FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit coordinated the rescue of two hikers stranded on Wilson Mountain on Friday morning 7/1/16.

Around 7:15 PM on Thursday 6/30/16 the regional 911 Center in Flagstaff received a call from two hikers who had become stranded by cliffs on the south face of Wilson Mountain north of the city of Sedona. The hikers had started their hike around 2:00 PM and got off trail around 4:00 PM. They continued to hike up the mountain until they became stuck on rock cliffs.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded along with Sheriff’s Search and Rescue crews. Two search crews hiked trails up to the area, but were unable to reach the hikers due to the cliffs and nightfall. Searchers had contact with the subject and were able to establish the hikers were alright and had the hikers shelter in place until morning.

At daylight, a Coconino County Search and Rescue Technical team along with a Sedona Fire Technical team responded to the area. The Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter from Tucson was responding to the area, but was cancelled when the Flagstaff Helicopter became available.

The Flagstaff Ranger helicopter located the stranded hikers from the air and and maneuvered a one skid landing on the cliff. The helicopter medic was able to scramble up to the hikers and walk them back down to the helicopter. They were flown off the mountain to Slide Rock State Park. Both hikers were examined by Sedona Fire medics and released with no injuries.

The hikers were both in their early 20’s and students of Arizona State University (ASU) and Mesa Community College.