Helicopter Hoists Rescue Three Hikers From Steep California Ridge
Three people were airlifted from the Sierra Buttes on Sunday after a satellite distress signal triggered a multi-agency search and rescue operation.
By Layla Richardson ·
Three hikers found themselves stranded on a steep slope of the Sierra Buttes in Northern California before a helicopter crew extracted them on Sunday. The group was located just south of a fire lookout tower near the mountain’s peak, a position that limited their options for self-rescue due to the rugged terrain.
The emergency was flagged at 2:30 p.m. when a Garmin inReach satellite communication device transmitted an SOS signal to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Upon receiving the alert, the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office initiated a search and rescue protocol. They requested support from the Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Mountain Rescue Team and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office RAVEN helicopter unit.
Officials stated that the difficult terrain and hazardous location made a standard ground approach impractical. A rescue team member was lowered from the helicopter via a hoist to secure the three individuals. Once attached to the rigging, the hikers were lifted off the mountainside and transported to a designated landing zone. Sierra County deputies waited on the ground to receive the group.
The Sierra Buttes rise above the North Yuba River canyon and stand approximately 8,600 feet high. According to the Pacific Crest Trail Association, a fire lookout structure sits near the summit. Authorities did not provide details on how the trio became stranded or confirm if any injuries occurred during the ordeal.
This extraction follows two other major mountain rescues in the region earlier in the month. Last week, a 39-year-old man from Florida was treated for a severe leg injury after falling through a snow bridge on the Whitney Glacier. Rescuers reached him the next morning, but adverse weather delayed an aerial extraction until the following day. Earlier this month, a 19-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman from Salt Lake City were freed from a narrow spot between cliffs on Mount Shasta after a 36-hour period. Both climbers emerged without injury.
The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office credited the involved teams for their coordination and assistance. The agency noted that the helicopter hoist was necessary to ensure the safety of the stranded hikers given the specific conditions of the site.
