Hiker Slides 1,170 Feet Before Helicopter Rescue on Utah Peak

A female hiker was airlifted to safety after losing her footing and sliding approximately 1,170 feet down the steep face of Mount Timpanogos on October 26. Utah authorities released video footage on Wednesday that captures the dramatic sequence of events, showing the hiker coming to rest on a narrow cliff ledge at high elevation.

The incident occurred on the 11,700-foot peak, which sits about 50 miles south of Salt Lake City. The hiker was traveling a trail when the fall happened. A pilot from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team located her from an airplane while the ground team began moving toward the mountain.

Rescue crews used a helicopter to hoist the woman out of the difficult terrain. The newly shared clips show the steep descent and the moments the aircraft hovered directly above her position before securing her. Officials noted the operation required careful coordination to extract her from the exposed ledge.

The sheriff’s office confirmed on Tuesday that the hiker is recovering well from her injuries. The agency thanked the multiple agencies that responded to the scene, noting the speed at which the situation evolved from a standard hike to an emergency. The office wished her a full and speedy recovery.

Mount Timpanogos features 17.4 miles of trails accessible through the Aspen Grove and Timpooneke trailheads, according to the US Forest Service. The release of the footage serves as a public record of the October 26 event and the subsequent rescue efforts.