BY KAREN BOSSICK

Members of Blaine County Fire and Rescue brought a 73-year-old woman down from Carbonate Mountain on Wednesday after the woman sustained an ankle injury in a fall.

Crews responded to the site west of Hop Porter Park in Hailey at noon after the woman fell while hiking down the steep ridgeline trail and was unable to continue her descent.

Firefighters hiked to the woman, approximately 600 vertical feet above the trailhead, where they assessed her injuries, provided medical care and stabilized her. A second team carried a wheeled rescue litter up the mountain and used it to transport the woman down the steep switchbacks to the trailhead.

The operation serves as a reminder that hikers should wear appropriate footwear, carry plenty of water, let someone know their planned route and expected return time and consider hiking with a partner, said Lenny Joseph, media relations director for Blaine County Fire and Rescue. As temperatures remain warm, it’s important to stay hydrated and recognize personal physical limits, he added.