Here is a little tidbit from a recent NPS Morning Report. This is reminiscent of how SAR was done back in the old days (1950s). Now, of course, we do SAR in a much more civilized manner...

Chiricahua National Monument (AZ)
Ailing Hiker Rescued With SAR Horse Assistance

On November 2nd, the park received a report that a 33-year-old woman with a previous health history had become fatigued and was unable to continue hiking the Echo Canyon trail.

Rangers responded with their professional search and rescue horse, Boomer. The woman was evaluated and then evacuated on Boomer.

Chiricahua has 17 miles of day use hiking trails and 86% of the park is designated wilderness. Because many of the park’s trails are too narrow for the use of UTV’s or helicopters for rescues and because of limited staffing, carry outs by horse have proven to be the safest and quickest method for extricating people. The unique geologic features of Chiricahua National Monument make it one of the few national parks that require an active horse rescue program.

Boomer is a 21-year-old Tennessee walker who is currently celebrating his 20th year as a Park Service employee. Boomer started his NPS career at Big South Fork National Recreation Area; he has worked at Saguaro National Park as well, and has been with the Southeast Arizona Group for the past nine years. Boomer is used not only for rescue, but for boundary and routine patrols as well. He is a highly specialized, internationally recognized lifesaving horse.

Most horses have a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years, and many horses at Boomer’s age have been removed from service to enjoy well-earned retirement. But Boomer’s gentle nature, large size and keen intelligence contribute to the ongoing and excellent performance of his duties.

[Submitted by Matt Stoffolano, Chief Ranger, Southeast Arizona Group]

In 2013 they are still evacuating people by horse? How Barbaric!

But then, on the other hand, using a helicopter could be artificial.

I am very familiar with Chiricahua NM, and the news release is correct. The area was set aside as a "Wonderland of Rocks," a fantastic grouping of volcanic spires (unfortunately too crummy to be very appealing for rockclimbing) and the trails are skinny! It is a fairly small area, and the transit times are short, especially if you factor in the time required for an outside team to reach the area.

It should be noted that a Tennessee walker has a very very smooth gate and thus evacuating someone on such a horse could passably be smoother than 6 people with a stokes litter.

Having been on Mounted Patrol, I find a lot of value doing SAR on horseback.

Just my thoughts.

Just about anything will be smoother than six rescuers humping a Stokes, especially when you consider what is inevitably an immutable law - in any given group, the heaviest person will always be one that needs transport. The longer the carry,the more likely this is to be true.