BOONE COUNTY, Iowa — A hiker was saved after a fall on a steep and muddy trail over a cliff face at Ledges State Park in Boone County over the weekend.

According to a post on Facebook, at around 10:20 a.m. Sunday Boone County dispatch received a 911 call from an individual reporting that his brother had fallen and had likely broken his ankle while exploring the Old Indian Trail near the Crow’s Nest in the park. The 30-year-old victim was located roughly 75-yards uphill on a muddy and root-covered slope that didn’t have an actual trail.

Days of heavy rainfall earlier in the week complicated the rescue, as the rain left trails slick and muddy, and caused low-water crossings to flood. Boone County Search and Rescue said the conditions forced first responders to search for the hiker on foot. First responders located the injured hiker, who was conscious, but unable to walk.

At around 11:15 a.m., Boone County Search and Rescue said it arrived to perform a rope-based technical carry-out with litter equipment, a one-wheel system and full rope complement to safely lower the hiker to a more accessible location. The rescue entailed stabilizing the hiker, packing him up, and maneuvering him down the slope to EMS. Nearly an hour later the hiker was placed on more solid ground and transported by EMS to a nearby hospital.

The additional agencies involved in the rescue included the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Boone Fire Department, Boone County Hospital EMS, and Boone County Emergency Management.

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