- Rebecca Halley was hiking on Dog Mountain Trail when she lost her balance and fell.
- She was airlifted by helicopter to a Vancouver hospital for treatment of her injuries.
A 63-year-old hiker revealed her horrific injuries after falling 300 feet from a Washington mountain during a hiking trip to admire wildflowers.
Rebecca Halley of Hillsboro, Oregon, was visiting Washington State’s Dog Mountain Trail to enjoy the warm weather and iconic wildflowers. She enjoyed the same trip five years ago with her daughter and was eager to return.
However, disaster struck when the 63-year-old returned to the trail 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 climbed down,” adding that “things went sideways after that.”
“I remember tripping a little bit, not much, and then just falling overboard,” Halley said.
Halley was visiting Washington State’s Dog Mountain Trail to enjoy the warm weather and iconic wildflowers.
The way back 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 fall.
The way back 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 fall.
“I remember tripping a little bit, not much, and then just falling overboard,” Halley said.
Despite falling 300 feet from the top of the mountain, Halley miraculously only suffered minor injuries.
She described the moments after her fall, during which she struggled to stay awake while asking her friends for help.
“I’m lying there thinking, ‘I don’t want to move,’ because I don’t want to go any further,” Halley said.
Rescue efforts began around 1:30 p.m. Friday, according to the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office.
Rescuers found Halley unresponsive and unconscious and brought in a U.S. Army medical helicopter to navigate the steep terrain.
The helicopter lifted Halley and took her to PeaceHealth Southwest in Vancouver for treatment, according to KOIN.
Despite falling 300 feet from the top of the mountain, Halley miraculously only suffered minor injuries.
Rescuers found Halley unresponsive and unconscious and brought in a U.S. Army medical helicopter to navigate the steep terrain.
The helicopter lifted Halley and took her 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 Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue volunteer, who said it’s important to “stay still” and “not go anywhere” if you get lost along the way.
Other hiking safety tips from experts include going slowly, letting people pass, and packing essentials such as flashlights, food, and water.