Hiker Survives Fall the Columbia River Gorge‏

The woman sustained a shoulder injury and lacerations to her wrists as a result of the fall. She was rescued by Corbett Fire Thursday after spending the night cold and wet.

The Columbia Gorge Photo courtesy: ocs.orst.edu

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - An Ontario woman is fortunate to be alive today, after surviving a long fall down an embankment in the Columbia River Gorge.

Rescuers say 52-year old Chris Kimball went hiking alone at about 5:00 PM Wednesday from the Oneonta Falls trail head intending on a short hike. Sometime in the evening, she told crews she fell asleep after stopping for a break. When she awoke, she was immediately disoriented to her surroundings.

That's when Kimball tried to stand, and instead fell approximately 70 feet down a steep embankment near the Oneonta trail foot bridge coming to rest in Oneonta Creek.

She then floated in Oneonta Creek for approximately 70 yards before she was able to pull herself onto a rock bar, she told rescuers.

This was about 25 yards upstream from the 120 foot Oneonta Falls.

Kimball sustained a shoulder injury and lacerations to her wrists as a result of the fall. She was rescued by Corbett Fire Thursday after spending the night cold and wet.

Another hiker found Kimball at about 10:00 AMm and reported it to 911 after hiking out to retrieve a cell phone. The hiker could hear her calling for help. Corbett Fire was able to reach and recover Ms. Kimball using their high angle rope rescue team.