14 Rescuers Save Two Hikers Stranded on 350m Alpine Cliff

Fourteen volunteer rescue specialists worked through the night in brutal conditions to bring two stranded hikers home safely from a remote alpine ledge in New South Wales. The women emerged without a scratch after their 24-hour ordeal on Watsons Crags in the Snowy Mountains.

The rescue began Tuesday evening when the two young women became trapped on a narrow ledge deep in the back country at Watsons Crags. They had the right gear and experience for multi-day hiking, but the terrain proved more challenging than expected.

What followed was one of the most technically complex rescues the NSW State Emergency Service has ever undertaken in the region. Crews battled wind gusts up to 80 kilometers per hour, horizontal rain, heavy fog, and lightning as darkness fell.

The team carried heavy equipment on foot for kilometers before reaching the cliffs. Then came the real test: a 350-meter vertical descent by rope to reach the hikers, followed by the grueling climb back up with two additional people.

"This can be life-threatening work," said Chief Inspector Malika Bailey, the SES Snowy Monaro local commander. Her team prepared multiple backup plans, knowing Mother Nature rarely cooperates in the unforgiving alpine environment.

The rescue crews worked continuously through the night, managing fatigue while maintaining safety in conditions that would send most people running for shelter. Their persistence paid off when they safely delivered both women to ground level Wednesday night.

Why This Inspires

This rescue highlights the extraordinary dedication of volunteer emergency workers who train for years to master specialized alpine rescue skills. These 14 people dropped everything to spend 24 hours in dangerous conditions, carrying heavy gear through rugged terrain, all to bring two strangers home safely.

The hikers did everything right. They brought sufficient food, water, and proper clothing. They called for help when they recognized danger. And they waited patiently while professionals did what they trained for.

Doug Chatten, a back country guide with over 30 years of experience in the region, calls Watsons Crags "unforgiving" terrain where even skilled hikers can quickly find themselves overwhelmed by exposure and steep drops. The area sits on the watershed of the highest part of the Great Dividing Range, where conditions can change in minutes.

The successful outcome proves that preparation matters on both sides of a rescue. Hikers who pack properly and know when to call for help give rescue teams the best chance of bringing everyone home safely.

No injuries were reported among the hikers or any of the 14 rescue volunteers, a testament to skill, preparation, and teamwork in one of Australia's most challenging environments.