Two ill hikers rescued from South Sister summit

Two women who reached the summit of South Sister called for help late Wednesday afternoon when they began feeling ill, prompting an all-night rescue effort by Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue.

Around 4:30 p.m., SAR was dispatched to a report of two hikers who had reached the summit of South Sister, but were not physically able to descend on their own from the 10,358-foot peak.

A deputy was able to communicate with the hikers by phone, who were identified as Dominique Tanton, 22, of Bend, and Caroline Chenoweth, 21, of Fort Worth, Texas, deputies said.

Tanton advised they had run out of water about halfway through their day hike and were now at the summit, feeling physically ill from the heat and altitude. Neither were prepared for cold weather and both reported being exhausted and unable to hike any further, leaving them exposed to the summit weather conditions and cellphones nearly out of power.

Before calling for help, they had flagged down a passerby on the summit that provided them with a small amount of water. Tanton and Chenoweth reported they were now alone on the summit, with no one around to potentially assist them.

Five SAR volunteers, comprised of medical and mountain rescue personnel, responded to the Devil’s Lake Trailhead and ascended the trail on foot through the night, making reaching the women around 11 p.m.

Both were treated at the summit and guided down the mountain by the SAR team. They arrived around 6 a.m. back at the Devil’s Lake Trailhead, where Tanton’s mother was waiting to further assist the women, who deputies said did not require any further medical attention.

“The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind those that recreate outdoors to prepare accordingly for your activity,” the agency said in a news release. “Some considerations include proper clothing for day and night conditions in your environment, as well as footwear. Ensure you have adequate water and food, topographical trail maps, extra batteries or charging options for phones or GPS units.

“Bring a light source and a signaling device. Seek out information regarding the area and what may be encountered, such as current and projected weather conditions, as well as terrain in the area. Tell someone where you are going, what you will be taking with you and when you plan to return.”