Capital City Fire/Rescue personnel prepare to load Juneau man Chuck Sidlinger into a rescue boat after he fell from a trail on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (Courtesy photo | Meredith Trainor)

Capital City Fire/Rescue personnel prepare to load Juneau man Chuck Sidlinger into a rescue boat after he fell from a trail on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (Courtesy photo | Meredith Trainor)

Juneau climber survives 30-foot fall

He was flown to Seattle for surgery for pelvic injuries

A Juneau climber suffered serious injuries after a long fall Wednesday, according to authorities and those who were on scene.

On Wednesday afternoon, Capital City Fire/Rescue responders were called to about 34-mile Glacier Highway to assist a man who had fallen about 30 feet, CCFR Assistant Chief Ed Quinto said on scene via phone. The man was identified to the Empire as Juneau resident Chuck Sidlinger, by close friend Meredith Trainor who arrived on scene shortly after the incident.

Sidlinger dislocated his pelvis in two places and fractured his sacrum, Trainor said, and he was flown to Seattle for surgery at Harborview Medical Center.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Sidlinger was one of a group of five climbers who went out to the area Wednesday — which is not a hiking trail but is a trail climbers often use to get to cliffs in the area — one of his companions Zach Rhoades said in a phone interview. They were walking out along a particularly steep part of the trail when Sidlinger (who was wearing proper shoes and equipment) lost his footing, Rhoades said.

“It was very, very quick,” Rhoades said. “He just slipped and started tumbling.”

It wasn’t a freefall for 30 feet, but Sidlinger landed hard on a rocky spot. He remained conscious through it and through the rescue, and was even able to sit up on his own, Rhoades said. It was a scary moment for the climbers, but they were relieved that his injuries weren’t more serious.

“I’m kind of dumbfounded in a lot of ways at the result,” Rhoades said. “It could have been a lot worse.”

CCFR responders were able to get Sidlinger safely out of the area. Responders loaded him onto a boat, took him to a nearby dock and transported him via the CCFR medical unit, according to a CCFR Facebook post.

As CCFR pointed out in a comment to the Facebook post, the area is outside CCFR’s service area (which ends at Cohen Drive) but the City and Borough of Juneau charter gives the fire department authority to do rescues throughout the borough.

Trainor said via email that the efficiency and professionalism of personnel from CCFR, Bartlett Regional Hospital and Airlift Northwest was “incredible to witness.”

“We all felt immensely grateful to be part of the Juneau community yesterday,” Trainor said. “Thank you to all of the responders.”

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 15

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Elon Musk on stage with a chainsaw gifted to him by President Javier Milei of Argentina, left, during the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center in National Harbor, Md., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Musk to all federal workers: Explain accomplishments during past week by Monday or lose your job

Some agency leaders tell employees to hold off on responding as further guidance is sought.

Jude Humphrey, a Student Conservation Association intern for the U.S. Forest Service, reads a story about snowflakes to kids during a Mendenhall Minis event at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Firing on: Remaining Forest Service staff fill in to keep Mendenhall Glacier activities flowing

As visitor center continues lectures and kids’ events, fired employees get a show of community support.

The University of Alaska Southeast class of 2024 receives their degrees during a commencement ceremony Sunday, May 5, 2024, at the UAS Recreation Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
University of Alaska removing DEI references from all print and online materials

UAS chancellor says deletions are to comply with Board of Regents’ directive issued Friday afternoon.

A bike is parked outside the main entrance of Bartlett Regional Hospital on Thursday, July 27, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
About 100,000 Alaskans could lose health insurance under GOP plan backed by Trump, hospital officials say

Cut affecting Medicaid could also be costly to state and other policyholders, letter to delegation asserts.

Tetyana Robbins, executive director of Project Alaska, embraces Deepika Ramesh Perumal, executive director of the Alaska Literacy Project, after a House Judiciary Committee meeting at the Alaska State Capitol Building on Feb. 19, 2025. The presentation to the Alaska Legislature was one of many in Juneau this week by immigration leaders in the state. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Immigrants and refugees in Alaska feel uncertainty under Trump administration

Policy changes spur preparation outreach from immigration advocates.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, address the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Begich supports Trump’s federal cutbacks, but ‘I recognize the process won’t be perfect’

Congressman says cutting most Mendenhall Glacier staff may have been hasty; also wants faster flood fix.

Police calls for Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read