A hiker who went missing for several weeks during a solo trip in the California wilderness has been safely rescued after taking shelter from a blizzard in an unoccupied lakeside cabin. Tiffany Slaton, from Jeffersonville, Georgia, was located near a lake in Fresno County after the owner of the Vermilion Valley Resort discovered her while checking on his property.
The resort owner recognized Slaton’s description, which had been circulated in an ongoing search effort, and promptly reported her to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. A medical examination revealed that while Slaton was dehydrated, she was otherwise in good health. She was subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment and observation.
The family’s relief was palpable, with her mother, Fredrina Slaton, expressing the joy of knowing her daughter was safe. “I can’t wait to see and hug her,” she shared, noting how difficult it had been not hearing from Tiffany, especially around Mother’s Day.
Tiffany began her solo camping journey through the Sierra Nevada and had been reported missing on April 29 after no contact for nine days. The sheriff’s office initiated a search and issued public alerts. Slaton was last confirmed seen at Huntington Lake on April 20 and near Cressman’s General Store on April 24. Following that, no further sightings were documented.
From May 6 to May 10, extensive search operations took place across nearly 600 square miles in the remote eastern Sierra Nevada. However, heavy snowfall had hindered searches in the area around Lake Edison, where Slaton was eventually found. The owner of the resort reported having intentionally left a cabin unlocked in case someone in distress needed refuge.
According to Gutierrez, Slaton emerged from the cabin seeking a hug, sharing that she endured the storm and survived on leeks found in the area. Officials aim to meet with her to gather more details about her experience during the challenging ordeal.
This remarkable rescue serves as a testament to human resilience and ingenuity, as well as the importance of community awareness in locating missing persons. The combination of community vigilance, preparation for unexpected incidents, and favorable weather conditions ultimately led to a happy reunion.