Highlines for SAR in Zion

Concerning the actual SAR of the boy that fell 40 feet in the Left Fork that
was described in the article. We had a team of 7 that were flown over
to the west side of Russell Gulch and 2 of us were flown to the east
side fairly close to the entrance of the standard "Subway" route. A
line gun was fired from the west side and we retrieved the line on
the east side and established a "Highline". The west side operated
a "Tag Line" and the "Norweigian Reeve Hoist Line". The west side
also was in charge of "Track Line" tensioning. On the east side we
were only responsible for a high strength tie off of the "Track Line"
and operation of the east side "Tag Line". We also would
eventually "ferry" the Medic and Patient to our side for the
helicopter evac. Rick was the medic with the patient and had never
operated the prusiks and safety clip-in on a "Reeve" so I was chosen
to ride the litter down into Russell Gulch on the Reeve. Our side
only needed Tag Line Operation so only 1 person was necessary
initially on the east side. I was ferried out over Russell and
conducted the lower into the bottom of the canyon, helped package and
instructed Rick on Reeve Operation, then ran back up to the east side
station while the west side hoisted the Medic and Patient up to the
track line. Once clipped in to the carriage, our east side team of
two hauled them over and carried the litter to the heli-pad for evac
to DRMC. The operation went very smoothly and safely and took very
minimal time.

We could have used other means of extrication, but they would have
been much more timely, difficult and dangerous to the patient and
attendant. We have used "Highlines with Reeves" in numerous actual
situations and find them to be invaluable. The terrain in ZNP
dictates the system, but often times the Highline is the absolute
best!

I have many photos showing Highlines (Sloping, Drooping, Single-
double-triple Track, Norwegian and English Reeves) Guiding Line and
Tag Line operations, standard raise and lowers, all configs of high
directionals, pickoffs- horizontal and vertical scoops, tilts, pike
and pivot exits, patient packaging, anchor systems, MA systems, etc
that I've accumulated over the last 11 years being involved with ZNP
SAR.

Originally when I got involved with SAR I assumed that you just went
down or up, got the patient and that was it! Since then I've learned
that there are many different "tools in the bag" available that make
High Angle Rescue safe and expedient.

Bo