Technical rescue team uses rope system to help woman

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, July 28, 2020

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — A technical rescue team used ropes to help a woman who fell about 100 feet down a steep embankment off Hurricane Ridge Road in Olympic National Park.

Clallam County Fire District 2 personnel came to the aid of a 53-year-old woman who was riding on the back of a motorcycle Sunday afternoon at the 13.5-mile marker when she suffered a medical emergency.

The rider stopped by the side of the road, and the woman reportedly lost her footing and fell down the embankment about 12:30 p.m., according to a press release from Olympic National Park. The incident closed Hurricane Ridge Road for a couple of hours while the woman was brought up the embankment.

Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue requested a technical rescue team and a Lifeflight medical helicopter on standby.

When firefighters arrived, a park ranger was in the process of making contact with the woman down the slope. Firefighter/paramedic Tyler Reid traversed to the woman from a different direction and he began to provide medical care while coordinating with firefighter/emergency medical technician Neil Crumley, who was managing the incident until he was relieved by Assistant Chief Dan Huff.

Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue Chief Jake Patterson said the woman, who was not from this area, was awake and conscious when rescuers arrived. However, he could not provide additional details on her injuries or medical condition due to privacy concerns.

Patterson said the uphill part of Hurricane Ridge Road was closed at the Olympic National Park gate during the 90-minute rescue.

Downhill traffic guided by park rangers was allowed from the Hurricane Ridge parking lot.

Because of the steep terrain and the woman’s injuries, a rope rescue system was needed to pull the woman up the embankment. Rescue personnel led by Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue Special Operations Coordinator Capt. John Hall rigged a haul system with safety lines to bring the woman up to the road.

At 2:16 p.m., the woman was brought up to the roadway and taken to Olympic Medical Center by ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries.

Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue responded with two ambulances, two fire engines, two command vehicles and a total of 17 personnel.

Lifeflight was canceled once it was determined there were enough personnel and equipment at the scene to rescue the woman.

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Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere can be reached by email at plabossiere@peninsuladailynews.com.