Heli Rescue From Emigrant Peak on Saturday

Gallatin County and Park County search and rescue professionals worked together on Saturday to rescue a person in distress on Emigrant Peak.

A hiker who was experiencing respiratory issues and distress due to heat needed to be evacuated via helicopter from Emigrant Peak on Saturday, July 16th. The person in distress was hiking in a group.

"Emigrant Peak, elevation 10,926 feet, is a prominent mountain peak on the western edge of the Absaroka Range near Emigrant, Montana." -Wikipedia

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The phone call for assistance came into Gallatin County dispatch at 4:24 pm on Saturday from a Park County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Park County was needing assistance with a situation that was appearing to require a helicopter evacuation.

The hiker experiencing medical issues (along with their group), was approximately 800’ from the summit of Emigrant Peak.

The group of hikers did attempt to get the person in distress down the mountain on their own but it was unsuccessful, prompting a call to authorities for help. Authorities determined that due of the type of medical issues involved and the time it would take for a ground-based rescue, a helicopter rescue was the appropriate response.

Specific details of the medical issues were not given. According to the official press release from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office:

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue Heli Team and Comms Team volunteers, along with a Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office deputy, responded to the call. The Comms Team and GCSO deputy provided mission support and liaised with Park County.

The Heli Team deployed from Gallatin County to a landing zone near Emigrant Peak staffed with a Park County Sheriff’s Office deputy and Livingston Fire and Rescue personnel.

After a reconnaissance flight, the team located the patient and was lowered to perform a medical assessment. The team stabilized and packaged the patient and then short hauled them to the landing zone. The patient was turned over to awaiting medical personnel.

 

For further details and more pictures from this event, you can check the GallatinMedia.org website. There, you'll find information about events from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies.