A 63-year-old woman survived a 300-foot fall in Washington state and the incident is renewing safety concerns for hikers as the weather warms up.
Dog Mountain, located on the north side of the Columbia River Gorge, is full of stunning views of Pacific Northwest beauty -- but it is home to one of the most difficult hikes in the area.
The route's precarious nature means even the most experienced hikers can end up getting hurt.
That's what Rebecca Holley, of Hillsboro, Oregon, learned when she made the trip with friends.
Holley and her group ascended to the peak, but on their way back down, she slipped on something.
She ended up falling about 300 feet off the edge of the mountain.
Her hiking partner called 911, and a team of rescuers were dispatched to Dog Mountain by the Skamania County Sheriff's Office.
Upon arrival, rescuers found Holley unconscious and unresponsive on an area of steep and treacherous terrain. A U.S. Army helicopter was called in to hoist and safely recover Holley, and she was flown to the hospital.
During the interview with KATU on Sunday, her face and arms were still bruised from the fall.
I need to grab hold of something to stop me and all the way down, I'm like, 'God stop me. Stop me,'" she said, recalling her thoughts during the fall.Holley said she feels lucky because an emergency room nurse helped stabilize her on the mountain as they waited for emergency responders.
"I think she ended up being there for like four hours. It took a while," Holley said.
Her story has been on some people's minds before they hit the trail.
"I felt really sad. I wasn't too surprised because of how intense the climb is,” said hiker Ryan Mosseau as she was getting ready to hike a portion of the mountain.
The Skamania County Sheriff's Office said the best way to avoid accidents and injury is to be prepared and know the terrain. The Dog Mountain Trail is approximately 6 miles in length with an elevation gain of approximately 2,900 feet. Anyone hiking the trail should be properly equipped and know their physical limitations, the sheriff's office said.
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