Blaine County, ID – A group of mountain bikers became heroes after spotting and rescuing Heather Wayment, a missing hiker wandering nearly naked with bleeding feet in the Idaho wilderness, authorities said.
Hiker Reported Missing
Heather Wayment was reported missing by her family on September 17, a day after she vanished. Her last known location was in the Prairie Creek area of Blaine County, Idaho, according to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office.
A large multi-agency search was already underway, but Wayment was ultimately located by unrelated bikers in the remote Camas County area, over 17 miles from her last known location.
Discovery by Mountain Bikers
Brothers Tommy and Vinton Gwinn, along with their friend Shelton Robinson, were on an annual biking and camping trip when they stumbled upon Wayment. She was wandering the mountains in her underwear with raw, bleeding feet.
Tommy Gwinn said, “We stopped as she was obviously in bad shape. She didn’t want help at first. It took about a half hour before she would talk.”
Robinson added, “We gave her some filtered water and a jacket. She let her guard down and told us her name and that she was lost.”
Wayment had removed her shorts to bandage her feet and had left her phone in her car. Three additional bikers—Andrew Mortensen, Randy Ivy, and another rider—recognized her as the missing hiker and helped provide food and water while others contacted authorities using GPS coordinates, satellite texting, and an off-road map app.
Rescue Efforts
Gwinn coordinated with his wife in Pocatello, who alerted authorities. A rescue helicopter was dispatched by 3:45 p.m., over 50 messages later, according to the reports.
One of the bikers even lifted Wayment onto the back of his bike to bring her to a meadow suitable for a helicopter landing. She was transported to a local hospital by flight crew at 5:45 p.m.. Her current condition remains unknown.
Community and Authorities Praise
The bikers were lauded for their efforts by Blaine County Sheriff Morgan Ballis, who stated:
“We especially want to thank the mountain bikers who were able to contact law enforcement, guide the Life Flight crew to Heather, and remain by her side offering aid until medical assistance could arrive.”
Authorities highlighted the treacherous terrain, cold nights, and rugged mountains Wayment had navigated, calling her survival remarkable.
What are your thoughts on wilderness safety and hiking precautions? How can communities better prevent hikers from getting lost in remote areas? Share your ideas in the comments below.
