KVOA (Mar 26, 2026)

A 61-year-old hiker was rescued from the Arizona Trail near Pat Scott Peak on Thursday morning after experiencing severe medical symptoms more than five miles from the nearest road.

On March 26, the woman called 911 around 7:55 a.m. while suffering from a serious medical condition, according to the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). She had started her hike from Montezuma Pass the day before and spent the night on the trail.

The hiker initially thought she could walk out on her own. However, search and rescue personnel told her to stay put after hearing her labored voice over the phone.

Cochise County Search and Rescue quickly deployed both ground and air resources. A hasty team with paramedic support headed out from Ramsey Canyon Preserve while Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue responded with a helicopter.

The aircrew conducted a hoist operation, lowering a rescue specialist directly to the hiker’s location. Around 9:30 a.m., the specialist made contact with the woman, who was able to walk toward the rescuer.

She was transported by helicopter to a landing zone at Flying V and state Route 92. By 9:50 a.m., she was transferred to an ambulance and taken to Canyon Vista Medical Center.

The ground team was recalled, and all personnel cleared the scene by 10:50 a.m. The mission required coordination between dispatch, search and rescue, and air assets, with air operations conducted near environmental limits.

The sheriff’s office is reminding outdoor enthusiasts to know their limits, carry enough water and supplies, and call for help early when medical issues arise in remote terrain.

 

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