Second hiker rescued from snow on PCT

Winter conditions remain in the mountains

On Friday afternoon (06/21/2013) Samantha Kennedy, 33, from Waldport, was dropped off at Elk Lake for a solo hike north on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). On Saturday at 6:18PM a 911 call was received from Kennedy stating she was on the PCT but was in deep snow and unable to continue traveling north. She also stated that she was unsure if she could find her way back to Elk Lake as she only had a cell phone and no additional navigational tools.

The Lane County Sheriff’s office requested that she camp in place and await assistance as she had food and camping gear.

A seven person team of Eugene Mountain Rescue and a search manager left Eugene at 5 a.m. and responded to the area off Highway 242. Using cell phone locating technology, on Sunday, teams were directed seven miles into Three Sisters Wilderness area where they located Kennedy at 11:49 a.m. Both she and her dog were in good condition.

The team escorted Kennedy out to the Obsidian Trailhead arriving back out at 3:30 p.m. Kennedy was transported to Eugene and released to her family.

She was the second hiker to become stranded on the trail in the last few days.

The Sheriff's Office is reminding all people who like to recreate in the higher mountains of Oregon that there is still a substantial amount of snow and many trails above 4,000 feet are under snow.

It is difficult to locate and/or follow these buried trails without advanced navigational skills and equipment. Hikers are advised to make sure they are properly equipped and trained when recreating in the mountains and to leave a detailed itinerary with a responsible party who can call authorities if they go missing.