What's a day in the life of a national park ranger like? Well, for those at Rocky Mountain National Park, it can mean heading out in the park frequently to rescue visitors.
For instance, here's a report of ranger responses in the park on Tuesday:
* At 9:00 a.m. rangers were notified by cell phone that a 22-year-old female was 200 feet below the summit of Longs Peak at roughly 14,000 feet with a knee injury. Andrea Soden from Boulder, Colorado, was assisted by visitors and park staff to the Boulderfield where she was flown by a helicopter to Upper Beaver Meadows at 4:00 p.m. She was taken by ground ambulance to Estes Park Medical Center.
* At noon, park rangers were notified by satellite phone of a 55-year-old female who had fallen and injured her leg on the Tonahutu Trail on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Elizabeth Williams of Lexington, Kentucky, was roughly 10 miles from the trailhead. Park rangers on horseback reached Williams at 5:15 p.m. She was brought out of the backcountry by a horse. Rangers reached the trailhead at 8:15 p.m. She left with family members in a personal vehicle.
* At 2:15 p.m., park rangers were notified by a cell phone that a 62-year-old female had fallen and broken her ankle on the Gem Lake Trail. Rangers carried Barb Smith of Denver, Colorado, roughly one-quarter mile with a wheeled litter. She was taken by ground ambulance to Estes Park Medical Center.
And when Wednesday dawned, they were back at it:
* This morning at approximately 5:30 a.m. park rangers were notified of a single vehicle rollover accident near the Colorado River Trailhead on Trail Ridge Road. The single occupant, a 45-year-old man, from Denver, Colorado, had numerous injuries and was flown by Flight for Life at 7:30 a.m. to St. Anthony Central. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
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Comments
Looks like maybe men should walk, women of all ages should drive.
Two of the most enjoyable books I have read this year are by Nancy Eileen Muleady-Meacham title "Park Ranger" & "Park Ranger Sequel". Her experiences in the Grand Canyon are a large portion of the books but it was interesting to read of the many different hats that Park Rangers wear! I think the RMNP Rangers are not getting much down time this summer considering there was an airplane crash there this season as well!