Overview

• Two 18-year-old hikers were stranded for several hours near Elephant Rock when rising tides blocked their only exit route Saturday.
• Marin County Fire Department requested assistance from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s aviation unit, which deployed its Henry-1 helicopter fitted with a 100-foot long line.
• A tactical flight officer secured both hikers into “hot seat” harnesses before lifting them simultaneously to safety and delivering them to waiting fire personnel.
• Officials reported no injuries and hailed the operation as a model of multi-agency coordination and skilled aerial extraction.
• The National Park Service advises visitors to check tide schedules and carry satellite communication devices where cell coverage is unavailable.