A woman has died after falling 100 feet from a popular mountain hiking trail in Oregon. The woman, who hasn't been named, was walking with a group of friends on the Multnomah Falls-Larch Mountain Trail when the accident happened.
As AP News reports, firefighters received an emergency call from the woman's companions at about 1:20pm on Friday August 19. After hiking 1.3 miles from the trailhead, they found that she had passed away after falling near Wiesendanger Falls in the Columbia River Gorge.
The 6.8-mile trail, which was constructed in 1915, is a popular choice for hikers thanks to its lush forest surroundings, and views of Multnomah, Wisendanger and Ecola waterfalls. According to the USDA Forest Service the route is paved, but with a series of steep switchbacks as it climbs up from the lower viewing platform of Multnomah Falls to Benson Bridge.
OregonHikers.org rates the trail as 'difficult', noting that after the Eagle Creek Fire in 2017, absence of tree cover makes the drops seem steeper and more dangerous than previously.
In a press release, Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said that a search and rescue team have been enlisted to help recover the hiker, who will be identified once her next of kin have been notified.
