Chaffee County Search and Rescue (CCSAR) responded Saturday to a report of a hiker who had sustained a serious leg injury after falling down a waterfall descending the west ridges of Tabeguache Peak. The first responders rappelled down to a location in the gully below, assessing and stabilizing the patient before raising them to safety.
In their Facebook post, CCSAR cautioned that the location in McCoy Gulch where the patient fell and sustained their leg injury is well known and that the hazards present in the area are well documented and publicized. CCSAR has responded to numerous injuries in this Gulch and advise that while still a viable and gorgeous approach to Tabeguache Peak, any excursion should be well planned and approached with caution.
The post continued that in Saturday’s case, a party of two hikers descending the west ridges of Tabeguache became separated during an early afternoon squall. One of the hikers saw the Forest Service signs warning not to descend into McCoy Gulch and was able to regain the trail, descending safely to their vehicle at Jennings Creek. The other hiker found themselves in the Gulch and as many others before have discovered, found that the gentle creek can quickly turn into a tight canyon with little opportunity to escape during rainfall. The waterfalls increase in size and complexity, and often result in injury or require SAR assistance to escape.
