Hiker rescued in 12-hour New Year's Day mission after falling from ledge

'Plan B, C and D': Rescue volunteers shelter overnight with injured hiker

Rescuers hunkered down with a hiker that fell off a ledge and hurt himself in Yavapai County on New Year's Day. FOX 10's Megan Spector learns about the 12-hour mission.

YAVAPAI COUNTY, Ariz. - A hiker rescue on New Year's Day required rescue volunteers to stay with that hiker overnight.

What we know:

The 55-year-old man was hiking alone off Bumble Bee Road in Yavapai County when he fell from a ledge and seriously injured his ankle. 

Weather conditions forced rescue volunteers to stay with that hiker overnight for the nearly 12-hour rescue operation, and it wasn’t until the next morning that a helicopter could reach them all safely.

What they're saying:

Deputy Jason Kaufman describes a rescue mission like a game of chess.

"When you plan these things out, you have to plan two or three steps ahead… What you have, what you need, and then what you might need if that plan doesn’t work," said Yavapai County Forest Patrol Deputy Sheriff Jason Kaufman.

Coordinating search and rescues throughout Yavapai County, he says it requires extreme flexibility.

"What happens if this plan doesn’t work? I need plan B, I need plan C, I need plan D," Kaufman said.

Deputy recounts life-saving hiker rescue mission

Rescue volunteers stayed with a hiker overnight, braving the weather conditions, after he fell off a ledge on New Year's Day. FOX 10's Megan Spector learns what it took for the hiker to get to safety. 

The backstory:

That’s exactly what was needed on New Year's Day. An injured hiker required a rescue, but by the time rescue volunteers reached him, weather conditions presented new challenges.

"Pouring rain, thick fog, wind — 5, 10, 20 knots, sideways, rain sideways, slick wet ground," Kaufman said.

With helicopters unable to fly in those conditions, Deputy Kaufman made the call to keep the rescue team with the hiker overnight.

"They’re trained in basic survival techniques: lighting fires, splints, and providing a lean-to shelter for people who are injured in crazy predicaments," Kaufman said.

Why you should care:

Preparedness is a tool for rescuers, but it's also a safeguard for hikers.

"It’s preventable. Or it’s preparable I guess I should say," said Jon Mincks of the Arizona Hiking Shack.

Mincks is a wilderness skills and safety specialist.

"A little tiny poncho weighs about 6 ounces. There it is strung up as a shelter. So guy in that rain could have used an emergency shelter," Mincks said.

Dig deeper:

This rescue is another reminder to practice hiker safety and plan for the unknown.

"People aren’t prepared. A lot of things are underestimated when hiking," Mincks said.

"We do search and rescues almost every single day in Yavapai County," Kaufman said.

What's next:

The next morning, a Black Hawk helicopter was able to lift the hiker and rescue team to safety after the nearly 12 hours.

Nearby location of where the hiker fell.