Stranded siblings spend 32 hours awaiting rescue on snowy mountain, Washington cops say
Three siblings became trapped while hiking a snowy Washington mountain and waited 32 hours before being rescued, authorities said.
The group in their 20s was visiting from out of state on when they set out to hike Three Fingers mountain, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
At about 9:30 p.m. on June 17, the hikers called for help after becoming stuck in “thick fog and rain” about 2 miles from the lookout, deputies said. They were wet and cold and didn’t have equipment to shelter on the mountain overnight, except for sleeping bags.
The hikers got in contact with rescuers and told them they nearly slid down a snowy steep slope and couldn’t return from the hike because of the weather conditions, deputies said.
That’s when the wait for rescuers began.
The first rescue team reached the siblings after nine hours, deputies said. More teams followed with gear and warmer clothes for the hikers showing signs of hypothermia.
But a rescue couldn’t be made by helicopter because of the weather, authorities said.
After 32 hours, rescuers helped the hikers down the mountain.
Three Fingers mountain is about 60 miles northeast of Seattle.
The hike is “difficult and strenuous,” requiring expertise and mountain climbing equipment for the last portion of the hike to the lookout.
This story was originally published June 23, 2023 at 9:25 AM with the headline "Stranded siblings spend 32 hours awaiting rescue on snowy mountain, Washington cops say."
