Two hikers on the Lost Coast Trail found themselves stranded on a remote cliffside in Shelter Cove over the weekend, holding on for their lives. Saturday’s rescue required the coordinated efforts of six different agencies, utilizing millions of dollars in specialized equipment and extensive training.
A Dangerous Situation on the Lost Coast Trail
The Lost Coast Trail spans 25 miles along the coast from Petrolia to Shelter Cove. The hikers were located near the southern portion of the trail at Miller Flat — about eight miles from Shelter Cove — in one of the most difficult sections of the trail. Shelter Cove Fire Chief Nick Pape explained the challenging conditions responders faced:
“We were dispatched to a report of two hikers trapped on a cliff above the water, one of whom had fallen and suffered moderate injuries. We weren’t sure at that point how far they had fallen or what the injuries were. We sent our ocean rescue team out, which took approximately 15 minutes to get together and launch the boat and jet ski. At the same time, we requested help from the U.S. Coast Guard and awaited word on whether they could take the mission.”
Chief Pape and a rescue swimmer were first on the scene, reaching the hikers on a jet ski. The first hiker was spotted about 60 feet above the high-water line, in the middle of a landslide at the base of a vertical cliff — a highly precarious location. The second hiker wasn’t visible at first due to rough shore breaks, but the rescue swimmer eventually swam about 50 yards to reach the spot.
“It was a fairly clean swell that day, so we could get pretty close with the jet ski. But once we arrived, it was clear that it was too dangerous for the rescue swimmer to reach the hikers, and it was unsafe for them to move due to the unstable ground,” Pape said.
The hikers were reportedly frozen in place, using their hiking poles to stabilize themselves. Moving even slightly could have caused them to slip or knock loose rocks onto each other.
“Our rescue swimmer focused on calming them down and stabilizing the situation until additional support arrived,” Pape explained.
Coast Guard Rescue
Working in coordination with Shelter Cove Fire, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Humboldt Bay arrived on the scene and conducted two complex high-angle hoist rescues. The rugged terrain and the lack of nearby trails made the rescue especially challenging.
Although the location is associated with the Lost Coast Trail, Chief Pape noted that there are no established trails near the spot where the hikers were found.
“We didn’t get the full story before they declined medical treatment,” Pape said. “There’s a game trail in that area that we’ve heard other hikers mistakenly take, thinking it’s part of the main trail. BLM is planning to head out next week to assess the situation and possibly improve trail markers to prevent similar incidents.”
A Growing Pattern of Rescues
Chief Pape noted that these types of rescues are not unique to Shelter Cove. The Shelter Cove Fire Department regularly responds to wildland and medical calls, as well as ocean and trail rescues along the rugged and remote Lost Coast — making them uniquely equipped for these challenges.
“This was a challenging rescue, but it’s not the first time we’ve had to respond in this area. In 2019, we had a missing Canadian hiker in the exact same spot,” Pape said. “Our ocean rescue team is highly trained — we have 12 members who are cross-trained in structure fire, wildland fire, EMS, and ocean rescue. They train on ocean rescue operations every month, and we’ve seen an increase in these types of calls as Lost Coast Trail traffic grows.”
Positive Outcome Despite the Danger
Despite the dangerous situation, both hikers made it out alive. The initial 911 call reported that one of the hikers might have been seriously injured, but both declined medical treatment after the rescue. One hiker suffered a dislocated shoulder.
“It’s a good day when they can sign against medical advice and drive themselves home after being in a life-or-death situation minutes earlier,” Pape said.
Pape also highlighted the importance of funding for the rescue team’s training and equipment.
“We rely heavily on Measure Z funding to support these specialized operations. When you equip and train volunteers properly, they can perform at the same level as full-time, career departments,” he said.
You can see photos of the harrowing rescue at kmud.org/.