A female hiker who lost her way near the summit of Mount McLoughlin, the highest peak in southern Oregon, was rescued by Jackson County search and rescue teams on Friday night.
According to a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office post, the hiker lost sight of the trail markers and strayed off the path. She tried to hike towards Fish Lake for self-rescue but was unable to reach it before dark due to challenging terrain.
The hike up Mount McLoughlin involves nearly 10 miles round-trip and a climb of about 4,000 feet. The trail is well-marked except for the final 1,000 feet, which is a rocky scramble to the summit.
Rescuers tracked the hiker’s location via cellphone until the phone’s battery died at dusk. The hiker’s identity was not disclosed in the social media post.
Search and rescue teams were already en route to the hiker’s last known location when they received her distress call. They found her at 9:04 p.m., provided her with extra clothing, water, and a headlamp, and escorted her to the nearest road. She was reunited with her family at 11 p.m.
The release expressed gratitude to the SAR volunteers and a U.S. Forest Service Ranger for their successful efforts.
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