Badly Injured Hiker Rescued From Remote Area Of Park

On Sunday, October 19th, Nic Korte, a 59-year-old backpacker, was seriously injured in a fall while hiking with two companions near Tapeats Cave in a remote area below the North Rim. Korte fell 30 feet down a 40-degree slope, then off a 20-foot drop into a dry stream bed with large boulders. Korte’s son-in-law, a Grand Junction (Colorado) firefighter, ran ten miles to the Colorado River in two hours to summon assistance. There he contacted members of a river trip with a satellite phone. Park rescue personnel responded by NPS helicopter just before sunset. Due to the late hour and remoteness of the site, it wasn’t possible to land, so ranger/paramedic Brandon Torres was dropped off at a nearby point and hiked to Korte’s location. Torres treated him throughout the night. Korte’s daughter, Ann, later told a Grand Junction Sentinel reporter that “the paramedic’s calm demeanor and positive attitude put both Dad and I more at ease.” She had nothing but praise for the National Park Service. “After Dad was a little more comfortable, I sat down a little ways away and sobbed uncontrollably. It felt good to be able to let all that emotion out, especially since I knew my dad was in good hands.” On Monday morning, park personnel conducted a helicopter short-haul evacuation from below Tapeats Cave. Korte was flown three miles, along with Torres, to the Surprise Valley area, where a Classic Lifeguard aeromedical helicopter was staged. Classic Lifeguard then transported Korte to Flagstaff Medical Center, where he received treatment for a broken pelvis, arm and femur, a head injury, and multiple abrasions and contusions.  Della Yurcik served as incident commander.