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58 SOW Rescues Hikers In Santa Fe Mountains

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt Will Witherow
  • 58th Special Operations Wing
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, NM. --  

On Aug. 2, Airmen from the 58th Special Operations Wing (SOW) from Kirtland Air Force Base conducted a high-altitude rescue near Lake Catherine and Santa Fe Baldy, showcasing precision, coordination and readiness.

The call for assistance came in at approximately 9:30 p.m., reporting three teenage hikers in distress, one of whom was repeatedly losing consciousness. The state contacted 58th SOW’s 512th Rescue Squadron (RQS) for its unique capability to conduct rescue missions in inclement weather. The unit accepted the request and quickly mobilized along with two pararescuemen from Kirtland’s 351st Special Warfare Training Squadron (SWTS) who joined the effort to provide medical aid and ground support. Both squadrons began preparing for the long night ahead.

“We started gearing up and estimating what we’d need based on the initial assessments that came in with the call for support,” said MSgt Brandt, 351 SWTS instructor and pararescueman. “With both of us being training units staffed by experienced instructors, we are able to quickly work together on a game plan and execute effectively.”

Due to the extreme altitude and need for system redundancy, two aircraft were deployed to ensure the successful rescue of the hikers. By 11 p.m., both HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters launched from Kirtland, navigating around thunderstorms en route to the hikers’ location, roughly 60 miles away. 

The hikers were located at an elevation of about 11,300 feet in steep and rugged terrain with winds that restricted the crew’s ability to land or hover overhead. The aircraft landed about a half mile from the hikers due to limited terrain suitable for dropping off the pararescuemen. The trek to reach the hikers stretched nearly two miles and included a 1,200-foot elevation gain. The pararescuemen spent two hours navigating dense brush and climbing over boulders to reach the group.

While the PJs moved on foot, the helicopters maintained position overhead, providing illumination, communication support, and continuous monitoring of the situation. Aircrews also managed fuel levels with precision, balancing the need for endurance with the capacity to carry additional weight on the return flight.

Upon reaching the hikers, the PJs found one of them suffering from syncope and chest pain while the other two were showing symptoms of dehydration. They administered initial medical aid and began planning the trip back to the landing zone with the local search and rescue that had arrived. The team was able to find a path back that was clearer and resulted in a quicker hike that the injured hiker was able to accomplish with assistance. Once all three hikers were safely aboard, the helicopters transported everyone to Santa Fe Airport, where an ambulance was waiting to take the hiker to a local hospital.

After delivering the hikers to safety, the aircraft and crew returned to Kirtland, landing at approximately 5:30 a.m.

This mission is a testament to the skill, adaptability, and training of our Airmen. The teamwork between aircrew, pararescuemen, maintenance, and the New Mexico SAR team, combined with the readiness to operate in challenging environments, ensured that lives were saved that night!