RAPID CITY, S.D. – A search and rescue operation in the Black Hills was launched Sunday for a hiker who became separated from their group after falling ill on the Sunday Gulch trail. The Custer County Search and Rescue, Custer County Sheriff, and Custer State Park staff all responded to the incident near Sylvan Lake.
The Custer County Search and Rescue was paged around 12:40 p.m. to assist a hiker who was ill and had fallen multiple times on the strenuous trail. A second hiker from the group went for help, and a medical team was dispatched to the hiker’s location.
Upon arrival, the hiker was not at the location where they were reported to have been. The operation then shifted to a search for the lost individual. Search teams swept the Sunday Gulch Loop and interviewed other hikers on the trail, but the lost individual was not found. Cell phone service in the area is unreliable, making communication difficult.
The individual, who was supposed to wait for help, hiked back up the trail to their vehicle and was located there. The Custer County Search and Rescue stated in a release that the hiker should have never left their location, especially with a medical condition.
The rescue was completed around 3 p.m. The Custer County Search and Rescue reminds those hiking in the Black Hills, particularly in the Sylvan Lake area, that the trails are strenuous and recommended for seasoned hikers in suitable condition.
Photo by the Custer County Search and Rescue