Last week, two hikers went out for a casual trek on Granite Mountain in northern Arizona, and they almost didn’t make it back. The hikers got lost on their way down from the summit and soon found themselves in a dangerous situation—it was dark, windy, and the trail was snowy. The pair didn’t have cellphone service, but the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office says they were still able to call 9-1-1 and reach emergency dispatchers.
The Sheriff’s Office reports the hikers included a man in his 70s and a woman in her 50s. They spent about two hours trying to find their way after getting lost on the descent, and then they realized they really needed help after it became dark. A search-and-rescue team determined the best way to get to them was via helicopter, but windy and snowy conditions made this a risky prospect.
In the end, the helicopter was able to reach them, hoist them up, and bring them to safety. The hikers had no injuries, though they were both very cold.
Watch a video posted to the Yavapai County Sheriff Department’s Facebook page showing the snowy, windy conditions the hikers found themselves in while lost on the Granite Mountain trail: