A hike along the picturesque but perilous paths of Devil's Slide turned precarious for one individual last Saturday. The hiker, venturing off the sanctioned trail near a known bunker north of Montara, succumbed to the deceitful footing and plunged approximately 100 feet down the cliff face, subsequently descending further in search of a cellular signal to call 911, according to an official social media post by the CAL FIRE CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit.
In response to the distressed call after 6 pm, a feat of aeronautics was displayed as CAL FIRE SCU Copter 605 from the Alma Helitack Base heroically hoisted the injured hiker to safety. Despite minor injuries, the situation could have escalated were it not for the timely intervention of the search and rescue teams. The multi-agency response included CAL FIRE, Coastside Fire, San Mateo County Fire, CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit, American Medical Response, San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, and Pacifica Fire (North County Fire Authority), all units converged on the scene to ensure a successful operation.
In the wake of this near-tragic event, the CAL FIRE CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit emphasized the importance of adhering to hiking guidelines, "Always stay on hiking trails and hike with at least one other person."
