We were paged out today (9/9/2025) for a report of a man with a broken ankle in Sunday Gulch in Custer State Park. We responded with Custer Ambulance Service. Thanks to a 911 call and a good description with the initial report, we had a pretty good lock on the location which was near one of the sets of stairs on the steepest and rockiest part of the trail below Sylvan Lake. We learned that the patient, who was hiking solo, broke his ankle when he slipped on rocks (near the stairs) which were wet from a passing rain shower. This could happen to anyone, but in this case a flight nurse from Black Hills Life Flight happened to be hiking the other direction when the accident occurred, so it was our patient’s lucky day in that respect! This nurse climbed high enough to get a cell signal and make the 911 call, then returned to assist the patient until we arrived. After we reached the location, the patient was placed in our litter and then we began carrying him back up to Sylvan Lake where the ambulance was parked. We’ve done it before, but it’s a lot of work and we can always use more people to help carry and pass the litter through narrow areas of the trail. In addition to the Life Flight nurse, our crew was assisted by guides from Sylvan Rocks Climbing School and Guide Service who heard about the call and jumped in to help. We really appreciate all the assistance today! This would be a good time to mention again that in an emergency, hiking to a higher point sometimes will let you "catch" a cell signal and reach 911 dispatch. Also don't forget you can TEXT 911 which will trigger a response. Follow any instructions you may receive in return. A text will sometimes go through when a phone call will not so try this technique first (a text to 911) if you can't make a call in an emergency. (fb)

In addition to the tongue-in-cheek edits below, when either Wind or Jewel caves have an emergency, all tours stop (for the duration of the emergency). Both caves are extremely busy and tours are typically booked out. Please know your limitations. (fb)