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Released By:  Lt. Bryan Husband, Search and Rescue Coordinator

Date:  October 18, 2020 / 12:03 PM

Location:         North side of Broken Hand Summit

Rescued:         Bailey, Susan - 63 year old female from Hubbard, Or.

On 10-18-20, at about 12:03pm, 9-1-1 Dispatch recieved a report of an injured hiker near Broken Hand summit. GPS coordinates were received along with the 9-1-1 call, which placed the injured subject, Susan Bailey, on the trail that edges around the north side of Broken Hand (at about 8,400'). A Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Deputy immediately called the reporting person, Ms. Dorthy Abbott, who told him Bailey had fallen on the trail and had injured herself while attempting to arrest her fall.  Although Bailey's injury was reportedly not life threatening, she was in a tremendous amount of pain.  Abbott also reported the trail they were on was narrow and on a steep side hill.  Abbott did not think Bailey could be reached with a wheeled litter.  Abbott reported they had a sleeping bag on Bailey to keep her warm, as fog and clouds were rolling in with misting conditions at times.

At 12:12pm, an alert request was sent out for DCSO SAR volunteers to respond, including members of the medical team and members of the mountain rescue team. Initially, 13 DCSO SAR Volunteers responded to DCSO SAR in Bend and gathered the equipment and supplies needed to rescue Bailey from her remote location.  Life Flight agreed to fly two DCSO SAR Volunteers up to the area to reach the patient in a more timely manner. 11 more DCSO SAR Volunteers departed in vehicles, headed for the Broken Top trailhead.  Due to the previously described weather constraints, Life Flight had to drop off the two DCSO SAR Volunteers approximately three miles west of Bailey, at about 1:56pm.  DCSO SAR Volunteers traveling by vehicle, arrived at the Broken Top TH and departed up the trail at about 2:00pm.

The two DCSO SAR Volunteers flown in by Life Flight reached Bailey first, arriving at 3:16pm.  They reported the weather had continued to decline, winds were blowing 30 knots and gusting to 45 knots, and fog was continuing to blow in through the area.  They began to stabilize Bailey and confirmed teams would need to carry her approximately 250' before a wheeled litter option would be available.  DCSO SAR Teams hiking over three miles in from Broken Top TH began arriving at Bailey's location at about 4:15pm.  They had been tasked with carrying an assortment of rescue equipment, including multiple rescue ropes, "rock pro" rescue system equipment wheeled litter and additional patient packaging supplies.

With the potential of a long carry/litter out to the trail head looming, six additional DCSO SAR Volunteers were requested to respond and assist.  As SAR Volunteers began setting up the rigging systems needed to safely begin to move Bailey, they reported it appeared the cloud/fog layer was beginning to dissipate.  Ultimately, rescue teams decided to lower Bailey over 200', where they were able to more easily carry her to an open and likely landing zone location.  Teams further stabilized Bailey and provided additional warming supplies, until Air Link was able to respond and pick her up at approximately 8:36pm.  Air Link then transported Bailey to St. Charles Hospital in Bend for further treatment.

DCSO SAR Volunteers escorted Bailey's three hiking partners down to the Broken Top TH and provided them a courtesy transport back to their vehicles which were parked at the Tam Rim TH, near Three Creeks Lake.  All DCSO SAR Volunteers had returned to DCSO SAR base in Bend by 12:30am.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office would like to thank both Life Flight and Air Link for their assistance with this rescue.  We would also like to remind those individuals choosing to recreate in our back country during this time of year, to conduct additional research about the area you want to travel, including trail and forecasted weather conditions.  It is not uncommon at this time of year for weather conditions to be mild in and around town, but extreme in our higher elevations.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Street Crimes, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with six K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves the nearly 190,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 230 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 187 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.