A family of hikers, who embarked on a journey from the Salmon River Trailhead on Mt. Hood, found themselves in peril after traversing eight miles and ascending 3,500 feet. They faced unforeseen weather changes and dropping temperatures, prompting them to utilize the iPhone's Emergency SOS via Satellite feature to call for aid.
The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office reported receiving their distress signal at 7:30 p.m. With deteriorating weather conditions, instructions were given to the stranded family to stay put while rescue efforts were mobilized.
Despite initial attempts by ground crews utilizing all-terrain vehicles, the rescuers couldn't penetrate the adverse conditions to reach the hikers until the break of dawn the next day. Upon arrival, they discovered the family members—comprising four adults and two children—experiencing cold, wetness, and dehydration but were otherwise in stable condition. Efforts to airlift the group were thwarted by the inclement weather and challenging terrain.
In a subsequent effort, a different rescue team operating a Snowcat, dispatched by the Sheriff's Department, embarked on the mission at 10 a.m. and, after navigating through the rough terrain for several hours, successfully reached the stranded family and the initial rescue team. By 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 24 hours following the emergency call, both the family and the rescuers were safely transported back to the command post.
The lifesaving SOS via Satellite feature, introduced with the iPhone 14 models, has been pivotal in numerous rescue operations. Despite the low bandwidth of satellite communications limiting text exchanges, this feature efficiently transmits vital location data and other crucial information to the authorities, facilitating timely rescues.
