Want To Help Powell County Search and Rescue?
There are several ways to do it!
Powell County Search & Rescue is a 501c3 non-profit organization working in the Red River Gorge Geological Area of the Daniel Boone National Forest. The volunteers of Search & Rescue spend hundreds of hours each year donating their time and talents to rescuing folks from cliffs and rugged terrain. Each rescue is unique and each person we rescue has a story to tell. We invite you to join with us in our mission of saving lives! You can become a valuable part of this effort by helping us accomplish what we are finding to be more and more difficult: funding these rescue missions from our own pockets.
Make A Donation
Powell County Search and Rescue is a non-profit, all volunteer organization funded entirely through individual donations, and fundraisings.
Become A Volunteer
There are many different roles and levels of support – you don’t have to be a world-class climber to provide an indispensable service to the search and rescue community.
Wish List
Please consider making IN-KIND material donations to Powell County Search and Rescue. Tax receipts based on the fair market value can be provided.
Who Are We?
We are an all volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to aiding persons lost or injured in the back country of Red River Gorge, Kentucky.
Why Donate?
Your generous contribution to our non-profit organization is 100% tax deductible and could one day save your life or the life of a loved one.
Latest Search & Rescue News
Sponsors
We’re always happy to assist our neighbors! ... See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
This afternoon at approximately 01:50 PM, Powell County Search and Rescue was dispatched alongside Powell County Emergency Medical Services to a subject who had been struck by lightning at Natural Bridge State Resort Park.
The 911 caller advised dispatchers that the subject had been struck by lighting, then fell and hit their head.
As personnel arrived on scene, it was determined that the 911 caller and the subject were on Low Gap Trail and hiking slowly down to the parking lot at the skylift.
The subject was able to walk out under their own power, evaluated by EMS, and transported to a local area hospital for further treatment and evaluation.
Search and Rescue was assisted by Natural Bridge State Resort Park personnel.
All agencies cleared the scene at approximately 15:30 ... See MoreSee Less
34 CommentsComment on Facebook
This morning at approximately 09:30 AM, Powell County Search and Rescue was notified of a 911 call from concerned campers about a hammock and associated items left on Auxier Ridge Trail between Haystack Rock and Courthouse Rock.
The callers advised dispatchers that they had gone in to camp around 6:00 PM last night and did not see anyone at this campsite. Upon leaving around 09:00 AM this morning, and, still not seeing anyone with the hammock, they notified 911.
Powell County Search and Rescue personnel responded immediately and treated this as an unknown call until physically on scene with the hammock and its associated items. Once personnel reached the hammock, a search of its contents revealed clothing, personnel hygiene products, used food and snacks, as well as beverage cans. A search of the immediate area yielded additional items, such as unused propane, tobacco, etc
Personnel searched from the hammock’s location to courthouse rock and its immediate area’s. Personnel also interviewed hikers, campers, and other visitors near the scene, none of which had seen anyone near the hammock or access its contents.
Due to the nature of the scene, the type of incident changed was to a possible overdue/missing person with no known identity.
Additional personnel from Powell County Search and Rescue, and, Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team, searched the entirely of Auxier Ridge Trail, Courthouse Rock Trail, Auxier Branch Trail, and Double Arch Trail by ground in attempt to locate any possible victims that may have fallen from the ridgeline or been injured on a trail.
Personnel from Wolfe County SAR also flew two drones from Haystack Rock to search the areas East and West of Haystack in an attempt to locate any possible victims that may have fallen from the ridgeline or been injured on a trail.
Both searches yielded no victims.
Powell County Search and Rescue, with assistance from Wolfe County SAR, and additional photos sent in from the general public, has determined that this campsite, hammock, and associated items have been in the same general location for at least 5 days and appears to have been abandoned by its owners.
At this time, no hikers have been reported lost, missing, or overdue by anyone to Powell County Dispatch.
A note was left for the owners of the gear to contact Powell County Dispatch in the event they return to the campsite and let us know they are ok.
All personnel cleared the scene at approximately 5:00 PM ... See MoreSee Less
22 CommentsComment on Facebook
At approximately 1:00 AM this morning, Powell County Search and Rescue and Powell County Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to a reported snakebite on Tunnel Ridge Road.
Initial reports from the caller advised that the patient had been hiking into a campsite on Auxier Ridge Trail and was bitten by a Copperhead on their right ankle.
When personnel from EMS and SAR arrived on scene, additional coordinates were provided by Powell County 911 Dispatch and it was determined that the caller was approximately 1/2 mile in on Double Arch Trail.
The patient was extricated by EMS and SAR personnel and transported to a local area hospital for further treatment.
As a reminder, if you experience a snakebite in the wilderness, remain calm, move a safe distance away from the snake, dial 911 and stay on the line until emergency personnel reach you. ... See MoreSee Less
56 CommentsComment on Facebook
What a Saturday! After spending all day with thousands of other people at the incredible Bigfoot festival, we received a call for a hiker who had suffered a possible broken ankle at Natural Bridge State Park. Natural Bridge State Resort Park park rangers made contact with the patient and determined that it would be a carry out. We hiked up the original trail to to Natural Bridge and located the injured hiker. PCSAR loaded the patient onto our rigid litter for carry out. Powell County Emergency Medical Services splinted the broken ankle, and provided care for the patient throughout the extraction. The patient was taken to the hospital and is expected to fully recover.
The team did hear some grunting sounds coming from woods while on scene. At first, we were sure it was Bigfoot watching us. It was later determined that it was just assistant chief Jon Neal trying to catch his breath after carrying the equipment to the top of Natural Bridge. ... See MoreSee Less
30 CommentsComment on Facebook
We are ready for one of the biggest festivals of the year! The population of Powell County nearly doubled at last years event, and this years festival will be even bigger. Stop by the Powell County Search and Rescue booth for lots of hands on demonstrations and some very cool swag! We will have some special Bigfoot decals, tokens and coloring book pages. We will also be giving away some special bottles of bourbon. We can’t wait to see everyone!
Stanton Tourism and Convention Commission
Powell County Tourism - Red River Gorge ... See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
This afternoon at approximately 2:50 PM, Powell County Search and Rescue, alongside Powell County Emergency Medical Services, was dispatched to Natural Bridge State Resort Park for a patient suffering from an ankle injury atop Natural Bridge. Kentucky State Park Rangers and Park Personnel made initial contact with the patient and provided updates to responding crews.
While personnel were responding to this incident, Powell County 911 Dispatch received a second call involving a patient of unknown age who had reportedly fallen between Haystack Rock and Auxier Ridge Trail within the Daniel Boone National Forest. Initial reports indicated the incident would require a high-angle rescue, with the patient reportedly suffering from an apparent ankle injury.
Due to the simultaneous nature of both incidents, additional resources from Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team were requested, as it was unclear whether either incident would require an extended carryout operation.
Upon making contact with the patient at Natural Bridge, crews utilized a stair chair to evacuate the patient to the Skylift area, where they were evaluated by Powell County EMS personnel and released at the scene.
Crews later made contact with bystanders and the reporting party near Haystack Rock, who advised that fellow hikers had already assisted the patient out of the crevasse and believed they could slowly walk toward the trailhead. Three hasty teams were deployed from the command post to intercept, evaluate, and assist with the patient’s evacuation utilizing a rigid litter.
The patient was subsequently packaged and evacuated to the trailhead, where they declined further medical treatment and self-transported to a local hospital.
Crews were also assisted on scene by U.S. Forest Service-Daniel Boone National Forest Law Enforcement.
We remind visitors to the Gorge to please exercise extreme caution while traversing wet or slippery terrain! ... See MoreSee Less
38 CommentsComment on Facebook
Today Powell County Search and Rescue responded to Natural Bridge State Resort Park Rock Garden Trail for a hiker with a suspected ankle fracture. Kentucky State Parks personnel made initial contact with the patient prior to SAR crews arriving on scene.
Responders provided patient care before packaging the patient for a carry out. Due to steep and difficult terrain, crews utilized low-angle rope systems to safely carry the patient to the awaiting ambulance for further evaluation.
As temperatures continue to rise, we encourage all visitors to stay hydrated and wear appropriate footwear and to plan accordingly before hitting the trails.
Special thanks to Kentucky State Parks employees and ranger who assisted with today's incident. ... See MoreSee Less
18 CommentsComment on Facebook
Two of our team members are a part of this incredible team! We are so fortunate to have assets like this in our Commonwealth and appreciate all of the effort that goes into building programs like these! ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook