Around 1:30 a.m. Oct. 13, Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team (WCSART) received a request from Morgan County Rescue to assist with the extraction of a female hiker who had been lost since midday the day before.
Three Morgan County SAR members successfully located the hiker. However, due to the difficult terrain and the amount of time it would take to safely walk her out, Morgan County requested a high-angle rescue operation.
Upon arrival, WCSART members quickly established a high-angle rope system to facilitate the extraction from a 100-foot, terraced cliff face. The cliff presented challenges, including three vertical sections and heavy vegetation.
After evaluating the conditions, WCSART decided to extract both the female hiker and the three Morgan County SAR members. Given the terrain and the complexity of the operation, safety remained the top priority.
The technical nature of this rescue required careful coordination between team members. One Wolfe County rope technician was lowered to the subjects and then raised as part of a tandem system. This process required a total of four lowering and raising cycles to safely complete the operation.
We congratulate Morgan County Search & Rescue on successfully locating the hiker and making the right call to request a high-angle team for the extraction. Recognizing when additional resources are needed and making decisions that prioritize everyone’s safety are critical parts of search and rescue operations. In this situation, a high-angle extraction was the safer option for everyone involved.
We are proud to work alongside agencies that share our commitment to professionalism, teamwork and responder safety. We appreciate the opportunity to assist our friends at Morgan County SAR and commend all the responders who worked through the early morning hours to bring this mission to a successful conclusion at approximately 6 a.m.
Search and rescue does not operate on a schedule. When someone needs help, SAR teams answer the call.
