It's been a tough week or so for hikers, mule riders and rescue teams at Grand Canyon National Park. During a 6-day span, a hiker fell off a trail and a rider was injured in an accident on a mule trip. Both required rescue via a park helicopter.
On April 28, 2009, a 47 year-old Ohio man headed down the Grandview Trail, just east of the park's South Rim Village. His intended destination was Cottonwood Creek, a backcountry camping area below the South Rim. According to a park report, at about 3:20 p.m.
The man and his hiking companions were several hundred feet down the trail when he stopped to peer over the edge and lost his balance.
A visitor at the Grandview Trailhead heard calls for help and called Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center. Park rangers responded and found the man lying injured on the trail.Because of the steep terrain and difficult switchbacks, and for the safety of the patient, rangers called for the park helicopter and extricated the man using a short-haul operation. The procedure normally involves a rescuer on a fixed line, extended below a helicopter that is flown into the rescue site. The rescuer then attaches the patient, via a Bauman bag, and flies with them to a safe location – in this case, the parking lot at Grandview Overlook.
Once at the parking lot the patient was stabilized and transported by ground ambulance to the South Rim Helibase. From there he was transported by Classic Life Guard to the Flagstaff Medical Center to be treated for life-threatening injuries.
Approximately 20 people from the National Park Service were involved in the rescue. Personnel from the park’s emergency services, interpretation, wildland fire and aviation, and law enforcement divisions, and park volunteers all responded to the accident scene and provided assistance.
On May 4, 2009, a 66-year-old woman was injured on May 4, 2009, when the mule she was riding lost its footing, fell, and then rolled over the woman.
At approximately 9:00 a.m. the park's Dispatch Center received a radio call from a mule wrangler about the incident. According to a park report,
The accident occurred approximately 2 ½ miles below the rim on the Bright Angel Trail. The mule and its passenger were part of two concessioner mule strings that were en route to Phantom Ranch for an overnight stay. The mule concession is operated by Xanterra South Rim, LLC.
Two National Park Service paramedics were flown to the accident scene and stabilized the patient before extricating her using a short-haul operation—the same technique used in the hiker's rescue. In this case, the victim was flown to the South Rim Helibase, and then transferred to the Flagstaff Medical Center by Classic Life Guard.
Approximately 12 people from the National Park Service were involved in the rescue operation. They were assisted by Xanterra mule wranglers and visitors on the trail.During helicopter operations, the Bright Angel Trail was closed for approximately 1 hour.
Information on the extent of the woman's injuries was not available from the park or the hospital.
Providers and fans of the mule trips point out that accidents involving those trips are extremely rare. According to the 2001 edition of the book, Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon, by Michael P. Ghiglieri and Thomas M. Myers,
the mule skinners running tourists down the Bright Angel Trail to Phantom Ranch hold an apparently perfect record: No client among the half million or so taken has been killed while riding a mule.
Ghiglieri and Myers report that the only fatal accident involving a mule train at the park occurred on Bright Angel Trail in 1951, and it involved a mule skinner for the former concessioner, the Fred Harvey Company, not a visitor.
Michael F. Anderson's Polishing the Jewel: An Administrative History of Grand Canyon National Park notes that mule rides into the canyon predate the establishment of the park in 1919. In the 1880s John Hance ... "improved a Havasupai trail to the Tonto Platform, and launched a small tourist venture, offering tents beside his cabin, simple meals, and mule trips."
Today's concessioner-operated trips trace their roots to operations of the Fred Harvey company in the early 1900's. Mona Mesereau, a spokesperson for Xanterra, says that nearly one million riders have made the trip, and that up to 40 people per day now ride mules into the canyon.
By contrast, in 2008 the park reported 87,981 overnight hiking trips on park trails, along with a small army of hikers who made shorter day trips. That's a lot of people on the trail in some rugged terrain. Both hikers and mule riders should be thankful for the availability of those helicopters for the small percentage of cases when something does go awry, and for rescuers trained to perform those tricky short-haul operations. The alternative—a long and grueling carryout by litter—is hard on both victims and rescue team members, and still must be used at times when weather, darkness or other factors means a helicopter isn't available.
Comments
I went down in 2008. My two sons walked down at the same time. Is it painful and somewhat dangerous to take the mules down. Yes it is. But I could never have walked up [I'm 70]. I would do it again any time. Can we always avoid danger in our lifes? And is what is the point of avoiding danger?
My mule tried to buck me as we were going along the river near the end of the trip down. I held on . Quite an experience. I have an adversion to heights which was of course extremely hightened as the mules slowly went around hairpin turns, and they always walk at the outer edge. It would have been a great view if I could have looked. Surprisingly, my sons didn't hardly notice the hairpin turns since they kept to the inside of the 3' wide trail and could enjoy the view.
The accomidations at the bottom are just wonderful. They met us with ice water. The meals were great. I wish I could do it again.
I am sure glad you survived---God bless you.
You pried me out of hibernation with this story from '09, Kurt :).
There is a great deal of pride and adventure with the NPS SAR teams at the Canyon with many oweing their lives to their efforts. What isn't usually mentioned for various reasons is how much these mule guides add to the safety of the hikers they come accross on a daily basis. There are many cases that just an engaging word from a guide directed at a backpacker that's in over their heads in one of the most hostile environments brings a positive outcome. From poring ice water over children that have the appearance of boiled lobsters with their parents in the summertime Furnace to reefing up a hiker hanging over the edge, clinging to a Gamble Oak limb over very serious exposure are just two of the many situations that guides deal with on occasion in support of everyone on the trails besides their responsibilities toward their riders. Sharing the trails, the responsibilities and the Canyon effects, whether riding mules or backpacking is one of the premier lifetime experiences for many willing to make the effort. Thank you NPS SAR and Canyon Wranglers !
My wife and I as well as my twin 13 year old boys and 9 year old daughter took the one day trip on the mules in October 2008. After booking the trip I watched videos of the mules on Youtube. When we did the trip I was first very apprehensive about the safety of my children but they handled it with ease. It was scary but I placed all of my trust in the mules. They knew what they were doing. Im from Australia and I have recommeded the mule trip to all of my friends planning a trip the the USA. Loved it and I would do it again if I return to the US.
My wife and I rode mules in the GC 24 years ago and again recently with our 22 year old daughter, taking the full 2 day trip to Phantom Ranch. Both trips fantastic! Guides were great ans give thorough training and description of what you will encounter. Fear of heights? They offer an on the spot refund. Most importantly, they explain why they use mules (bred to be a strong and "sure-footed" animal) and how they are trained. A GC mule experience is highly recommended.
Responding to an earlier negative posting (admin):
Well, it's been 128 years since Captain John Hance ran the first commercial ride. The figure given for riders since then is more accurately, over one million riders. Sorry you weren't up for the adventure. During the orientation you were given more than enough warning that the ride is the real deal and that you need to man up or get a I hiked the canyon t shirt at any of the rim gift shops. You are safer on a mule going to the bottom of the Canyon and back than any other mode of transportation. It's not for sissies, however:).
Yes, Admin, you have redeemed yourself. I recognize this post :). Can't get more real amid all the virtual stuff that seems to preoccupy so many. The transformations that take place on a daily basis that happen to those that commit to the adventure just can not be described any more than people can try to describe what they see when they first look into it. Experience it and you will be the better for having done so.
Living in the area, we are frequent visitors to GC Park, and a few years back my husband snagged last minute spaces for us on a mule ride To The Rim. During the summer, especially July, sudden afternoon rain storms are quite common in the Park. During our instructions for our trip, the instructor noted it looked like rain and we would be given rain gear. I have ridden mules and horses but was surprised at the mule assigned to me--one of the biggest equine things I've ever ridden in my life. So large, that for the first time I sufferred the indiginity of needed assistance to mount. I looked down from this high perch thinking it was a long way down, then quickly felt the discomfort level of the large girth to match the mule's height. I was unable to attain the slightest degree of comfort with legs spred as best as possible around the mule. Trying to stay in the shorten stirrups (even after extended adjustments) was difficult and "crampy on the feet." How was I going to last on this 4 hour ride? (I'm 5'4", 128 lbs.)
My husband and I were the last two to join the line of riders as raindrops started falling, and I remembered the instructor forgot to issue rain gear. I'm no quitter and resigned myself to just being a little wet. Very quickly it started to rain harder and we plain old got soaked while thunder was our constant companion. One clap of thunder, one of the loudest I've ever heard, got some mules attempting to bolt out of line. Earlier during instruction we were told to hold tight for the wildest 20 second ride should a mule bolt; worst we would get was maybe a broken bone if we fell. I prayed that we would turn around, as it certainly didn't seem safe among all these trees with one lightening strike after another. About 1/2 hour into the ride we couldn't see the front of the line for the torrential rain. At this moment guides (wearing rain gear) got word on their radios that we should return right now. I could overhear this instruction on the radio and being all too anxious to head back, got my mule turned quickly. The last half hour was getting stubborn mules to navigate flooded areas and take a detour to avoid a downed tree (result of the loud clad of thunder earlier). I must say, the guides did their best to assist riders in keeping their mules going on thru huge puddles and navigating areas some mules baulked at negotiating around.
Upon returning to the barn, riders were offerred the choice of another trip or a refund. Having now completely dismissed the idea of a future mule trip to the canyon bottom, we took a refund. I am a somewhat experienced rider and know that a mule or horse on these rides can take better care of you than you can take care of them. However, I was aware of inexperienced riders trying to deal with out-of-the-ordinary circumstances and realized the danger they could be in or put others into. It is probably best to do these adventures with a little more experience, since you never know what you will encounter. Thank goodness we suffered nothing worse than being drenched along with our mules. As for me, it was the size of the mule that got me and I now take care to see that the horse and I are a good sized match.