Document text
Hiker Rescued From Knife-Edge Ridge at Saddle Mountain After Crews Rappel 250 Feet in Nighttime Operation News By Diane Megaw On Dec 1, 2025 Last updated Dec 1, 2025 Saddle Mountain, Oregon | Credit: Ian Poellet CLATSOP COUNTY, Ore. — A weekend hike that could have been tragic had a happy ending on Saturday after rescuers rappelled down a ridge at Saddle Mountain State Park to rescue a hiker stranded 40 feet up on a “knife-edge” ridge. Cannon Beach Fire crews, along with Gearhart and Hamlet Volunteer Fire Departments and Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, responded to reports of a hiker stranded on a 3-foot-wide ridge at Saddle Mountain State Park on Nov. 29, around 2 p.m. Tidings Context Saddle Mountain’s upper ridges are narrow, exposed, and prone to sudden weather shifts, making rescues a regular challenge for Clatsop County crews. The hiker was found 1.5 miles up the trail, 40 feet up, and the U.S. Coast Guard attempted a helicopter rescue from the ridge but aborted the mission due to poor visibility. In a complex operation involving 13 personnel, crews from Cannon Beach Fire’s Rope Rescue Team, using a high-angle rope, then ascended 250 feet up from the hiker’s location and secured a rope anchor to a large boulder. A rescuer rappelled down to the hiker, secured him with a harness, and lowered him to safety at 8:20 p.m. Tidings Timeline 2:00 p.m.: Crews receive report of stranded hiker on narrow ridge. Afternoon: Coast Guard attempts hoist but aborts due to fog. Evening: Rope Rescue Team climbs above ridge and anchors system. 8:20 p.m.: Rescuer rappels down and lowers hiker to safety. The hiker was assessed and treated at the scene, but no specific injuries were reported. Clatsop County Share Twitter Facebook ReddIt WhatsApp Pinterest Email