Hiker leaves group behind and gets stranded alone above dark canyon, AZ cops say
A woman who trekked ahead of her hiking group ended up stranded 600 feet above a canyon, Arizona deputies say.
When the hiker didn’t return to her car in Camp Verde on Sept. 6, her friends and family started to search for her, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said in a Sept. 19 Facebook post.
The group spent several hours looking for her, then called 911, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies said they readied a team to search for the missing hiker, but as ground crews prepped for their search, “a light was spotted high on the canyon slope.”
An Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter crew already scouring the area for the woman confirmed the light belonged to her, deputies said.
The helicopter crew lowered a medic to assess the woman, while search and rescue “volunteers hiked through the darkness to reach her” 600 feet above a canyon near the Bull Pen trailhead, according to deputies.
The dehydrated hiker was given water and electrolytes, deputies said, and rescuers helped her “across steep, rocky terrain to a safer location.”
The helicopter team then hoisted the hiker and rescuers from the area and back to the trailhead, deputies said.
“We’d like to remind everyone to enjoy our beautiful county safely,” deputies said, adding that visitors should “check the weather forecast, bring plenty of water, wear appropriate clothing and footwear, stay with your group, and call for help immediately if you or someone else becomes lost or needs assistance.”
Camp Verde is about a 90-mile drive north from Phoenix.
How to be prepared while hiking
If you’re planning to hike, the National Park Service says there are 10 essentials you should take:
- Navigation: Pack a map, compass and a GPS system. Make sure you study your route beforehand and understand how to use the tools.
- Sun protection: Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat can help protect your skin and eyes from UV rays.
- Insulation: A jacket, hat, gloves, raincoat and thermal underwear can help you be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions.
- Illumination: A flashlight, lantern and headlamp can create light if you get stuck in the dark — and don’t forget to pack extra batteries.
- First-aid supplies: It’s a good idea to have a first-aid kit on hand while hiking. Check the expiration date on items before you pack them.
- Fire: Matches and a lighter can help start fire to act as an emergency signal in times of need.
- Repair kit and tools: Duct tape, a knife, screwdriver and scissors can be helpful if items break during your hike or you need assistance.
- Nutrition: You should pack an extra day’s worth of food in case something goes wrong. Park officials recommend having “salty and easy to digest snacks.”
- Hydration: You should drink water often and before you feel thirsty if you’re hiking in hot weather. Keeping your body hydrated is “of utmost importance,” park officials said.
- Emergency shelter: Packing a tent, space blanket, tarp and bivy can help you be prepared if severe weather breaks out or your plan takes a turn.
