mid-sixties sustained injuries after falling approximately 40 feet.
Under the command Delta County Search and Rescue, a swift and coordinated multi-agency response was launched. Due to the treacherous terrain, the DelSAR team worked to stabilize and extricate the patient from the steep slope.
The rescue was a testament to inter-agency cooperation. Critical assistance was provided by the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (HAATS), Mesa County Search and Rescue, Delta County Ambulance District, Cedaredge Fire Department, Vail Mountain Rescue Group, and Care Flight of the Rockies. The combined efforts of these organizations allowed for the safe and efficient recovery of the injured hiker.
A HAATS helicopter transported the patient from the scene at 7:50 PM to Blake Field in Delta. From there, the patient was transferred to a Care Flight helicopter and flown to St. Mary’s Hospital for medical treatment. All members of the SAR team returned to the incident command post and were accounted for by 9:25 PM.
“This was a challenging rescue in difficult terrain, and I couldn’t be prouder of the team and our partners,” said Commander Eric Stirnkorb. “The seamless collaboration between all agencies involved was the key to a successful outcome.”
