Carter Canyon Search Successful

By Andi Hale

(GERING, Neb.) — Tuesday, October 7th, the communications center recieved a call about a hiker who was stranded alone overnight in the Carter Canyon area and needed help. He was stuck in a crevice and unable to find a way down.

Scanner traffic is indicating a search being conducted in the Wildcat Hills area. Unsure of what’s happening right now, so we will keep details at a minimum until we understand the situation.

What we know is that you should stay away from the area and keep following for more as this story develops.

Update 1 : Another call came in over scanner traffic indicating a male near County Road T and County Road 16 / 17 in the Carter Canyon Area. They are requesting medical on standby for a male who was in the hills overnight and may be experiencing hypothermia. This must be who they were looking for.

Update 2 : They have located the male and he is not hypothermic, but likely dehydrated, and stuck in a place where he just can’t get down from, according to scanner traffic. They were talking about using a UTV to access him.

Update 3 : Sounds like they’re going to have to use some equipment to pull him out from the top.

By Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

A 22-year-old hiker was found safe Oct. 7 after spending the night in a canyon crevice on Cedar Canyon Wildlife Management Area south of Gering.

The man had been attempting to hike down the side of a bluff near dusk on Oct. 6 when he realized there was a large drop ahead and he couldn’t climb back up the way he’d come.

The next morning, he shared his coordinates with someone who reported them to Capt. Sean McKeehan, of Nebraska Game and Parks, at about Noon MT.

Game and Parks conservation officers, along with wildlife staff, quickly located the man. Gering Fire and Rescue used repelling equipment to send a harness down to the hiker, who was then lifted down to the bottom of the canyon.

Regional West Emergency Management Services examined the hiker, and he was released.

Nebraska State Patrol and Gering Police Department also assisted at the scene.