Rescue teams successfully aided two hikers and their dog who became stranded on the Larch Mountain Trail in the Columbia River Gorge late Friday, utilizing the county s Text-to-911 service in a time of scant cell reception. According to details from theMultnomah County Sheriff s Office(MCSO), the hikers sent a distress text around 6 p.m. on November 15. Their coordinates indicated they were roughly two miles from the Multnomah Falls trailhead.
“Text to 911 is a lifeline for those needing help and can t make a call for safety reasons, or because they do not have strong enough cell service,” MCSO Public Information Officer Chris Liedle stated. A team of twenty-three volunteers divided into search groups, eventually finding the hikers unharmed at about 9:45 p.m. Despite the erratic conditions, the party was guided to safety by the teams, a move reflecting both preparedness and community.
However, the excursion revealed more than just the resilience of spirited hikers; it unveiled a precarious landscape marred by a recent landslide. The trek discovery, around a quarter-mile south of where Wahkeena Falls and Larch Mountain Trails meet, showed a significant 25-foot trail damage, as detailed through a photo MCSO obtained the following Saturday.
A looming forecast by the National Weather Service predicts heavy rain and snow in higher elevations, a precursor to possible increases in hazardous conditions for hikers. “Hikers should be careful when adventuring this time of year, especially in the Eagle Creek Fire burn scar,” warned Liedle, addressing natural vulnerabilities that menace even the most steadfast paths. The early sunset, coupled with daylight saving’s end, complicates navigations as forests become shrouded in darkness, a potentially disorienting factor for hikers, according to theMultnomah County Sheriff s Office.
Expressing gratitude towards the Corbett Fire and MCSOSAR teams. For more information on safe hiking practices and the Ten Essentials, the MCSO urges individuals to visit theirsearch and rescue webpage.
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