Injured Hiker Safe After Overnight Stay

An Anaheim woman who twisted her ankle while hiking Saturday afternoon in Silverado Canyon made it back to level ground Sunday morning after spending the night in the canyon with three rescuers from the Orange County Fire Authority.

Katherine Albia, 18, of Anaheim went hiking with a friend at noon Saturday, but took the wrong path back down the mountain and slipped while walking on a narrow cliff, authorities said.

“She had an ankle injury and scratches and scrapes about the body area,” said Paul Hunter of the Fire Authority. “She had fallen down a steep slope in heavy terrain.”

Albia’s friend left to get help and Albia stayed on the cliff about a mile off Silverado Canyon Road.

Rescuers saw and made voice contact with the woman about 6 p.m. Saturday, Hunter said. A helicopter arrived to lift her out, but daylight was fading.

Firefighters arranged for sleeping bags, food and water to be dropped to the three rescuers who had managed to find Albia. They hiked to a level spot, stayed the night and hiked out Sunday morning.

Hunter said Albia’s foot seemed broken or sprained, but that she didn’t want to go to the hospital and left by car with her friend.

“They were in a decent area,” Hunter said. “They were just hiking on a trail. But when they got up to their destination, the trail had a fork in it and they went the wrong way coming back.”