The Wilds of Santa Rosa

A mountain biker was airlifted out of Annadel State Park yesterday and flown to the trauma center at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of serious injuries following a cycling crash.

A team in the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department helicopter spotted 41-year-old Dan Kimble of Berkeley in some densely wooded hills at Annadel. The crew wasn’t able to land at the scene due to the difficult terrain. So rescuers airlifted Kimble in a rescue basket to a nearby field, where he was placed inside the helicopter.

My first reaction on hearing about the incident was relief that Kimble was rescued. But, I have to admit, my second thought was “Wow, cool, I live close to the wilderness.” I’ve been so busy in my suburban life of driving around on the same old streets and shopping for groceries and dropping my son off at Little League practices, that the idea that my “neighborhood park” of Annadel is actually a majestic wilderness of woods and hills and difficult terrain, fills me with a certain awe and glee.