A Walla Walla woman was rescued late Wednsday night after being stranded on a cliff in the Harris Park area near Milton-Freewater.
Alana Riggle, 29, along with her brother, Eduardo Hazelton of Portland and two friends, had gone on a hike Tuesday morning on a trail with a scenic overlook in the Harris Park area, according to the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO). Hazelton later said they decided to return to their campsite in the park around 11 a.m., but Riggle decided to remain on the trail.
Hazelton said that after his sister did not return, they went back to the overlook and searched the immediate vicinity. They located a blanket belonging to Riggle a short distance above the overlook but were unable to locate Riggle herself. They again returned to their camp and waited for Riggle to return. With darkness approaching Hazelton decided to call 911 around 9:30 p.m.
Umatilla County Sheriff’s Deputy John Reitz and Umatilla County Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers Tom Phelan, Josh English, Daniel Gardner and Bill Morris along with Walla Walla County SAR volunteer Daniel Androes responded to the area and began the search.
At approximately 11 p.m., Androes was nearing Harris Park and thought he heard yelling. According to the UCSO, he backed his vehicle up and heard more yelling coming from the vicinity of a narrow dirt road to the east of him. He walked a short distance down that road and located Riggle at the top of an approximate 40‐foot vertical cliff directly below a rock escarpment. Androes was able to throw a light poncho to Riggle, who was lightly dressed.
SAR volunteers located a steep area east of the cliff and were able to free climb up and then cross the slope to the rock escarpment. Androes remained directly below Riggle and continued to talk with her. Deputy Reitz arrived and worked his way to the location, then set a second line and rappelled down to Riggle. Reitz secured the first rope around Riggle and then she was slowly brought up the steep slope around the rock escarpment.
Riggle was cold, but otherwise uninjured and declined medical aid, and was then returned to her family’s campsite around 1 a.m.
