PCT Hiker Rescued After Winter Storm Collapses Tent in Goat
A hiker in his 20s was rescued from Washington's Goat Rocks Wilderness after a severe winter storm collapsed his tent, leaving him hypothermic and unable
A Pacific Crest Trail hiker in his 20s was rescued after a winter storm collapsed his tent in Washington’s Goat Rocks Wilderness, leaving him hypothermic and unable to walk. A five-person Tacoma Mountain Rescue team hiked eight miles overnight through snow and 60 mph wind gusts to reach the man, who had triggered a Garmin inReach SOS from his camp at roughly 7,000 feet on Saturday night.
Ongoing severe weather grounded all helicopters, forcing the ground-based rescue. The team located the hiker by 1:30 a.m. On Sunday in Lewis County. They immediately began rewarming and stabilizing him before getting him into a tent.
Rewarming and evacuation
Two rescuers stayed overnight in the tent with the hiker, using body heat to continue rewarming him. The following morning, the entire party began hiking back to the trailhead. About five miles from their destination, they were met by members of the Pierce County Explorer Search and Rescue team, who provided assistance and hot chocolate. The group walked out together on Sunday morning.
Rescue team’s message
Tacoma Mountain Rescue emphasized the critical role of the hiker's emergency communication device. "His SOS got help moving hours before anyone would have known he was in trouble," the team stated. They added a clear recommendation for all backcountry travelers: "This mission is a good reminder of why a satellite messenger belongs in your pack."
Broader context of risk
This incident shows the volatile weather hikers face in Washington's high country during seasonal transitions. While September is a popular time for hiking, it is not uncommon for the Goat Rocks to experience season-ending snowfall as early as late September. At high elevations, rapid changes involving wind, moisture, and cold create a high risk for hypothermia, which occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Over the years, Goat Rocks has been the site of multiple rescues during inclement weather.
Rescue teams advise hikers in such terrain to carry appropriate gear, ample food, and a GPS device for emergency communication. In a separate 2025 incident, the Washington State Animal Response Team evacuated a Pacific Crest Trail hiker's dog after the owner was airlifted from the trail with a serious injury during heavy winds. The rescuers and the rewarmed hiker hiked back to the trailhead the following morning.
