Two accidents on Christmas Ridge on Bald Mountain last week resulted in injuries but no fatalities, as a paraglider's and a speed flyer's flights did not end quite as expected.
Danny Albright, a 44-year-old Wood River Valley resident, crashed on Christmas Ridge while speed flying on Thursday night, resulting in a broken ankle.
The Ketchum Fire Department responded to the scene at 7:21 p.m., said officer on duty John Rathfon, hiking down 400 feet to where Albright had gotten his chute hooked in a tree.
Albright was taken by helicopter to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise where he is in good condition, according to Saint Alphonsus Medical Center spokeswoman Jennifer Krajnik.
Close friend Mike Pfau said Albright is about to undergo another surgery on his ankle, but that he is otherwise recovering well.
"We're really excited that's all he's dealing with," Pfau said.
Rathfon said Albright was not competing in the U.S. Paragliding Nationals, which were taking place in Ketchum over the weekend. Speed flying is similar to paragliding, but with a smaller chute over shorter distances.
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The second accident on Christmas Ridge occurred Friday afternoon at 12:38 p.m., when the Ketchum Fire Department was paged out to respond to a paragliding crash.
Pfau, event organizer for the U.S. Paragliding Nationals, said competitor Chris Kurowski suffered a partial collapse of his chute. The collapse caused Kurowski to fall to the ground, though Pfau said he did not hit very hard.
Ketchum Assistant Fire Chief Robbie Englehart said responders from Ketchum and Sun Valley reached Kurowski at 1:27 p.m., and were able to transport him to St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center by 2:14 p.m. Though an air ambulance was called, it was not used.
Pfau said Kurowski suffered a collapsed lung and was released from the hospital within two hours.
Despite the two accidents this weekend, Pfau said, 85 paragliders flew safely to Stanley and Challis over the weekend as part of the U.S. Paragliding Nationals.
He said paragliders in these events usually have a certain level of skill, have received training in how to deal with malfunctions and fly with reserve chutes.
Katherine Wutz: kwutz@mtexpress.com
Paragliders soar over Baldy as part of the U.S. Paragliding Nationals last week. Two accidents on Christmas Ridge on Baldy last week resulted in injuries but no fatalities.
