The Idaho Army National Guard completed three search-and-rescue missions over three days beginning Sept. 16, assisting local agencies in bringing three people to safety from remote locations in Ada and Custer counties.
On Sept. 18, the Guard assisted Custer County authorities in rescuing a husband and wife who each suffered broken bones while hiking near Challis, Idaho. The flight crew hoisted both hikers into a Black Hawk rescue helicopter and transported them to Challis Airport for further medical care.
The day before, Sept. 17, an Idaho Army National Guard flight crew assisted Custer County Search and Rescue in rescuing a 77-year-old man who had suffered a broken leg near Redfish Lake in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The man was hoisted into the rescue helicopter and transported to Stanley Airport in Stanley, Idaho, where an ambulance waited to take him for further medical treatment.
On Sept. 16, the Guard assisted Boise County Search and Rescue and Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue in rescuing a 59-year-old mountain biker near Dead Dog Creek in Ada County. The man had become lost in the Boise National Forest and had not been heard from since Sept. 13. He was dehydrated when rescued and airlifted to civilian medical care.
The Idaho Army National Guard operates HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters equipped with hoists that can rescue people from rugged, inaccessible terrain and operate at high elevations. According to military officials, the Guard operates the only helicopters in Idaho with hoist capability. The three missions brought the year's total for the Guard to 11 search-and-rescue operations.