South Sister, solo hiker found unconscious near the summit

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South Sister, solo hiker found unconscious near the summit

Unconscious Man Found By Hiking Party - Rescuers Fly Solo Hiker Off S. Sister
By Barney Lerten, KTVZ.COM
September 30, 2010

SISTERS, Ore. -- An AirLink helicopter carried two mountain-rescue medics to the summit of South Sister Thursday afternoon to treat and rescue a solo hiker found unconscious by another climbing party, authorities said.

Deschutes County 911 dispatchers got a phone call around 2:15 p.m. seeking help for the hiker, later identified as Duncan Maring, 34, of Pendleton, who they had found unconscious near the summit, said sheriff’s Sgt. Scott Shelton, coordinator for Sheriff’s Search and Rescue.

The caller said her group had found the man unconscious and alone, on a snow field about 100 feet below the summit of the 10,358-foot peak.

Sheriff’s Search and Rescue dispatched the two rescue medics to the peak, and with the assistance of the hikers at the summit, SAR and Air Link crews, Maring was put on the helicopter and flown to St. Charles Medical Center-Bend with non-life-threatening injuries and "no obvious signs of trauma," Shelton said..

As it turns out, a nursing supervisor said the hiker was treated and released.

Sixteen other SAR personnel and sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to begin a summit of South Sister by the climbers’ trail, in the event the helicopter was unable to complete its mission, Shelton said. The Oregon Air National Guard in Salem also was dispatching air support at the time of the rescue, in case it was needed.

Shelton said it was "very lucky" for Maring that another hiking party found him, since he had been climbing alone -- which carries a higher risk.
Copyright 2011 KTVZ. All rights reserved.

http://www.ktvz.com/news/25234524/detail.html

Man's 2nd South Sister Rescue Leads to Use of Taser

Patient Was Incoherent, Aggressive, Officials Say
By Barney Lerten, KTVZ.COM
September 13, 2011

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, nearing the end of a very busy summer, was involved in an unusual rescue Tuesday on the South Sister -- one that deputies said involved a Bend man acting strangely who eventually become combative with medics and had to be subdued with the jolt of a Taser.

County 911 dispatchers was advised around 7:20 a.m. of a hiker on South Sister, a mile above Moraine Lake, in need of assistance, said sheriff’s Capt. Tim Edwards.

Two hikers had found Duncan Tyler Maring, 34, of Bend, who they said was acting strangely and in need of medical help due to dehydration and exposure, Edwards said.
Three sheriff’s deputies, five search and rescue volunteers and a Forest Service law enforcement officer responded to the Mt. Bachelor parking lot, where an AirLink helicopter began ferrying rescuers to the area, he said.

“Maring was incoherent and aggressive” when a deputy, a SAR medic and two AirLink flight nurses first made contact with him, Edwards said in a news release.

“As the medics tried to assess his condition and start treatment, Maring became combative and picked them up off the ground,” Edwards continued. "He attempted to assault them, but was subdued by the deputy using a Taser.”

Maring then became compliant, the captain said, and was treated by the flight nurses. But due to his combative nature, they decided it wasn’t safe to fly him out in the helicopter.
Meanwhile, more SAR volunteers already had started up the South Sister climbers trail from the Devils Lake trailhead with a wheeled litter, Edwards said.

Maring was brought down the mountain in the litter, then placed in a Bend fire ambulance and taken to St. Charles Medical Center-Bend with non-life-threatening injuries.
Due to Maring’s medical issues, he was not arrested, Edwards said, but the case will be referred to the district attorney’s office for review.

It was Maring's second rescue off the same peak in less than a year. Last Sept. 30, he was flown from South Sister after being found unconscious by another climbing party.

Previous Story: September 30, 2010: Rescuers Fly Solo Hiker Off S. Sister (See above)
Copyright 2011 KTVZ. All rights reserved.

Selected Comments from readers:
madmaddy reply to Barney Lerten
I would think if he had prior medical issue with the previous climb, he would have included a hiking buddy on this trip to monitor him just in case. It would have been prudent and far less costly.

cjgraphix reply to Barney Lerten
The article doesn't go into specifics if the man has other "medical issues" other than the mentioned "dehydration and exposure", in which case he needs to bring water (more if he had some) and wear proper attire.

Barney Lerten reply to cjgraphix
That's because medical information is protected by federal patient privacy and confidentiality act known as HIPPA

http://www.ktvz.com/news/29175866/detail.html

What can be learned from this incident?

1. Practice the Four Basic Responsibilities of the Backcountry Traveler. They work! Basic Responsibilities

2. Carry the new Ten Essential Systems, sized for the forecast weather and the adventure in a light day pack. This includes a map, compass and GPS and the skills to use them. In the winter, this includes enough extra insulation and waterproof clothing to keep you dry and warm if you become stranded. In snow, you must have a shovel and insulating pad and the skills to make a shelter in the snow to avoid hypothermia and frost bite damage. It works! Essential Systems

3. Carry a fully charged digital cell phone and periodically check where it can communicate with any cell towers to assist authorities to triangulate your position from cell tower pings. (Most cell providers do not use cell phone GPS signals to locate customers under FCC E911 regulations - they use triangulation). Cold disables batteries. If the weather is cold, carry the cell phone in a pants pocket near the femoral artery. Report your UTM NAD27 coordinates, your condition, the conditions where you are and discuss your plans with SAR. Ordinary Cell Phones If you may be out of cell tower range, carry a SPOT. SPOT-2 Satellite Messenger

4. Always stay found on your topo map and be aware of major land features. If visibility starts to wane, reconfirm your bearings with your map, compass and GPS and quickly return to a known location. A GPS is the only practical way for a trained individual to navigate in a whiteout or blowing snow. Lost Mt Hood Climbers

5. Always climb with others unless you are very fit and experienced and have done this climb before.

A suggested minimum standard news advisory for all backcountry travelers!

"We would like to take this opportunity to ask our visitors to the backcountry of Oregon to plan for the unexpected. Each person should dress for the forecast weather and take minimum extra clothing protection from a drop in temperature and possible rain or snow storm or an unexpected cold wet night out, insulation from the wet ground or snow, high carbohydrate snacks, two quarts of water or Gatorade, a map and compass and optional inexpensive GPS and the skills to use them, and a charged cell phone from a Provider that has the best coverage of the area and possibly, a SPOT-2 GPS Satellite Communicator. Each person should carry the traditional personal "Ten Essentials Systems" in a day pack sized for the individual, the trip, the season and the forecast weather.

Visitors are reminded to tell a Responsible Person where they are going, where they plan to park, when they will be back and to make sure that person understands that they are relied upon to call 911 at a certain time if the backcountry traveler has not returned. If you become lost or stranded, mark your location and stay still or move around your marked location to stay warm. Do not try to find your way until you are exhausted, or worse yet - wet. Wait for rescuers.

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