- Rebecca Halley was hiking on the Dog Mountain Trail when she lost her balance and fell
- A helicopter took her to a hospital in Vancouver to be treated for her injuries
A 63-year-old hiker revealed her horrific injuries when she fell 300 feet down a Washington mountain while hiking to admire wildflowers.
Rebecca Halley of Hillsboro, Oregon, visited the Dog Mountain Trail in Washington state to enjoy the warm weather and iconic wildflowers. She enjoyed the same trip with her daughter five years ago and wanted to go back.
However, disaster struck when the 63-year-old returned to the course last Friday.
Halley said she found the trail much more difficult this time, despite being an avid hiker.
She remembers reaching the top of the mountain — where she said the group “had lunch, rehydrated and headed down,” adding that “things went a little sideways after that.”
Rebecca Halley of Hillsboro, Oregon, visited the Dog Mountain Trail in Washington state to enjoy the warm weather and iconic wildflowers
The path back down from the top of the trail is notoriously steep and narrow, but Halley was still caught off guard when she began to lose control and fell.
“I remember stumbling a little bit, not huge, and then just kind of going over the edge,” Halley said
The path back down from the top of the trail is notoriously steep and narrow, but Halley was still caught off guard when she began to lose control and fell.
“I remember stumbling a little bit, not huge, and then just kind of going over the edge,” Halley said.
Despite falling 300 feet from the top of the mountain, Halley miraculously suffered only minor injuries.
She described the moments after her fall, as she fought to stay awake as she called her friends for help.
“I’m just lying there thinking, ‘I don’t want to move,’ because I don’t want to move on,” Halley said.
According to the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office, rescue efforts began Friday around 1:30 p.m.
Rescuers found Halley unconscious and unresponsive. A U.S. Army medical helicopter was deployed to navigate the steep terrain.
The helicopter lifted Halley and she was flown to PeaceHealth Southwest in Vancouver for treatment KOIN.
Despite falling 300 feet from the top of the mountain, Halley miraculously suffered only minor injuries
Rescuers found Halley unconscious and unresponsive. A U.S. Army medical helicopter was deployed to navigate the steep terrain
The helicopter lifted Halley into the air and she was flown to PeaceHealth Southwest in Vancouver for treatment
Local hikers warn other visitors to stay safe during their expeditions on the challenging trails.
Liam Kean, a volunteer with Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, who said it’s important to “stay put” and “don’t go anywhere” if you get lost along the way.
Other safety tips from hiking experts include driving slowly, letting people pass and packing essentials like flashlights, food and water.
