An 18-year-old woman became separated from her hiking companions Saturday night; she was able to walk out with her rescuers Sunday
BLANCA LAKE — An 18-year-old woman reported missing Saturday night in the Cascade Mountains near Index walked out of a trailhead with her rescuers Sunday afternoon in good condition, despite being unprepared for a night in the wild, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman had been hiking with two friends near Blanca Lake when the group encountered a snow field. The woman turned back alone to return to the trailhead, but wandered off trail and became lost.
Crews from Snohomish Search and Rescue began searching for the hiker after she was reported missing at about 9 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, an Everett Mountain Rescue member located a footprint that appeared to have been made by the hiker.
Teams from Everett and Seattle Mountain Rescue followed the footprint into a steep drainage, and found the woman there, according to Snohomic County Sheriff’s Lt. David Bowman.
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Bowman said said the trio “were not equipped for the backcountry or snow conditions.” The department admonished hikers to always stay together and have a plan when hiking in the mountains. They urged people to familiarize themselves with the “Ten Essentials” to bring when hiking: navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, First Aid supplies, fire-making tools, food, repair tools, water and emergency shelter.
The woman, who was not identified, rejoined her family after being checked by medics.