Hiker suffering from heat-related illness is rescued, brought to Bellingham hospital
A Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Search and Rescue (SAR) team rescued a hiker in Okanogan County on Sunday and airlifted him to Bellingham for treatment.
The 54-year-old unnamed man was suffering from a heat-related condition while hiking the Windy Creek Trail at about 5,500 feet of elevation, according to a release detailing the rescue response.
The SAR team responded via helicopter at about 6:40 p.m. on Sunday and arrived at the Windy Creek trailhead just after 7:30 p.m. The team located the hiker on a slope with sparse tree coverage and dead trees nearby from a previous wildfire.
“The SAR crew decided to insert rescue personnel about 50 meters down trail from the group’s location to avoid rotor wash on the patient and potential brownout conditions,” the release states.
The hiker was hoisted into the rescue helicopter and taken to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Bellingham for treatment at about 8:45 p.m.
The 5-mile Windy Creek Trail is considered to be a “more difficult” trail in the Pasayten Wilderness, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The trail follows Windy Creek through fire-damaged lodgepole pine up to the ridge and to Windy Peak Trail. From there, it is about half a mile to the top of Windy Peak, which has panoramic views of the North Cascades. On a clear day, Mt. Baker is visible.
The closest town to the trail is Tonasket, Washington. The high temperature in Tonasket on Sunday was about 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heat exhaustion is a mild heat-related illness that occurs in hot temperatures and when you do not drink enough water or other non-alcoholic fluids, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People at the highest risk for heat exhaustion are the elderly, those with high blood pressure and those working or exercising in the heat.
Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, a serious heat-related illness. Heat stroke occurs when the body’s temperature rises quickly, and cannot cool itself down.
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island SAR has conducted 26 missions so far this year, including one medical evacuation, four searches and 21 rescues. Whidbey Island is located off the coast of Whatcom and Skagit counties.
