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WILLARD — Two stranded hikers were rescued Sunday morning after spending the night on a cliff near the city of Willard in Box Elder County.
Tim Myers, 30, from Sandy, suffered injuries when rocks fell from above during the climb Saturday afternoon. Myers was with a friend, 28-year old Kevin Curtis of Draper. The two were hiking toward Inspiration Point, according to Box Elder County Sheriff Lynn Yeates.
Myers and Curtis were at an estimated 8,500 feet, the peak of the mountain, when the accident happened. Myers sustained a dislocated shoulder and injuries to his feet and legs, and Curtis called for help.
The search for the men was called off at 8:15 p.m. Saturday for safety reasons, forcing the men to spend the night on the 18-inch-wide cliff.
"We tossed in food and shelter to them, and they spent the night there," Yeates said.
The search and rescue teams returned at daybreak Sunday. They hiked to the men and brought them up 100 feet to a rock shelf, where a helicopter could reach Meyers, who was later transported to McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden for treatment.
Curtis did not suffer any injuries. Rescuers drove him down the mountain in one of their vehicles — a trip that took several hours.
Both Myers and Curtis had climbing gear, Yeates said, but only one of them was wearing a helmet. Rescuers said the two just didn't know the dangers of the rocky terrain.
"You want to always make sure you're prepared for any potential situation in this difficult and treacherous, and steep backcountry," said Weber County Sheriff Terry Thompson. "They were in a tough area, and some pretty good terrain."
A Weber County search and rescue worker hurt his shoulder during the rescue, which shows just how challenging this terrain can be — even for the experts.
"We were just fortunate we were able to get in there, help them out, and safely get them off that mountain," Thompson said.
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