What started as a solo adventure to conquer one of California’s most remote peaks quickly turned into a harrowing survival story.
A woman, hiking alone near the summit of Mount Williamson—the second tallest mountain in the state—suffered a terrible fall that left her stranded, injured, and completely exposed to the elements.
She had no food, no water, no gear—and a broken leg with the bone visibly protruding through her skin.
And as if that wasn’t terrifying enough, she was also trapped at over 13,600 feet as a violent storm system rolled in.
The Fall That Changed Everything
On July 2, as she neared the summit of the Eastern Sierra peak, the hiker lost her footing and plummeted down a rock-strewn slope.
Her backpack, which held all her essentials—food, water, and warm clothing—was thrown out of reach during the fall.
Alone and injured, she lay helpless at extreme altitude, her leg shattered and her body exposed to the unpredictable wrath of the mountains.
Surviving a Thunderstorm With Nothing
Shortly after the fall, the weather turned against her.
Thunder cracked across the Sierra Nevadas as a fierce storm moved in.
She endured heavy rain, brutal winds, and lightning strikes so close they likely rattled the ground beneath her.
Yet despite the pain and chaos, she made one smart choice that kept her alive—she kept her satellite phone on her body, not in her unreachable backpack.
A Smart Move Sparks a Massive Rescue
Thanks to her decision to carry her Garmin InReach GPS device, she was able to trigger an SOS alert—even with her broken leg.
That one act sparked a major rescue effort involving five helicopters and multiple agencies working around the clock.
According to the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, she remained “calm and responsive” the entire time.
Search and Rescue teams later praised her for showing “enormous bravery and fortitude.”
Teams Battle Nature to Reach Her
Inyo County’s Search and Rescue team spearheaded the mission, sending six rescuers into the rugged terrain while seven others coordinated from base.
The first helicopter was forced to retreat due to dense cloud cover, and even assistance from China Lake’s Naval Air Weapons Station couldn’t penetrate the severe weather.
Eventually, four climbers were dropped onto the mountain’s west side around midnight—at about 10,500 feet.
As daylight broke on July 3, rescuers could hear the woman’s voice—but reaching her was still a daunting task.
Final Hours of the Rescue Effort
Later that day, a helicopter managed to drop two rescuers just 300 feet above her location.
After nearly 23 hours of enduring pain and peril alone, help had finally reached her. But the mission wasn’t over yet.
It took another four hours to get a California National Guard helicopter ready for the airlift.
At 7:15 p.m. on July 3, the rescue chopper, Spartan 164, successfully hoisted her from a narrow, rocky chute and carried her to safety.
From Mountain to Medical Care
She was first flown to Bishop Airport and then transferred to a hospital for medical treatment.
Her current condition hasn’t been disclosed, and officials have not released her name or the cost of the operation.
Praise for Her Strength and a Sobering Reminder
Though the rescued woman hasn’t spoken publicly, those involved in the mission had nothing but respect for her composure and strength.
“All involved were impressed by her ability to remain calm, collected, and alive,” the rescue team posted on social media.
The Sheriff’s Department added that her story is “a powerful reminder of the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering and the extraordinary efforts behind each rescue.”
A Remote, Relentless Peak
Mount Williamson stands at 14,380 feet and lies roughly 240 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
Due to its remote location and lack of marked trails after the 10,000-foot mark, it’s rarely climbed.
Professional climber Dave Miller told the Los Angeles Times that in all his climbs up Williamson, he’s “never seen anybody else on the mountain” aside from his group.
And that isolation only underscores how miraculous this rescue was.