Missing hiker rescued after two days in San Diego's backcountry

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A woman is alive after being found stranded in a steep, rocky area several miles deep on a trail in San Diego's backcountry after she was missing for nearly two days.

Deputies with the San Diego County Sheriff's Rural Enforcement Division received a call from the family of an unidentified 50-year-old woman around 2 p.m. Saturday after they said they had not heard from her since 8:30 a.m. on Friday. Police say she had texted family members at that time that she was starting a hike near the Lake Morena campground in Campo.

During the initial investigation, deputies found her personal belongings in the cabin she was staying at near Lake Morena, which she had not checked out of on time. They also found her vehicle near a trailhead in the area.

Deputies then called in Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) Unit volunteers to help search for the missing woman with a helicopter and off-road vehicles, along with the U.S. Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR) team and a search and rescue dog.

Footprints located around 10 p.m. Saturday night led search and rescue teams in the right direction, and just after 4 a.m. Sunday crews say they finally heard her yell back. They found her about an hour later in a steep, rocky area about 10 miles from her vehicle.

A helicopter was used to hoist her to safety by 8 a.m. Sunday. Authorities say she was taken to the Lake Morena campground for medical treatment before being reunited with her family, and that she was exhausted but otherwise in good condition.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the San Diego County Parks and Recreation and the U.S. Border Patrol, as well as the Sheriff's ASTREA (helicopter) Unit in the search.