Missing Sierra Hiker Found Alive at Popular PCT Pitstop After Weeks Lost in the Backcountry

A Georgia woman on a cross-country trip has been found alive after being missing for nearly three weeks in the snow-covered Sierra Nevada mountains. Tiffany Slaton, 27, of Jeffersonville, Georgia, was discovered Wednesday sheltering in an unlocked cabin at Vermilion Valley Resort — a seasonal wilderness resort that also serves as a popular resupply stop for PCT and JMT thru-hikers — near Lake Edison, California. Her rescue brings a joyous end to an extensive search effort and is being described as “miraculous.”

Missing in the Sierra

Slaton was on a bucket list trip to visit all 50 states, traveling by electric bike. Her family in Georgia last heard from her on April 20th and reported her missing on April 29th after nine days of no contact. She was last seen on April 24th near Shaver Lake, 40 miles from where she would later be found. Slaton was known to be headed toward Mono Hot Springs, an area still blanketed by snow at this time of year.

An intensive search operation was launched by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, involving deputies, volunteers, Jeeps, horses, small planes, and helicopters. However, heavy snow made many roads impassable, and the search was scaled back days before she was found.

Just as it seemed impossible for Slaton to have survived, Christopher Gutierrez, the owner of Vermilion Valley Resort, was able to access his property after snowplows cleared the road. Although the resort is closed during the snowy winter months, Gutierrez intentionally leaves a cabin unlocked as a precaution for lost hikers seeking shelter — a habit that may well have saved Slaton’s life. He recalled spotting an open cabin door and a pair of shoes before watching Slaton herself appear in the doorway.

Tiffany Slaton. Photograph: Courtesy of Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office

A Miraculous Recovery

Gutierrez, aware of the ongoing search, recognized Slaton as the missing woman and immediately contacted authorities. He described the moment she appeared: “She pops out, didn’t say a word, just ran up, and all she wanted was a hug.” He gave her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, noting she was “ravenous.”

Deputies and medics met Gutierrez and Slaton at a staging point. She was found to be dehydrated but otherwise in good condition, and was transported to a hospital for evaluation and observation. Her family was notified of the incredible news.

Her father, Bobby Slaton, recounted his daughter’s call: “She said, ‘Dad, I’m alive and I’m sorry.’ Bobby responded, “Who is this?”, unable to get his hopes up in the moment. “She said, ‘This is Tiffany.’ A ton of weight has been lifted.” Her mother, Fredrina Slaton, said she grabbed a stranger in the grocery store for a hug upon hearing the news.

Sheriff’s spokesperson Tony Botti called her survival “unheard of” and “miraculous,” stating, “You don’t see stories like this… She’s obviously relentless.” He noted it was the longest period of time he’d seen someone be missing in the wilderness and survive. Slaton’s parents are traveling to Fresno for a joyful reunion, well-timed as Thursday, May 15th, marked Tiffany’s 28th birthday.

Authorities plan to interview Slaton to piece together the details of her experience and how she survived the weeks in the wilderness. Her father described her as adventurous, athletic, and well-traveled, and while calling the ordeal “an absolute nightmare,” he also expressed that there are “plenty of adventures out there, and her adventures are not over yet.”