Hail, heavy snow and a sheer rock face turned a busy Mount Si summit into a full-blown emergency on Saturday, May 16, 2026, after a hiker fell on Haystack Rock and was left in critical condition. What started as a popular training hike turned into a high-stakes rescue that showed how quickly spring weather can flip the script in the Cascades.
Rescue at the Haystack
According to FOX 13 Seattle, Eastside Fire and Rescue crews teamed up with Bellevue Fire Department medics, Seattle Mountain Rescue, King County Search and Rescue and the King County Sheriff’s Office Guardian One helicopter to reach the injured hiker on the summit rock. FOX 13 Seattle reports that the mission demanded intense coordination and a grueling rope-and-haul operation as the weather deteriorated around rescuers on the exposed peak.
Helicopter hoist captured on video
Video released by King County Sheriff Air Support shows crew members lowering on ropes, securing the injured hiker, then hoisting him into the helicopter, as reported by CBS News. The outlet reports that the hiker fell about 50 feet from the summit and may have suffered a head injury, and quotes the air support team saying, "Once we had a break in the weather, we successfully rescued him and flew him to Harborview."
Why the Haystack is risky
Mount Si draws large numbers of hikers and is roughly an eight-mile roundtrip with about 3,150 feet of elevation gain; the final push to the Haystack is an exposed class-3 scramble, the Washington Trails Association notes. That exposure means a small misstep can turn into a long fall, and rescues from the summit often require technical rope systems along with aircraft support.
Weather turned a training hike into a rescue
Cloud cover, wind and snow at higher elevations initially kept rescuers from reaching the hiker and forced teams to hold back until the storm eased enough for a safe approach, CBS News reported. The conditions added risk for responders on the steep terrain and stretched response times as crews worked from the valley up to the summit, waiting for a narrow weather window to attempt the hoist.
Authorities have not released further details about what caused the fall or the hiker’s identity, and investigators say the full circumstances are still under review, FOX 13 Seattle notes. In social media posts about the incident, Eastside Fire and Rescue urged hikers to check mountain forecasts, pack for sudden weather changes and carry emergency gear when heading into regional mountains.
