IVINS — A man was hiking in Red Cliffs near Leeds on Friday when he realized he was lost and had no cell signal, a sheriff’s deputy said.
The man began hiking in the late morning on Dec. 8 and by 5 p.m. realized he was in trouble.
After making camp for the night with his small dog, he was able to find cellphone service right before his phone died the next morning. He called his daughter and 911, Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Lacagnina said.
A rescue team was able to obtain the hiker’s GPS location and the Department of Public Safety’s Star 8 helicopter quickly touched down and took him to the Red Cliffs Trail Head where LaCagnina was waiting.
The man reported he was cold but otherwise cleared by medical teams waiting for him at the base of the trail. He was then taken back to waiting family members.
“Stay on trails when you go hiking,” Lacagnina told St. George News. “Let people know where you’re going ahead of time. Pack a day pack that will at least last you 24-48 hours. Try to hike with people instead of by yourself. Be prepared and dress accordingly.”
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.