OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — A man who fell into the Elwha River on Sunday afternoon was transported to Olympic Medical Center with minor injuries.
Dan Huff, assistant chief for Clallam Fire District 2, said the man had attempted to cross the river near the former Altair Campground by walking across a log but fell in the river.
The man, whose name Huff did not know, was then carried down the river about 100 yards before he was able to grab onto a log.
He said rangers were able to reach the man by going down a “limited access trail” that required log clearing. A swiftwater safety team also responded.
“When rangers arrived on the scene he was out of the river,” Huff said.
The former Altair Campground is in the Elwha Valley on Olympic Hot Springs Road, about 4.3 miles south of U.S. Highway 101 in Olympic National Park.
The Elwha River has destroyed sections of the road and Olympic National Park has removed temporary bridges that allowed vehicle access.
A gate blocks Olympic Hot Springs Road at the Madison Falls Trailhead, about 2.3 miles north of the former Altair Campground.
Huff said that first responders initially requested Life Flight Network land to airlift the man, but instead he was transported by ambulance to Olympic Medical Center.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
