Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Sandra Yi ReportingYesterday's dramatic rescue of a hiker in a waterfall has safety experts urging caution, especially as we head into the holiday weekend.
In two separate incidents with hikers yesterday a cell phone came in very handy. But you can't get a signal everywhere. So experts say, if you plan to hit a trail, be careful and think ahead.
Steve Piper: "Anything can become dangerous if the situation arises."
That was evident yesterday in two different incidents. One involved a dramatic rescue in a waterfall at Rocky Mouth Canyon after a hiker slipped on a rock and fell. A mile away a youth group also ran into trouble. One teen had an injured ankle, another was dehydrated.
Steve Piper: "A lot of times hiking off trails can be fun. You can see things you wouldn't normally see from the trail, but you need to be a little more careful."
Rescuers yesterday had a similar message. This is a busy time for them with the holiday weekend. Last year was no different. Salt Lake County alone launched five rescue missions the July 4th weekend. From stranded teens to dehydrated hikers, one woman was also hit by a small boulder, which came loose while she was hiking.
Steve Piper: "Most of those cases could be avoided."
Piper is an avid hiker himself. He says it's important to be prepared. He says hikers should carry a first aid kit and bring plenty of water.
Steve Piper: "When you become dehydrated, you make bad decisions and it's kind of a downward spiral from there."
He recommends carrying communication devices like a cell phone and a two-way radio. A GPS system provides exact locations and coordinates. Piper says, even in our own backyard a false sense of security can only lead to trouble.
Steve Piper: "You need to be prepared whether you're hiking here or in Canada. You need the same things."
Piper says there's safety in numbers. So never hike alone and always let someone know where you're going.
