Rescuers Roll Out ‘Big Wheel’ to Haul Hiker Off Phoenix Mountain Near Shea

A hiker was carried off a Phoenix mountain trail Friday after technical rescue crews used a single-wheeled "big wheel" litter to move the person to safety. The extraction unfolded near the 40th Street trailhead just south of Shea Boulevard, where firefighters set up a steep-terrain carryout. Crews worked to bring the hiker down to medical transport while the operation was still underway.

The Phoenix Fire Department posted on X that "the hiker has been extracted off the mountain utilizing a 'Big Wheel' operation," and noted that a public information officer was on scene to provide updates, according to Phoenix Fire Department. The post identified the 40th Street trailhead near Shea as the incident location and did not release any additional details about the hiker's condition.

What a Big Wheel Carryout Looks Like

Crews commonly turn to a single-wheeled litter, the so-called "big wheel," when terrain is too narrow or steep for ambulances and standard stretchers to navigate. The device is typically a Stokes litter mounted over an all-terrain wheel, which lets teams roll and stabilize patients down switchbacks and uneven ground instead of trying to shoulder the entire load. Local reporting has documented Phoenix crews using big-wheel carryouts for both heat-related and injury evacuations, and the department handles more than 200 mountain rescues a year, according to KJZZ.

Where It Happened

The 40th Street trailhead sits within the Phoenix Mountains Preserve on the north side of the city and serves as a popular access point for ridgeline loops and shorter summit routes. The city lists the trailhead at 9200 N. 40th St., just south of Shea Boulevard, which is where firefighters staged their operation, according to City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation. The parks department notes that more than 200 hikers are rescued every year from the preserve system.

Safety Reminders for Hikers

Officials are reminding hikers to give rescue crews space to work and to check trail status before heading out, especially as temperatures push into the triple digits. The city's Trail Heat Safety Program can close popular routes during extreme-heat warnings, and park guidance urges people to carry extra water, start early and let someone know their route, points that have been repeatedly emphasized in local coverage. Phoenix Fire's public information officer remained at the scene and said updates would be provided as more details become available.

This article will be updated when Phoenix Fire or the city's parks department releases additional information about the hiker's condition and the incident itself. In the meantime, authorities are stressing basic trail safety and heat precautions to help cut down on the number of technical rescues.