OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — A rescue operation to extract an injured 15-year-old Sequim resident from a trail in the Olympic National Park was under way this morning.
The teen and his family were on a day hike on Pyramid Peak Trail late Sunday afternoon, and were returning from the peak when he fell 150 feet down a 400-foot rock slide that crosses the trail, said Barb Maynes, spokeswoman for the Olympic National Park.
“He has leg injuries,” Maynes said.
“His injuries are not considered life-threatening,” she said.
The teen was not identified because of his age.
The Pyramid Peak Trail is located on the north side of Lake Crescent, 20 miles west of Port Angeles.
The fall was at a place that was about a 40-minute hike up the trail, Maynes said.
Park staff members were notified at about 4 p.m., and the first rescue team reached the boy by 7 p.m., she said.
An additional team of about 10 park rangers reached the young man shortly thereafter, but extremely steep terrain and weather conditions prevented an overnight rescue, she said.
“Rangers camped with them last night,” Maynes said.
The overnight team carried camping gear to keep the injured teen and his father safe and warm overnight, she said.
A technical rescue team including park rangers and Clallam County Search & Rescue personnel began hiking to the site early this morning, while another team is scouting possible rescue routes from below the trail and rock slide, Maynes said.
Once the teams arrive on site, they will determine the safest route and method for carrying the teen out.
His location and the wet weather will necessitate a technical rescue, using ropes and specialized climbing and rescue gear, Maynes said.
A rescue helicopter also has been placed on standby, although the day’s weather forecast makes an air rescue unlikely, she said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
