Pacific Crest Trail hikers stuck in rain, sleet and hail in Oregon.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
A tourist was walking along the Pacific Crest Trail when he thought he could outrun the weather.
A strong line of rain, sleet and hail was expected to make landfall around 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon said.
A 57-year-old man from Weaverville, California thought he could beat the weather, but ended up getting soaked. I had to call for help.
“(The man) stated that all of his clothing, sleeping bag and other camping gear were soaked with rainwater and he was experiencing symptoms of hypothermia,” deputies said in an Oct. 25 news release.
Rescuers went to the scene to help him. However, the weather continued to deteriorate, the deputies reported.
“The temperature dropped from 36 F to 30 F; for a while the snow was coming so fast that 3/4 of an inch accumulated on the ground in 20 minutes,” officials said.
They found the hiker shortly after 4 a.m., about six hours after he called for help, the sheriff said. He was given dry clothes to keep warm and lifeguards escorted him off the trail.
At approximately 7 a.m., the tourist was taken to a warm car at the beginning of the route. Officials decided he didn’t need to be taken to the hospital by ambulance, and his family came to pick him up.
The The Pacific Crest Trail continues from Mexico to Canada. It weaves through California, Oregon and Washington. Thousands of tourists make the trek every year.
