Rangers carry hiker out of Hoh Rain Forest following fall, unsuccessful airlift attempt

Published 12:01 am Monday, September 1, 2014

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — A search and rescue team carried an injured hiker out of the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park on Sunday after a Saturday airlift attempt was canceled.

An unidentified 53-year-old male hiker fell about 6 feet Saturday while on a trail in the rain forest and had a laceration on his head, said Barb Maynes, spokeswoman for the park.

Maynes declined to name the hiker Sunday afternoon.

Park rescuers reached the hiker later Saturday near Olympia Guard Station, 9 miles up the Hoh River Trail from the Hoh Visitors Center, she said.

She said park rangers attempted to airlift the hiker from the Guard Station meadow, but the helicopter was unable to land.

On Sunday morning, rescuers decided to carry the injured hiker from the Guard Station to meet an ambulance to take the hiker to Forks Community Hospital.

As of Sunday afternoon, the rescuers had not yet reached the trailhead, where the ambulance awaited, Maynes said.

They were expected to reach the trailhead before dark, she said.