50-year-old hiker rescued after falling down embankment on Oneonta Trail

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- A hiker was rescued after falling nearly 80 feet down a ridge along the Oneonta Trail on Friday morning.

Just before 9 a.m., the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office received a call from a woman who reported she was hiking on the trail when she fell and could not make her way back up.

A short time later, two MCSO deputies made their way to the hiker, based on the description of her location.

At around 9:45 a.m., they reached the 50-year-old woman between Middle Oneonta Falls and Upper Oneonta Falls. Emergency crews from two fire departments performed a rope rescue to get the hiker back on the main trail. Officials say the woman was then able to hike herself out with crews.

Authorities say the incident happened because the hiker had accidentally left the marked trail. When she attempted to reorient herself, she lost her footing on loose ground in the area.

After reaching the trailhead parking lot a little before noon, EMS evaluated the hiker for injuries, but found only minor scrapes and bruises. The hiker then drove herself home, according to MCSO.