Fellow hiker save another’s life by calling 911.

Following a Mother's Instincts, Stranger Saves Fellow Hiker's Life

When adventurers go hiking, it is the experience they are after. But passion should not only be the key to have a successful climb. Knowledge about the vicinity and terrain, the possible weather, if equipped with proper gear and supplies, a strong and healthy body, and if possible hike with a companion or guide should be considered.

And that companion might actually save your life in times of danger.

Just like this one stranger who saved a fellow hiker's life.

Hiker from Germany, Katharina Groene.

A two-hour hike on the Pacific Crest Trail between two strangers led to the rescue of one of them just days after.

34-year-old Katharina Gröne wouldn't be home with her family in Germany if it wasn't for Nancy Abell.

Kathrina Groene, 34 year-old hiker.

She started her journey on the PCT at the Mexican Border in May, and she was committed to making it to Canada.

Kathrina described how she was alone, surrounded by snow and sleet, and trapped 5,000 feet up on a mountain when a helicopter swooped down to rescue her.

"I already, via WhatsApp, informed my parents. I apologized for dying on the PCT, for risking too much, for being too stupid."

The only real professional gear she had while walking the Pacific Crest Trail.

On October 22, Kathrina met Nancy at Lake Susan Jane in Washington, and the latter offered her a ride to Stevens Pass, a popular mountain resort. The two hiked around the area for about two hours, before Kathrina decided to head north.

"I felt like, being from Germany, she wasn't familiar with the Glacier Peak wilderness area, and Glacier Peak creates its own weather, and it can be really bad this time of year. The whole two hours we were hiking together, I was trying to talk her out of it," Nancy said.

Before deciding to call 911 for rescue, the weather started getting worse. Nancy checked the weather and her maps and pinpointed where Kathrina might be.

Kathrina and Nancy with the rescue team.

"I couldn't sleep the night before because I was so worried about her," she said. "Anybody really would have done the same thing, if they thought they were in peril up there because I've been through it and it's terrifying."

While on Glacier Peak, Gröne lost shelter equipment and her two sets of gloves as the snow and sleet worsened.

After being in contact with Nancy, the Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team spotted footprints and Gröne's red jacket before running out of fuel and eventually got their SnowHawk 1 chopper close enough so she could climb in.

Kathrina with her saviour, Nancy.

Gröne revealed that before she started trekking the PCT, she has struggled with faith in humanity. While stuck in the mountains, she was asking why no one cares about anyone else.

"My faith in humanity? Definitely restored," Gröne said in the press conference while sitting next to the strangers who saved her life.

“You have a chance to save lives! If you don't take it, you may regret it!”

- Widad Akrawi