Three people stranded on a steep section of Northern California’s Sierra Buttes were rescued by helicopter on Sunday, October 25, 2026. A Garmin inReach satellite device sent an SOS to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, prompting a multi-agency response. Rescuers located the group near a lookout tower south of the summit and hoisted all three to safety. Authorities did not say how the hikers became stranded or whether anyone was injured.
The operation involved the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Mountain Rescue Team and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office RAVEN helicopter crew. A rescue team member was lowered from the aircraft to reach the hikers before each person was lifted from the mountainside.
The Sierra Buttes rise above the North Yuba River canyon, with a fire lookout near the top of the approximately 8,600-foot mountain. Officials said the terrain and the group’s hazardous position made a helicopter hoist necessary.
| 1) | Emergency SOS triggers a multi-agency response |
| 2) | Rescue teams locate the stranded hikers |
| 3) | Helicopter hoist carries all three to safety |
| 4) | Steep Sierra Buttes terrain complicates access |
| 5) | Rescue follows other Northern California incidents |
Emergency SOS triggers a multi-agency response
The emergency response began at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday after a Garmin inReach satellite communication device transmitted an SOS. The alert reached the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, which notified local authorities and helped set the rescue effort in motion.
Sierra County deputies launched a search and rescue operation and requested assistance from the Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Mountain Rescue Team and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office RAVEN helicopter crew. The combination of ground rescue expertise and an aircraft capable of operating in rugged terrain allowed crews to address the emergency quickly.
Rescue teams locate the stranded hikers
The three people were found high on the Sierra Buttes, just south of a lookout tower near the mountain’s summit. Images and video released by officials showed the helicopter operating close to the rugged slope while rescuers worked to reach the group.
Authorities have not publicly explained what caused the hikers to become stranded. They also did not report whether any of the three had suffered injuries. Their location, rather than a reported medical condition, was the central challenge described in the official account.
Helicopter hoist carries all three to safety
After the helicopter crew spotted the group, a rescue team member was lowered from the aircraft to make contact with the hikers. The rescuer then helped prepare them for extraction from the steep mountainside.
All three were hoisted aboard and flown to a landing zone, where Sierra County deputies were waiting. The sheriff’s office said the hazardous position and difficult terrain made an aerial hoist rescue necessary.
“Due to the difficult terrain and hazardous location, a helicopter hoist rescue was necessary,” the sheriff’s office said.
The agency praised the participating teams for their professionalism, coordination and assistance in completing the rescue successfully.
Steep Sierra Buttes terrain complicates access
The Sierra Buttes stand above the North Yuba River canyon in Northern California. The mountain reaches approximately 8,600 feet and includes a fire lookout near its summit, according to information about the Pacific Crest Trail area.
The elevation, steep slopes and limited access near the lookout created conditions in which conventional ground evacuation was difficult. The helicopter’s ability to position a rescuer directly beside the group and then lift each person to a landing zone reduced the need to move the hikers across the exposed terrain.
Rescue follows other Northern California incidents
The Sierra Buttes operation came after two other high-profile mountain rescues in Northern California earlier in October. In one incident, a 39-year-old Florida man fell through a snow bridge on the Whitney Glacier and severely injured his leg.
Rescuers reached that climber the following morning, but bad weather prevented an immediate aerial extraction. Crews later carried him to a suitable helicopter landing zone, and he was flown to a hospital, according to the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office.
Earlier in the month, a 19-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman from Salt Lake City were rescued after spending 36 hours trapped between cliffs on Mount Shasta. Authorities said both were uninjured.
| No. | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | A Garmin inReach SOS alerted California emergency services. |
| 2 | Three people were found near the Sierra Buttes summit. |
| 3 | A RAVEN helicopter crew used a hoist to extract the group. |
| 4 | Officials did not disclose how the hikers became stranded or whether they were injured. |
| 5 | The rescue was one of several recent mountain operations in Northern California. |
Summary
A satellite SOS enabled authorities to locate three stranded hikers on a steep section of the Sierra Buttes. Multiple county agencies coordinated with a helicopter crew to lower a rescuer and hoist the group to a landing zone. The operation ended safely, although officials have not provided details about what led to the emergency or the hikers’ condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Sierra Buttes rescue take place?
The rescue took place on Sunday, October 25, 2026, after an SOS was transmitted at about 2:30 p.m.
How were the three hikers rescued?
A rescue team member was lowered from a helicopter to reach the group. All three people were then hoisted from the mountainside and flown to a landing zone.
Were the hikers injured?
Authorities did not say whether anyone was injured. They also did not disclose how the group became stranded.
Which agencies assisted in the operation?
The response included the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Mountain Rescue Team and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office RAVEN helicopter crew.