> At a Glance
> – A 55-year-old hiker fell from a ledge in Yavapai County on Jan. 1, 2026
> – Rescue crews braved freezing rain and floodwater to stay with him overnight
> – A Black Hawk helicopter airlifted him to safety at 7:45 a.m. the next day
> – Why it matters: Rapid coordination between ground teams and military air support saved the man despite severe weather that grounded other aircraft
A New Year’s Day hike near Bumble Bee Road turned into a 14-hour ordeal when a 55-year-old man tumbled from a ledge, badly injuring his leg. Plunging temperatures and steady rain raised hypothermia risks for both the hiker and the rescuers who reached him after the 5:55 p.m. call.
Overnight on the Mountain
With floodwater blocking evacuation routes, the search-and-rescue squad hunkered down beside the patient. They lit a fire, splinted the leg, and built a lean-to while rain kept medical helicopters grounded.
Yavapai County Forest Patrol Deputy Jason Kaufman recalled:
> “You have to plan two or three steps ahead. They’re trained in basic survival techniques: lighting fires, splints, and providing a lean-to shelter for people who are injured in crazy predicaments.”
Airlift at Dawn
At first light, the Arizona Department of Emergency & Military Affairs launched a Black Hawk that hoisted the hiker out at 7:45 a.m. and flew him to awaiting medics.
Two More New Year’s Rescues
While the mountain operation unfolded, deputies also found:
- A lost female hiker in Blue Tank Wash, Wickenburg-guided back to her car
- A lost male hiker on a Sedona trail-escorted to safety
Key Takeaways
- Severe weather forced ground teams to shelter with the patient overnight
- Coordinated call-up of military aircrew delivered the only viable extraction
- Three separate hiker incidents kept county crews busy on the same day
The successful lift ended a frigid night that tested both the injured man and the rescuers who refused to leave his side.
