You don’t ever want to need to be rescued1 min read

By
Jeff Bear
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Some Days the Bear ...

On a recent Sunday morning, I awoke to the sound of a helicopter — not an unusual sound in West Sedona — except this one wasn’t just flying by, it was hovering around the base of Thunder Mountain.

One look out the window confirmed what I had already suspected, it wasn’t a “tour” helicopter on a sightseeing flight. This was clearly an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter on a search and rescue mission.

Soon after, the sad story became known — 65-year-old Douglas Sims, who had reportedly climbed the mountain several hundred times — fell 60 feet to his death while climbing near the peak.

The takeaway lesson? If a fall can happen to Sims; it can happen to anyone.

I know, because it could have happened to me.

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Aug. 7 issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.

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Jeff Bear

Jeff Bear began his journalism career in 2003 as a graphic designer and sports reporter at the Weekly Register Call in Central City, Colorado. In 2007 he began working at the Canyon Courier in Evergreen, Colorado, as a graphic designer, but soon transferred into the editorial department where he worked as a copy editor and sport reporter under Editor Doug Bell. After a stint as a graphic designer at American Classifieds in 2009-10, Bear began working in 2011 as a copy editor at the Arizona Daily Sun, in Flagstaff. While at the Daily Sun, Bear was tapped by the late Randy Wilson to report on local sports including Northern Arizona University and Olympic medalists training in Flagstaff for the 2012 Olympics. In 2013 Bear began working at the Red Rock News in Sedona, Arizona, where he was an assistant editor and sports editor. Bear has two daughters, Angela and Jessica, with his wife Nina. He is a singer and guitarist, an avid cyclist and hiker, and enjoys camping with family and friends.

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Jeff Bear
Jeff Bear
Jeff Bear began his journalism career in 2003 as a graphic designer and sports reporter at the Weekly Register Call in Central City, Colorado. In 2007 he began working at the Canyon Courier in Evergreen, Colorado, as a graphic designer, but soon transferred into the editorial department where he worked as a copy editor and sport reporter under Editor Doug Bell. After a stint as a graphic designer at American Classifieds in 2009-10, Bear began working in 2011 as a copy editor at the Arizona Daily Sun, in Flagstaff. While at the Daily Sun, Bear was tapped by the late Randy Wilson to report on local sports including Northern Arizona University and Olympic medalists training in Flagstaff for the 2012 Olympics. In 2013 Bear began working at the Red Rock News in Sedona, Arizona, where he was an assistant editor and sports editor. Bear has two daughters, Angela and Jessica, with his wife Nina. He is a singer and guitarist, an avid cyclist and hiker, and enjoys camping with family and friends.