By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Hiker rescued after nearly 24-hours on mountain side

Nov 14, 2016 | 3:43 PM

MT. HAIG – A 35-year old woman is in a Calgary hospital with serious injuries, after emergency crews were forced to wait nearly a full day to rescue her.

She was hiking with a group of five others on Sunday (Nov. 13), when she dropped approximately 45 metres from a scree slope.

Her emergency locator beacon was detected by the RCMP at 3:15 p.m., and two 911 calls came in shortly after, reporting that the injured female hiker needed help.

Working with Waterton National Parks Public Safety, Kananaskis Provincial Park Public Safety and Banff National Park, emergency crews found the six hikers, and five were removed from the mountain side. Unfortunately, poor weather conditions in the area prevented a helicopter from reaching her, so a Public Safety Officer from Waterton Parks set up a survival tent and spent the night at the injured hiker’s side.

They managed to reach her the following morning (Nov. 14) around 10:30, and using a long line extraction she was removed via helicopter. By the early afternoon they got her to a ground ambulance, which transported her to a local hospital, and from there she was flown to Calgary with serious injuries. There’s currently no update on her condition.

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“This was one of the largest rescue efforts I have been part of,” said Corporal Jeff Feist of Pincher Creek Detachment in a media release. “Saving this woman’s life can be credited to the superior technical ability of all those who participated in this extremely complex mission.”

The RCMP also took time to acknowledge the work of the Pincher Creek and Lethbridge Search and Rescue Teams, Crowsnest Fire and Rescue, Pincher Creek Conservation Officers, Pincher Creek Emergency Services, Alpine Helicopters and the Castle Mountain Ski Resort for helping in the rescue effort.