Coconino County Search And Rescue Seeing Increased Calls So Far This Year

Over the past several months, the number of people visiting the forested areas throughout Coconino County appears to have been on the rise based on the number of Search and Rescue calls received. Between January 1st and August 16th the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit has been involved in 103 search and rescue events, compared to 93 incidents for the time period in 2019. With the trend for increased numbers of search and rescue callouts, it is expected that 2020 will outpace the 155 total calls for help in 2019. Incidents in the last week include a fall at Slide Rock State Park, a lost hiker on Humphrey’s Trail and two deaths, one in the area of Twentynine Mile Lake as well one in the Sycamore Falls area. Authorities remind outdoor users to be prepared for the conditions and activity that they are planning to engage in. Making good decisions about outdoor activities and the individual’s preparedness and limitations is important for a safe experience.