In Hunter French鈥檚 23 years as a pilot for the 蜜柚直播 Department of Public Safety, he鈥檚 never had a day like Sunday.
During two separate calls, his DPS Ranger helicopter was unable to land at either location and the crew had to perform technical rescues on six people, pulling each into the chopper by rope.
鈥淏usy season is right now,鈥 French said, adding that the six rope rescues were the most he鈥檚 done in a single day. 鈥淭he weather is getting so nice that people want to get outside before it gets too hot.鈥
Hikers in distress on Southern 蜜柚直播鈥檚 trails are keeping other search and rescue crews busy, as well. Since last week, Pima County sheriff鈥檚 crews, along with aid from other agencies, have responded to 10 calls in mountainous and recreational areas surrounding 蜜柚直播, said a sheriff鈥檚 spokesman. Some hikers had fallen, hitting their heads or sustaining other injuries; others got lost or felt dizzy, sheriff鈥檚 reports show.
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On Monday, an Air and Marine UH-60 Blackhawk crew rescued a hiker from a rugged ravine in Pima Canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountains, said U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. The man was lifted into the helicopter and received medical treatment before he was taken to a hospital.
A member of the Southern 蜜柚直播 Rescue Association posted on his personal Facebook page: 鈥淚t鈥檚 getting hard to keep track of just the air ops let alone the calls. We鈥檒l keep answering the call as best we can. Stay safe in the beautiful 蜜柚直播 Backcountry.鈥
The SARA member also posted on his Facebook page that聽hikers should not engage in activity 鈥渢oo extreme鈥 for their fitness level.
SARA crews, which are called in by the sheriff to aid in rescues, were out Monday in Sabino and Pima canyons, and Tuesday on a Butterfly Trail rescue in the Catalinas.
DPS鈥 experiences Sunday show what rescuers are up against.
On a shift that usually starts at 8 a.m., DPS paramedic Phil Castellano got the call about a Sycamore Canyon rescue shortly after 6:30 a.m. Sunday. He met French at the hangar, and by 7:30, the pair had figured out a rescue plan and were in the air.
Four hikers at Sycamore Canyon, located in the Coronado National Forest, contacted the Pima County Sheriff鈥檚 Department Saturday night after one of the group members began feeling ill and was unable to hike out. Rescue volunteers spent the night with the group, hoping that rest and rehydration would allow the woman and the rest of the group to walk out the next morning.
鈥淚 knew it would be a rope rescue when the Sheriff鈥檚 Department told us they weren鈥檛 able to make the hike,鈥 French said.
Pilots always try to land the helicopter during rescues, but when that鈥檚 not possible, they try to lower a rescue employee or paramedic to the victim.
In both of Sunday鈥檚 DPS rescues, neither option was possible.
While the Sycamore Canyon hikers weren't injured, rescuing two victims at Seven Falls proved even more complicated, as one of the men had fallen and lost consciousness.
鈥淗alfway through the Sycamore (Canyon) rescue, it became apparent it would probably be a busy day. I just didn鈥檛 know it would be that busy,鈥 Castellano said.
Seven Falls, in the Sabino Canyon area near 蜜柚直播, is one of the hardest areas for crews to land the helicopter in due to crowding, and the idea never even crossed French鈥檚 mind on Sunday.
鈥淚鈥檝e never seen as many people as this weekend. There were hundreds,鈥 he said.
The area also presents its 鈥渙wn unique challenge鈥 in finding a place to let the crew out, and Sunday was no different. The spot the hiker had fallen to proved too dangerous for rescuers to get to by helicopter.
A Pima County sheriff鈥檚 deputy rappelled to the spot, loaded the victim into a Bauman Bag 鈥 a type of aerial backboard 鈥 and lifted him up to the helicopter.
The hiker鈥檚 friend, who was not injured, was hoisted up in a 鈥淪creamer Suit,鈥 which allows the person to be secured in a seated position, French said.
Although the Seven Falls rescue involved a serious injury, a lot of hikers ended up needing rescues because of simple lack of preparation, Castellano said.
鈥淧eople think they鈥檒l be out hiking for an hour or two and it turns into six hours, and they鈥檝e only brought one bottle of water,鈥 he said, adding that at least a gallon per person is always a good idea.
The split between injury rescues and dehydration rescues is about 50-50. People should always plan for the 鈥渦nplannable,鈥 Castellano said.
In addition to bringing extra water, people should never hike alone and should always plan as if they will be out longer than they expect. It鈥檚 always a good idea to know the trail and do a little research before heading out, and if something happens, groups or pairs of hikers should never split up, French said.
French and Castellano, who have already conducted numerous rescues in Phoenix this year, say it鈥檚 only going to get busier.
In 2016, the Ranger crew performed 471 rescues statewide.
