A 63-year-old hiker survived a 300-foot fall in the Columbia River Gorge area last week. According to reports, Rebecca Hailey, of Hillsboro, Oregon, fell on May 11 while hiking with a friend on the Dog Mountain Trail. In interviews with local media, Hailey explained that although she was an avid hiker and had hiked Dog Mountain before, she found it much harder this time around. But things seemed to be going ok until they headed back down.
She said she remembers stumbling on the narrow trail and then just falling over the side. She fell some 300 feet and landed on her back. "I'm just laying there thinking 'I don't want to move' because I don't want to go any further," she said. All the while, her hiking partner yelled out for her and contacted the authorities, who immediately dispatched a search and rescue team.
However, the rescue effort took multiple hours because of the steepness of the incline. In turn, they called in a military helicopter to retrieve Hailey and hoist her to a nearby hospital. In all, Hailey cracked five ribs and suffered a concussion and multiple scrapes.
The Dog Mountain Trail near Carson, Washington, is described as a 6.5-mile loop with an elevation gain of nearly 3,000 feet. It's considered a difficult yet rewarding hike.
