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Boy Scout Troop Encounters West Fork Obstacles

west fork 6 west fork map 2Sedona AZ (October 21, 2013) – Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Search and Rescue Volunteers assisted a group of eight Boy Scouts and three adult leaders out of the West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, after one of the Scout leaders sustained a leg injury.

On Saturday, October 19, 2013, at about 11:00 at night, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a 30-year-old man identifying himself as one of three adult leaders escorting a troop of Boy Scouts ranging in age from eight to twelve years on a hike through West Fork. According to the caller, at approximately three miles into the hike, the group encountered an unexpected large body of water that ceased all forward progress.

The man said the troop was not equipped or prepared to wade through the water that, at its highest point, was chest high on some of the boys. During this same time period, another Scout leader who is seventy-one years of age, injured his leg to the point that he found hiking or walking painful. The reporting party hiked out to the West Fork Trail Head, off of Woody Mountain Road in Flagstaff, to the hike’s starting point and called for assistance. After explaining the situation to the Sheriff’s Office, the Scout leader returned to the location where he left the waiting troop.

West Fork Canyon has many bodies of frigid water that require wet suits even in the summer months

West Fork Canyon has many bodies of frigid water that require wet suits even in the summer

Sheriff’s Deputies and Search and Rescue Volunteers hiked to the group’s location. Some of the rescuers immediately escorted the Boy Scouts and a thirty year old female leader back to Woody Mountain Road. A group of Search and Rescue Volunteers remained with the injured leader and administered wilderness first aid preparing him to hike back to the starting point.

The rescuers and the injured Scout leader reached Woody Mountain Road on Sunday, October 20, 2013, at about 7:20 a.m. A crew from Guardian Medical Transport met the victim as he arrived and conducted an initial medical assessment. The injured man refused additional medical care and declined transportation to the medical center.

The Boy Scouts and their leaders returned to the Phoenix area where they live.

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3 Comments

  1. Jeff says:

    glad they got back safe & sound

  2. glad they’re back home safe

  3. A good organization that offers valuable learning experiences even the kind like this. High Five Young Men and Leaders! Scouts Honor! A Prescott mom

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