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“I’m Falling!” Harrowing Video Shows PCT Hiker’s Rescue From Eroding Cliff Face Near Whitewater, CA
A Pacific Crest Trail hiker near Whitewater, CA found herself in a harrowing situation recently when she slipped and fell partway down a steep cliff. Footage released on Monday by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office aviation unit, Rescue 9, shows what the unit described as an “intense, technical” rescue operation to safely extract her from the cliff face.
The hiker was able to send an SOS via what appears in the video to be a Garmin inReach Mini and then clung to the cliff face for over an hour while a helicopter was sent.
Rescuers said she appeared exhausted and “was clearly death gripping the cliff” when they arrived, making it too risky to ask her to raise her arms to place a rescue strap. According to the video caption, “due to her very precarious spot … and with a heavy pack with unsure footing, the rescue specialist determined the safest option was to bear hug her and climb to the top.”
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The footage shows the hiker’s legs trembling with effort — and possibly nerves — by the time the rescuer reaches her, while dust and debris from the unstable cliff face rain down. At one point during the operation, the hiker screams that she is falling. “No, grab onto me!” the rescuer answers.
After a tense few minutes, the rescuer is able to get a secure grip on the hiker, and the pair is hoisted to the top of the cliff. The hiker’s legs appear cut up — it’s unclear whether this is from her initial fall or from a collision with the cliff face during the hoist — but she appears otherwise unharmed and responsive as she is airlifted to safety.
“The Pacific Crest Trail has been quite busy for us this season,” Rescue 9 said in the video caption. Earlier this month, the team responded to another PCT hiker in “serious medical distress” near Mt. San Jacinto.
Featured image: Screenshot from Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit.
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Comments 4
The hiker certainly did good stopping the fall& alerting these amazing rescuers, what I’m wondering about is the design of her footwear, which obviously worked well in holding her while she awaited help, but are these popular high center of gravity& built for speed models possibly contributing to falls on challenging terrain trails like the one shown here?
I wonder the same thing. Those shoes drive me nuts, I feel like I’m walking on marshmallows and from a physiological standpoint losing touch with the road. They just feel unstable. I am 68 tho, and I know that as we age the communication between the soles of our feet and our brain is not as good as it used to be which is why balance and stability become even more critical.
I’m almost 67 and I agree with you. I try to be more careful and use my trekking poles more when I hike now, even on less challenging terrain.
Thanks for this informative story. The video was gripping. Contrary to some mean-spirited comments on the video, she wasn’t intentionally on this terrain. The trail on top was very close to the ledge and it appears she slipped or tripped. A good reminder to keep your InReach or Zoleo (or phone linked to it) close at hand so you can quickly reach it if something like this happens.