[philmont] Greenwood Canyon to Copper Park to Cellphones

Our trek in 2005 took us from Rich Cabins to Greenwood Canyon to Cooper Park. It is definitely up, up, up out of Greenwood and in 2005 it was a screaming downhill into Copper for the last half mile. Which is where we lost an advisor to a broken ankle. Staffers from French Henry were the first responders and called in a rescue team to bring him down the mountain to Copper on a stokes with a wheel. It took me 20 minutes to make it the rest of the way to Copper Park (we had sent the rest of the crew on to Copper to set up camp) It took the carry team 7 hours. As we waited for the first responders we could see another trail across the draw at the same elevation with beautiful switchbacks. Whereas, we had been swinging from tree to tree on our trail. The responders told us it was a new trail still under construction and would help avoid broken ankles on the old trail into Copper :) The injured advisor was good natured about that remark.

Everyone involved in the rescue was incredibly professional and the epitome of "a Scout is Friendly."

Here are two additional notes other than be careful going down steep terrain.

1. Take your cell phone for emergencies and use the emerygency card they hand out at the advisors meeting. Coverage is poor at the ranch and the Cellular spirits at the ranch smiled on us that day. We had coverage at 11,000 feet. If we wouldn't have had the phone it would have taken additional hours to start the rescue process and the first responders would have started out in the dark. French Henry to Copper in the dark would not be a walk in (to) the park. :(ugh, sorry:)

2. The medical staff does incredible things, but they don't know every inch of the ranch. They pressed very hard for the advisor to buddy walk to the road at Copper to avoid sending out the full rescue team. The first responders called for the team as soon as they saw the ankle in question. You are in the best position to assess the situation until the professionals are on the scene. The medical staff is a great resource, but in this case buddy walking could have done more damage to the ankle. Back at home, and after he saw what it took to get him out, the advisor told me he was almost relieved when the Xray showed his ankle was broken.

IWTGBTP

Scott Calkins

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Received on Fri Apr 6 09:47:35 2007