Hiker with injured ankle

September 27, 1979
Devil's Slide Trail
1979-033

ForwardReturn to IndexBack

By Jim Fairchild

EMTs AT WORK - RMRU member Kevin Walker steadies the injured hikers ankle, while Walt Walker inflates the air splint. (photo by Jim Fairchild)Just after 1740 this afternoon Jim Garvey and I were discussing autos and RMRU at his auto agency. We parted with the observation that it had been a long time since the last mission and, "See you tonight.....!"

Just after 1800 I was at the intersection of Central and Riverside Avenues when the pager sounded. Two blocks later I was talking to Al Andrews, who told of an injury at Chinquapin Flats near Tahquitz Peak, and could I drive the van. Well, sure, I'm standing 50 feet from it.

At our roadhead, Humber Park, we assembled gear for the hike. An injured ankle would not be at all hard to care for. John Dew, Kevin and Walt Walker and I took off up the trail, leaving instructions that later comers bring the wheeled litter and accessories.

A lovely evening for a fast hike if it were cooler. We were well into our second winds when we spotted flashlights halted at Jolly Springs, a mile up. As we approached the party with flashlights came barreling along without slowing and we spotted a large fellow carrying another large fellow "piggyback." John asked it this were the injured person as they sped past him. They slowed to a halt after Walt spoke a few, rather harsh, words. Before long this party acknowledged the wisdom of such things as air splints, insulation, and a wheeled-litter ride back to Humber Park.

Shortly Tony Loro, Pete Carlson, Larry Roland, Jim Garvey, Craig Beasely and Ron Barry hustled up with the litter.

The splinted and warmed Mr. William Richards was loaded into the litter and was started on his journey that ended at Loma Linda Hospital.

SMOOTH RIDE OUT - RMRU members wheel the injured hiker down to Humber Park. (photo by Jim Fairchild)We also were assisted by Riverside County Radio Association members, Mary Bowman and Gordon Johnson, of Idyllwild who manned the base radios for back-to-town communications.

The splinted and warmed Mr. William Richards was loaded into the litter and was started on his journey that ended at Loma Linda Hospital.

We also were assisted by Rivers