On October 10, 2023, around 12:00 PM, Idaho County Dispatch received an SOS activation. They were advised the male had said he had fallen off a cliff.
The coordinates mapped to the edge of Indigo Lake.
Life Flight responded but they were unable to land due to weather conditions and terrain. Two Bear Air was also down due to maintenance.
Idaho County Deputies, Grangeville Mountain Rescue Unit members, a member of the Stites Fire Department and units from the Riggins Ambulance responded and met at the Slate Lake Trailhead. At approximately 6:30 PM, rescuers located the male at Indigo Lake. It took five hours to walk him four miles out to a four-wheeler, where they finished the last 3/4ths of a mile.
The male had sustained a severe head injury and injured both ankles, a knee, and a hip. He had fallen the night before and been knocked unconscious for an unknown amount of time. He found his gear and his pack the next day and walked over two canyons to get to Indigo Lake, where he activated his SOS.
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On October 10, 2023, around 7:15 PM, Idaho County Dispatch received a call from a hunting party advising a 17-year-old had fallen and dislocated his leg. They stated they were near Camp Adams in the pillars, and the coordinates they were able to give were near Camp Howard Road.
Idaho County Dispatch contacted Life Flight, but they were unable to fly due to weather.
Idaho County Deputies, the Grangeville Mountain Rescue Unit (GMRU), the Grangeville Ambulance, and the White Bird QRU all responded. At approximately 1:30 AM, they were able to locate the patient and they assisted him to the main roadway.
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Idaho County Sheriff Doug Ulmer wishes to thank all our volunteer agencies for their continuous support. These volunteers freely give up their time and use their personal resources in adverse weather and conditions, and we are truly fortunate to live in such an amazing area.