Ephrata hiker rescued by helicopter

Cameron Probert/Columbia Basin Herald Grant County Fire District 5 ambulance crews examine the 32-year-old Ephrata man who was stuck on a hill Wednesday.

by Herald Managing Editor & Bill Stevenson
| April 8, 2011 6:15 AM

SOAP LAKE - A 32-year-old Ephrata man was rescued by an Air Force helicopter Wednesday evening after he became stuck while hiking south of the Lake Lenore Caves.

"He wasn't injured. He was just a little cold," said Grant County Emergency Services Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. "He is being checked by the ambulance and going home from the scene."

The man's identity was not revealed.

The hiker parked his car on state land and began hiking into the hills by himself. He came to a place about a quarter-mile from his car, where he climbed down and could not get back up a steep angled slope.

"He wasn't in danger of falling. He just wasn't able to get out of there without a risk of injury ... if he had fallen, he would have fallen about 50 feet," said Foreman. "We were concerned about his health. He was wearing a T-shirt."

He used a cellphone to call his parents and 9-1-1 at roughly 4 p.m. and rescued at 8 p.m. after temperatures began to drop.

"He was not visible from the roadway, but he was able to describe where his car was parked and the land features to help them find him," said Foreman.

Crews from Grant County Fire Districts 5 and 7 responded with state park rangers.

Rescuers hiked up to where they could talk to him and assess the situation.

"They determined he wasn't hurt and determined they couldn't rescue him," said Foreman.

A U.S. Air Force rescue helicopter was flown from Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane. An airman was lowered to the hiker and strapped him into a harness, and the hiker was winched back into the craft. The helicopter landed nearby and released the hiker.

"Grant County is a great place to go play, but make sure to a take a cellphone with you and a buddy to stay safe," said Foreman.