Cucamonga Peak is one of the most popular peaks in the San Gabriel Mountains in San Bernardino County, California.
The peak is 8,862 feet high. Hikers enjoy climbing to the top because of the spectacular views it offers.
The hike to the summit is described as a hard climb and takes about five to seven hours to complete.
Hiker Ruth Woroniecki left a Lytle Creek campground and hiked up to Cucamonga Peak on Christmas Eve morning and reached the top.
However, she slid on the icy ground and fell 200 feet on her way down.
Incredibly, Woroniecki made it out of this harrowing accident alive.
“She initially slid head first and then she hit her head on a log. She went unconscious. She woke up to another hiker helping her out,” said Deputy Doug Brimmer, San Bernardino County told CBS Los Angeles.
The hiker who helped her used a GPS device to give authorities their exact location.
Gusty winds made the rescue difficult. A rescuer hiked to their location to assess Woroniecki’s condition. He placed her in a rescue harness and brought her to an open area so the rescue helicopter could airlift her out safely.
Deputy Brimmer, who flew the helicopter, also said she seemed dazed and confused but very thankful they were able to get her off the mountain.
Woroniecki’s face is blurred in the video because she sustained a traumatic head injury that needed dozens of stitches to close. She also sustained fractures in two places of her neck.
Fortunately, Woroniecki is recovering from her serious injuries.
She sent this message to the rescuers through her mother, “I would like to say a deep thank you from the bottom of my heart to the rescue team and to the hikers who helped me and stayed with me,” she said.
Deputy Brimmer said that Woroniecki had no ice equipment with her and was just wearing tennis shoes. He also shared that they’ve had to rescue many people from these mountains, especially during winter, when the ice and snow build up.
“This goes to serve for those who want to go up there hiking to help them: Remember, bring your crampons, bring your spikes, bring an axe,” Deputy Brimmer also said.
Authorities also want to remind would-be hikers to come prepared for an overnight stay when they are going out on a hike.
If an accident happens, it could take the search and rescue team 24 hours or more to find them.
While the hike to Cucamonga Peak is not considered to be extremely difficult, accidents can happen.
Thankfully, Woroniecki was found quickly by another hiker and rescuers soon after her fall. She was also fortunate that her injuries, although serious, can be treated through surgery.
Others have not been as lucky, and several hikers have passed away in accidents in the same area. A few years ago, a rescuer lost his life trying to help a hiker in distress.
There has also been another incident where it took rescuers one week to find a couple who got lost here.
This story is a good reminder that accidents can happen on a hiking trail and hikers should always be prepared. Even the best hikers encounter accidents, so it’s best to keep this in mind when going on a hike.
Watch the news coverage of a lucky hiker’s accident and fortunate rescue in the video below!
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