Vancouver hikers OK after night in Columbia River Gorge

Two Vancouver residents returned home safe Wednesday after getting lost along a Columbia River Gorge hiking trail and spending the night in the Oregon wilderness.

Zachary Hale, 21, and Tisha Urioste, 18, began hiking Tuesday about 2 p.m. on the Oneonta Gorge Trail, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.

The two took the Horsetail Creek Trail and tried to come back down Devil’s Backbone and Rock of Ages, but it became too steep, so the two turned around, the sheriff’s office said in a press release.

When night fell, Hale and Urioste lost the trail and called for help. Neither had emergency supplies, but they did have some water, according to the sheriff’s office.

Search and rescue crews pinged the hikers’ phone and determined they were near Nesmith Point and in no immediate danger.

They deployed search and rescue crews at 5:45 a.m. Wednesday and found the lost hikers by 7:30 a.m. The two were uninjured, in good condition and were taken back to the command post.

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office reminds hikers to carry proper equipment for an outing, including a map, compass, flashlight, extra food and water, clothing, fire starter, knife, a first aid kit and a signal device.