SAR Patrol Helps Dozens of Hikers on Mount McLoughlin
Jackson County Search and Rescue volunteers assisted hikers during a Fourth of July patrol, including a distressed man who ran out of food and water after wrong turns near the summit.
MEDFORD, Ore. — A Fourth of July patrol on Mount McLoughlin turned into a real-time reminder of how quickly a summer summit hike can go sideways.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue volunteers and staff conducted a preventative patrol July 4 along the Mount McLoughlin summit trail, where rescue teams commonly see more calls for help during the holiday weekend.
JCSO said the increase is tied to heavy trail use and familiar problems on the mountain, including dehydration, exhaustion, altitude-related illness, lack of physical preparation and not carrying enough food or water.
Jackson County and Klamath County search and rescue teams each patrol one day of the holiday weekend every year.
During this year’s patrol, Jackson County SAR members carried extra supplies, including water, electrolyte packets and high-energy snacks, in addition to their standard first aid, survival and lighting equipment.
Around 2:30 p.m., SAR members met a family descending from the summit who reported a hiker in severe distress. The hiker was being helped down the mountain by another solo hiker, who had given the family his GPS coordinates and phone number.
SAR contacted the assisting hiker by text, plotted the location and began hiking uphill to reach them.
Jackson County Search and Rescue volunteers assisted about 25 hikers during a Fourth of July preventative patrol on Mount McLoughlin. SAR members provided water, electrolytes and trail guidance, and escorted a distressed 39-year-old hiker who ran out of food and water after wrong turns near the summit. Photo provided by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
About 45 minutes later, rescuers found a 39-year-old man suffering from severe weakness, nausea, incontinence, a minor head cut from striking a branch and a mild left ankle sprain, according to JCSO. He was alert and responsive, but could not continue hiking on his own.
The passerby helping him had already given the man the rest of his water. By the time SAR arrived, neither hiker had food or electrolytes left.
The distressed hiker told rescuers he had started around daybreak with plans to run to the summit. After taking two long wrong turns, he continued climbing despite running out of food and water.
JCSO said the man was not wearing a hat and became overheated in the intense sun above the tree line. He also told rescuers he had been filming content for social media and planned to document the experience as a “fail.”
SAR members provided first aid, stabilized the hiker and spent nearly four hours rehydrating and feeding him. He was eventually able to hike back to the trailhead under his own power with a SAR escort.
Across the day, SAR personnel contacted about 25 hikers and handed out water and electrolyte packets.
Before leaving the area, rescuers also placed additional water along the trail and clearly marked it for public use. Around dusk, a woman returning to the trailhead reported she had run out of water during her descent from the summit. She told SAR the water left on the trail allowed her to safely finish the hike without needing assistance.
JCSO said hikers planning to climb Mount McLoughlin or other strenuous trails should carry enough water and food, prepare for the physical demands of the hike, check weather conditions and turn around before becoming too tired to safely descend.
The sheriff’s office also thanked the passerby who stopped to help the distressed hiker, saying his quick action and willingness to assist significantly improved the outcome.
Cover image: Jackson County Search and Rescue volunteers assisted about 25 hikers during a Fourth of July preventative patrol on Mount McLoughlin, including a 39-year-old man who became weak, dehydrated and unable to continue descending on his own. Photo provided by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
