Southern Oregon Rope Team Rescues Hiker Who Fell From A Trail’s Cliff

KLAMATH COUNTY. Ore. — An incident on the Pacific Crest Trail which transverses the Crater Lake National Park was successfully resolved by the Oregon Army National Guard, working with the Klamath County Sheriff’s office and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management when a hiker slipped on a rock, falling off a cliff and landing into a rock shute.

Hiker Rescued On Pacific Crest Trail

Hiking with her husband, the pair took a shortcut on the trail at about 7,000 feet. After arriving on the scene, a technical rope team established there was no way to get above or below the 40-year-old woman without risking a rock slide. Despite the fall, the woman was conscious and had a strong mobile phone signal and battery.

With both hiker’s mobile phone numbers to keep in contact with her, the search and rescue coordinator could confirm she had food and water.

Oregon Army Helicopter Assists In Rescue Of Hiker

Departing from Salem, an Army helicopter crew in an HH-60M Black Hawk rescued the hiker by air hoist at about 7:47 p.m., before flying to the Rogue Valley International Medford Airport. A flight medic from Roseburg was picked up along the way. She was then taken to emergency medical services with severely bruised legs and back issues. She was not showing signs of bleeding.

Scott Lucus, State SAR coordinator said, “Without the air rescue expertise of the Oregon Army National Guard this SAR mission would have been impossible to accomplish so efficiently.”