The Towering Pines Canopy Tour at Gunflint Lodge has had three emergency medical calls this summer, raising concern for some that the popular treetop attraction is not safe.
The Cook County News-Herald spoke with Gunflint Lodge owner Bruce Kerfoot about the incidents. Kerfoot confirmed that the ambulance had unfortunately been called to the lodge three times this summer.
Each time, Kerfoot said, the injuries— ranging from minor cuts to one significant leg cut that required stitiches and treatment at a Duluth hospital—were not due to operator error, but to a rider not following instructions.
Kerfoot noted that Canopy Tour participants receive training from the Sky Guides on how to stop themselves. The injured parties did not follow instructions and came to the landing platform too fast, causing leg injuries.
The ambulance was called to all three incidents in accordance with Canopy Tour protocol. “We’re kind of anal,” he said. “If someone is bleeding, we don’t want to mess around.”
Kerfoot said likewise, if the ambulance is called to an emergency, its protocol is to transport a patient for treatment, something Kerfoot agrees with. “We don’t want someone to get an infection. I’d rather be on the conservative side,” he said.
That said, Kerfoot stressed that Towering Pines Canopy Tour has been operating safely for three years. All of the Sky Guides receive training in compliance with the American Challenge Course Technology Association. All of the guides also complete First Aid and CPR training.
And Kerfoot said, approximately 5,000 riders a season safely complete the canopy tour.
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