Emergency teams braved severe winter conditions to retrieve the body of a hiker, Nathan Bayless, aged 46, from a steep 700-foot bluff in Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee.
The operation was conducted in extreme cold, with temperatures plunging to 13 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, posing considerable difficulties for the rescue squads.
The search for Bayless started at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, after a call about a lost hiker. The Piney Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) first noticed footprints in the snow leading into the forest near the park’s northern entrance.
These footprints led the rescuers to a bluff line overlooking Cane Creek Gorge, an area known for its icy and steep slopes and deep snow cover, adding complexity to the search and rescue operations.
Before finding Bayless’s body 700 feet below the bluff line, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) used a helicopter equipped with forward-looking infrared radar.
A specialized group of park rangers then undertook a demanding journey of over an hour across the snowy landscape to reach the specific location.
The recovery necessitated advanced technical skills, incorporating multiple rope systems for descending and ascending the challenging terrain. The entire operation took seventeen hours, with the last rescuer climbing up the bluff at 8 am on Wednesday.
One rescuer received treatment for moderate hypothermia during the mission.
Kim Schofinski, a spokesperson for Tennessee State Parks, which is part of the state Department of Environment and Conservation, confirmed the unfortunate event.
This incident is among a rising number of emergencies related to the winter storm across Tennessee. The state’s Department of Health has noted a total of 17 fatalities due to the ongoing winter storm last week.
Bayless, a resident of Fall Creek Falls, is survived by his mother, Carolyn Bayless of Fall Creek Falls; sister, Edwina (Jeremy) Wilson of Spencer, TN; several close relatives and friends. His obituary reports he died on January 17.