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FRESNO COUNTY, CA – In a remarkable tale of resilience, a 28-year-old woman, Tiffany Slaton, has recounted her harrowing experience of surviving for weeks in the rugged eastern Sierra Nevada mountains after a solo camping trip took a perilous turn. Slaton detailed her ordeal at a press conference held by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday, two days after she was unexpectedly found seeking refuge in an unlocked cabin.
According to authorities, Slaton had only been in the cabin for approximately eight hours before the property owner arrived and discovered her. The unlocked cabin was a deliberate measure by the owner of Vermilion Valley Resort to provide emergency shelter for hikers caught in the frequent and severe mountain snowstorms.
Slaton described how an avalanche caused her to fall and injure her leg at an unspecified point during her ordeal. Initially equipped with a bicycle, tent, two sleeping bags, and food supplies, she tragically lost all her gear, leaving her with only a lighter, a knife, and a few remaining snacks. The specifics of how she lost her equipment remain unclear.
Despite five unsuccessful attempts to call 911, Slaton managed to obtain a GPS signal on her phone. “I ended up on this very long, arduous journey that I journaled to try and keep sane and eventually managed to get to civilisation,” she recounted.
Sheriff John Zanoni lauded her survival as “stunning” considering the harsh conditions. The cabin where she was found was over 20 miles from her last known location, and the mountainous terrain was blanketed in up to 12 feet of snow in certain areas. “I would have never anticipated her in my wildest dreams being able to get back as far as she did,” Sheriff Zanoni stated.
Investigations revealed that Slaton was on an extended biking and backpacking trip that included Oregon before she ventured into the Sierras. Her plan was to trek to Mono Hot Springs, a popular destination known for its natural hot springs, before meeting a friend around mid-April. She was last seen on April 20th near Huntington Lake, a mountain community, captured by a security camera riding her bicycle and later sitting on a sidewalk with her backpack.
Slaton’s parents, residing in Georgia, reported her missing on April 29th after a week of silence. A competitive archer from Bermuda, Slaton credited her athleticism and knowledge of foraging for sustenance as crucial to her survival. After her initial snacks ran out, she foraged for wild leeks and made tea from local plants, melting snow for drinking water. She acknowledged the challenges of finding food, noting the competition with local wildlife.
Christopher Gutierrez, the owner of Vermilion Valley Resort, explained his staff’s practice of leaving cabin doors unlocked during the winter months as a safety measure for stranded hikers during frequent snowstorms. His backcountry lodge is situated roughly midway between Yosemite and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, a common stop for hikers along the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails. While April typically sees significant snowpack in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, recent reports indicated a late-April snowstorm that could have further complicated conditions. Both the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails often experience substantial snow in April, particularly at higher elevations, making travel challenging without proper gear and experience.
Slaton found refuge in one of these unlocked cabins during a severe snowstorm where visibility was near zero. In a stroke of incredible luck, Mr. Gutierrez arrived just eight hours later to open the cabin for the season. “If he hadn’t come that day, I think they would have found my body there,” Slaton expressed.
Prior to her discovery, the Fresno County Sheriff’s office had called off a search operation two days earlier. The search had covered over 600 square miles of the Sierra National Forest but was hampered by heavy snowfall obstructing numerous roads.
Emerging from the cabin on Wednesday, Slaton was described as battered and bruised. Her emotional relief was evident when she embraced Mr. Gutierrez. “I really do have a new faith in humanity,” Slaton said, reflecting on her miraculous survival.
