'Unprepared' Hiker Rescued From Mountain Near Sedona

"Hiker alone and stuck with no food or water, cell phone battery dying, wearing shorts, shirt and sandals, completely lost and unable to retrace steps, does not want to stray due to possible drop offs hidden by heavy bush."

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That's how the Yavapai Sheriff's Office described the hiker stranded on a mountain by Sedona.

The 26-year-old woman had gone hiking on Sunday who had gotten lost.

She was able to get through to dispatchers who, after some time, were able to get GPS coordinates from her call.

It was determined she was on high ground in a remote area northwest of Devil's Bridge.

It did not take long for officers to figure out that ground access would be very difficult so they called for a helicopter.

A crew from the Department of Public Safety's Ranger Unit was called in as well as The Yavapai County Search and Rescue Back Country Team, which is trained in technical rescues.

"It would take a combination of effort from the Ranger crew and Back Country Teams to bring this hiker to safety," said the sheriff's office.

After flying the target area in a helicopter, the hiker was spotted. A member of the Back Country team was airlifted to her so that she could be secured to a special rig and rescued.

The sheriff's office says that while she was rescued unharmed, her story should be seen as a cautionary tale about the need to prepare before going out on a hike.

"Unfamiliarity with your surroundings and lack of researching such an adventure can and has been deadly for some in the past," they said.

The sheriff did say that the hiker had done some things correctly such as wisely calling for help and staying put once she realized she was lost.

At the same time, the sheriff said there were several things that make this a 'teachable moment" including: hiking alone increases risk and shorts and sandals only increase the chance for injury.

Photos courtesy Yavapai County Sheriff's Office