CLATSOP COUNTY, OREGON – First responders carried out a dangerous and complex rescue Saturday to reach a hiker stranded high on a narrow ridge at Saddle Mountain State Park in Oregon. Emergency crews with Cannon Beach Fire were alerted over the holiday weekend that a man was trapped and unable to safely descend from the mountain.
Rescuers located the hiker perched about 40 feet above the ground on a knife-edge ridge only three feet wide along the south slope of the mountain, placing him in an extremely precarious position. Given the steep terrain and limited space to operate, officials quickly determined the situation required a high-angle technical rescue and requested assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard.
A Coast Guard helicopter responded but was forced to back off due to poor visibility, rugged terrain, and low cloud ceilings that made an aerial rescue too dangerous. With air support ruled out, crews shifted to a ground-based rope operation despite the significant risks involved.
To reach the stranded hiker, rescuers climbed roughly 250 feet above him to secure a rope anchor to a large boulder. From there, members of the fire department’s rope team carefully descended down the rock face to reach the man. Once contact was made, rescuers fitted him with a safety harness and slowly lowered him down the 40-foot rock face to waiting crews below.
The hiker was then evaluated and treated by medical personnel at the scene. The entire rescue operation lasted approximately six and a half hours and involved 13 fire and search-and-rescue personnel working in coordination with the Coast Guard under challenging and hazardous conditions.