Individual Extracted via Air Rescue from Bighorn Mountains
In a routine operation for the Big Horn County, Wyoming Search and Rescue teams, an elderly lady was rescued from the Cloud Peak Wilderness on Tuesday morning, following a 911 text received at around 11:30 pm on June 30th.
The incident took place between Lake Solitude and Battle Park, in a remote location within the Bighorn Mountains. The patient, who was experiencing symptoms of altitude sickness, was not feeling well due to being high up in the mountains.
Upon receiving the distress call, the Big Horn County Wyoming Sheriff's Office dispatched a ground team to the Battle Park trailhead. Simultaneously, Guardian Flight Wyoming was called to assess the possibility of a helicopter evacuation for the patient.
The ground team began hiking from the Battle Park trailhead to reach the patient's location. Meanwhile, Guardian Flight Wyoming landed at the patient's location at approximately 2:20 am on Tuesday. The patient was then loaded onto the helicopter for a flight to the Worland Wyoming hospital.
The patient was treated and released from the hospital later that day, marking the successful conclusion of the mission. This call was the 22nd mission for Big Horn County Search and Rescue teams for the 2025 season, with a combined total of man hours in missions for both north and south teams this year amounting to 1,626 hours.
Altitude sickness, a condition caused by lower oxygen levels at higher elevations, can be a significant issue for hikers and visitors to the Bighorn Mountains. Common symptoms include dizziness, nausea, headache, and fatigue. To reduce the risk of altitude sickness, hikers are advised to acclimatize gradually, stay hydrated, pace themselves, avoid alcohol and caffeine, listen to their bodies, and consider medication under medical advice.
This incident underscores the importance of recognizing symptoms early and taking appropriate action. By following these precautions, visitors can better enjoy the outdoors while minimizing the risk of altitude-related illness. This year, there have been many more hours of training for the Big Horn County, Wyoming Search and Rescue teams, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle such emergencies.
The Big Horn County, Wyoming Search and Rescue team is not only skilled in navigating treacherous terrain but also knowledgeable about health-and-wellness, especially when it comes to fitness-and-exercise at high altitudes. During one of their missions to the Bighorn Mountains, they addressed a case of altitude sickness, a science-backed condition affecting hikers due to lower oxygen levels at higher elevations.
