These photos were all shot on Slide film on a solo road trip. I was sunning myself on top of Angels landing when the backcountry Ranger Jill Woods showed up. It was pretty late in the afternoon so there weren’t any other people up there at the time. After deciding that I wasn’t another tourist in danger of falling off and complicating things, she allowed me to stay and help keep other people off the summit. I mentioned that I was a commercial pilot and could call winds for the chopper. (I'm sure she was thinking "Yeah, whatever") Anyways, the description below is the official report of the incident.


Rangers conducted a dramatic and technically challenging rescue of an injured climber and his companion from Angels Landing in Zion Canyon early on the morning of Wednesday, April 17th. The two climbers, Brian Harder and Carrie Dagher, both of Jackson, Wyoming, were attempting the Northeast Buttress Route when Harder fell approximately 20 feet, injuring his back and head. The initial call came into park dispatch at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Other climbers in the area said that they had heard cries for help from a person on Angels Landing. The park immediately began organizing a rescue team. One of the two climbers was spotted on a ledge about 500 feet below the summit of Angels Landing, but was too far away for verbal contact. A helicopter flew over the area and located Harder and Dagher on a five-by-twenty-foot ledge. Rescuers and equipment were flown to the top of Angels Landing, where they began rigging ropes for the 500-foot rappel down to the climbers. The route was heavily choked with brush and rocks, which made the descent even more treacherous. A park medic and a local SAR volunteer reached the climbers at approximately 7:30 p.m. Harder was stabilized and preparations began for his evacuation.
Meanwhile, three other SAR personnel began rappelling down to assist with the operation. Rescuers decided that the best option would be to lower Harder down approximately 900 feet to the base of Angels Landing. Harder was secured in an evacuation litter and slowly lowered along with two of the rescuers by the three remaining SAR personnel on the ledge. The park structural fire engine's spotlight was used to follow the climbers as they made their way down. They reached the bottom of Angels Landing at 12:15 a.m. Wednesday morning. Harder was then carried down a steep, rock-covered slope to the road, arriving at 1:20 a.m. Harder was transferred to Zion Canyon Ambulance for transport to the Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George. Once Harder and the two rescuers were safely on the ground, the remaining rescuers and Dagher rappelled the 900 feet to the base of Angels Landing. According to chief ranger Aniceto Olais, the rescue was one of the most technically demanding in Zion in recent years: "Steep, exposed slopes, rugged terrain and the fact that it occurred at night made this rescue very challenging. This is a great example of the skills and teamwork that it takes to perform under such conditions. We are very proud of all those involved in this rescue." [Janice Kali, ZION, 4/17]