On the afternoon of March 10, WCSART received a 911 call for Muir Valley Nature Preserve at the crag known as Solarium. This was on the route Air Ride Equipped, where a large boulder (see photo) at the base of the cliff became dislodged and struck two members of the group.
One climber was briefly pinned beneath the boulder, while the other sustained an injury to his ankle. The rest of the group was able to quickly free the climber trapped under the rock before calling for emergency assistance.
Rescue team members packaged the injured climber in a Stokes basket for a short carryout to the Muir Valley parking area. There, he was evaluated by a team paramedic. Breathitt/Wolfe EMS was also requested to respond. After further assessment, the injured climber was transported by members of his group to Clark Regional Hospital for additional medical care.
This incident is an important reminder to always remain aware of your surroundings when recreating outdoors. We wish this young man a full and speedy recovery.
