Stranded hikers cling to steep California mountain ridge as helicopter crew swoops in

Three individuals were rescued by helicopter from a steep mountainside in Northern California after their satellite device activated an SOS signal. The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from other sheriff’s offices and a specialized helicopter crew, located and hoisted the stranded group off the Sierra Buttes. This rescue is one of several recent high-profile mountain rescues in the region.

• Three people were rescued by helicopter from the Sierra Buttes in Northern California.
• An SOS signal from a Garmin inReach device alerted authorities to the stranded group.
• The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office coordinated the rescue with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Mountain Rescue Team and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office’s RAVEN helicopter crew.
• A helicopter hoist rescue was necessary due to the difficult terrain and hazardous location.
• The rescued individuals were flown to a landing zone where deputies were waiting.
• The agency thanked the involved teams for their professionalism and coordination.
• This rescue follows other recent high-profile mountain rescues in Northern California, including incidents on Mount Whitney and Mount Shasta.