Hiker stranded on cliff rescued

Custer County Search and Rescue received a 911 call from the Stanley area at 10 a.m. Thursday for a report of a woman hanging onto a pine tree overlooking a 100-foot cliff near Goat Lake.

Custer County Search and Rescue – SAWSAR unit was dispatched to the location.

Crews were able to contact the hiker, who was Donna Vetter, 53, from Scottsdale, Arizona.

Vetter was hiking back from Goat Lake when she became stuck on a rocky ledge overlooking the Sawtooth Valley.

She was stranded near a lone pine tree for three and half hours while she waited for rescuers from SAWSAR and Sawtooth Mountain Guides to climb to her.

They were able to help her off the ledge and back onto the trail, where she returned to her car, uninjured.

Custer County Search and Rescue would like to remind hikers to never over-estimate personal hiking abilities.

Hiking buddies are also encouraged, since cellphones do not work everywhere.