What started as a simple three-day solo camping trip in Fresno County, Calif., turned into a 24-day journey of survival in the Sierra Nevada mountains for 28-year-old Tiffany Slaton.
She was reported missing by her parents on April 29 after not hearing from her for nine days, NBC News reported. Her initial excursion began on April 20 with Slaton equipped with basic camping supplies — two sleeping bags and a tent — as well as an electric bike because she assumed she’d only be gone for a few days.
Early on, the Jeffersonville, Ga., native fell off a cliff and wasn’t able to return to the main road because of a recent avalanche.
During a press conference held on Friday (May 16) following her rescue, she explained how she survived.
Slaton told local authorities she was unconscious for roughly two hours. Upon regaining consciousness, Slaton revealed she had to splint one of her legs and “pop the other knee back into place.” She made five unsuccessful attempts to call 911 and her phone’s navigation wasn’t working. She wound up asking for the location of the closest Starbucks, which was 18 miles away and closer than retracing her path back to the park’s entrance.
With the help of her skills as a “high-level archer,” her “medical knowledge as a traveling dialysis technician,” and horticultural training, she powered through and journaled daily to “keep sane.”
“The worst thing you can do in an emergency situation is panic,” Slaton shared.
She ran out of most of her food after five days and made tea daily with manzanita and pine needles. By the time she was rescued on Wednesday (May 14), local authorities noted that Slaton had endured 13 snowstorms, climbed to altitudes of 11,000 feet, and lost 10 pounds.
Fresno County Sheriff Office
The search-and-rescue operation ran from May 6 through May 10. She was ultimately located at the Vermilion Valley Resort cabin the day before her 28th birthday by the resort’s owner Christopher Gutierrez.
“That was the 13th heavy snowstorm I had been in, and it was going to be the last one. If he hadn’t come that day, they would’ve found my body there,” Slaton stated. Admittedly, Slaton thought the cabin was a hallucination. Gutierrez told authorities he left the cabin unlocked in case a stranded hiker would need shelter.
“She pops out, didn’t say a word, just ran up, and all she wanted was a hug. And it was, it was a pretty surreal moment,” Gutierrez said at a press conference Wednesday. “And that’s when I knew. That’s when I realized who this was.” Gutierrez recognized her from the missing person report.
Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni described Slaton’s story as one “they would make movies about.” He continued, “It is truly an incredible story of perseverance, determination and survival.”
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