Raven helicopter rescues three hikers from Sierra Buttes

Three hikers were pulled from a steep ridge in Northern California on Sunday after their satellite device sent a distress alert.

The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office received the SOS signal from a Garmin inReach unit at approximately 2:30 p.m. The signal was routed through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Officials located the group on the Sierra Buttes, positioned just south of a fire lookout tower near the mountain’s peak.

Deputies initiated a search and rescue operation that required outside assistance. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Mountain Rescue Team joined the effort. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office provided the RAVEN helicopter crew. Video released by officials showed the aircraft hovering near the rugged terrain while rescuers worked to secure the hikers.

A rescue team member was lowered from the helicopter to reach the stranded trio. The hikers were then hoisted up and flown to a landing zone where Sierra County deputies waited. The sheriff’s office stated that the difficult terrain and hazardous location made a helicopter hoist necessary. The agency cited the professionalism and coordination of the involved teams in bringing the operation to a successful close.

The Sierra Buttes rise above the North Yuba River canyon. The Pacific Crest Trail Association notes that the mountain stands at approximately 8,600 feet. Authorities did not release information on how the group became stranded or if any injuries occurred during the rescue.

This extraction follows two other major mountain rescues in the region earlier in the month. Last week, a 39-year-old man from Florida was treated for a severe leg injury after falling through a snow bridge on the Whitney Glacier. Bad weather delayed an aerial extraction until the following day, according to the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office. Earlier in the month, a 19-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman from Salt Lake City were rescued after a 36-hour ordeal on Mount Shasta. Both were uninjured.

Social media users praised the RAVEN team for its regional support. One commenter noted that Sheriff Balaam’s use of the unit for assistance across the area shows its value. Another described the coordination as impressive and expressed gratitude for having such resources in the community.