On March 22, the Shelter Cove Fire Department in California was dispatched following reports of a hiker stranded on a cliff near Miller Flat int he King Range National Conservation Area. Air rescue support was immediately requested from U.S. Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay due to the area’s rugged terrain.
Due to the area’s lack of safe land access, a rescue boat and jet ski with four rescue swimmers were deployed along with four rescue swimmers through the Shelter Cove Fire Department Ocean Rescue Team. Two hikers were found stranded 75-100 feet above the beach on a near-vertical landslide. One of the hikers had fallen and could not move up or down.
In coordination with Shelter Cover rescuers, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter was brought on scene to conduct two complex high-angle hoist rescues. Both hikers were successfully extracted and brought to the Shelter Cove Airport for medical evaluation.
“The Shelter Cove Fire Department extends its gratitude to all agencies involved in this challenging rescue, including Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team, US Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay, Cal Fire Kneeland Helitack, City Ambulance, Telegraph Ridge Fire Department, and the Cal Fire Fortuna Dispatch Center.” – Shelter Cove Fire Department
According to KMUD, the two hikers were on the Lost Coast Trail when they found themselves stranded. Chief Nick Pape of Shelter Cove Fire explained that one hiker was found hanging onto a rock face 60 feet above the high-water line. The unstable ground meant both hikers were forced to remain frozen in place.
“It was too dangerous for the hikers to move because of the unstable ground. They were frozen in place, using their hiking poles to stay balanced. Even slight movement could have caused them to slip.” – Chief Nick Pape
While they were in an area known to be associated with the Lost Coast Trail, there were no established trails near where the hikers got stranded. The Lost Coast Trail offers multiple coastal routes ranging from less than a mile to well over 15 miles. Several landslides in the area have sparked the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to request caution when hiking near bluffs.