Steamboat Pilot & Today

A man hunting during the weekend was kicked by a horse and had to be airlifted to Yampa Valley Medical Center.

Russell Kasson, 47, of California was kicked in his side and chest, said Sandy Phillips, Routt County Search and Rescue mission coordinator.

Kasson remained in Yampa Valley Medical Center in fair condition Monday, said Christine McKelvie, public relations director for YVMC.

The accident occurred early Sunday morning, said Dawn Alperti, who is part of Routt County Search and Rescue and was on command staff for the rescue. After the accident, Kasson's hunting companions helped him return to their hunting camp and were able to make an emergency call at about 12:50 p.m., despite patchy cell phone coverage.

The hunters were camped about eight miles from the Mad Creek trailhead in Swamp Park near Ditch Creek Trail, Alperti said. The area is just outside the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area.

Seventeen Search and Rescue members participated in the search, along with one paramedic with Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue.

Rescue workers drove five miles into the hunting camp, using four-wheelers on a forest road that parallels Mad Creek. They had permission from the U.S. Forest Service to do so, Alperti said. They got within about three miles of the man, then had to hike the rest of the way in, reaching the man at about 3:30 p.m.

The paramedic assessed the man and determined that he should be taken to a hospital, Alperti said. A Flight for Life helicopter landed near the man at about 4:30 p.m., and he was flown to Yampa Valley Medical Center.

The hunting group had been led into camp and dropped off, she said.