Outdoor Enthusiast’s Skills Put to the Test
Tiffany Slaton, 28, has long enjoyed foraging, gardening, and solo outdoor adventures. But her deep connection to nature became a lifeline during a harrowing three-week ordeal in the mountains of Fresno, California, where she was reported missing and later found alive.
Three-Day Camping Trip Turns Into Survival Mission
What began as a planned three-day solo camping trip quickly turned into a nightmare. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Slaton said, “I may never do a vacation longer than three days ever again.” The Georgia native was reported missing by her parents on April 29 after they hadn’t heard from her in nine days.
Early in her trip, she fell off a cliff, lost consciousness for two hours, and suffered injuries to both legs. Drawing on her background as a trained horticulturist and pre-Olympian in archery, she managed to splint one leg and pop her knee back into place.
Cut Off from Help and Forced to Survive
Blocked by a recent avalanche and unable to reach 911 due to poor cell service, Slaton was stranded.
She began a “long arduous journey” to reach civilization, enduring 13 snowstorms, scaling peaks up to 11,000 feet, and fending off wild animals. She survived on boiled snow and foraged leeks.
“Nature is quite terrifying. Once you start finding things that are scary for you, you do your best to keep moving and get over it,” she said.
Determined to Survive for Her Family
At one point, she was left with only a lighter and a knife. Despite her dwindling resources, she stayed motivated by the thought of reuniting with her family before her birthday on May 16. “I would rather live than have to deal with my parents seeing that I failed in such a dumb way,” she said.
Rescue Efforts and a Miraculous Call Home
Authorities conducted an extensive search from May 6 to May 10, covering nearly 600 square miles with no confirmed sightings. By May 14, they decided to scale back their efforts.
Then, on May 15, her parents Bobby and Fredrina Slaton received a life-changing phone call. “Dad, I’m alive,” Tiffany told them.
Shelter in a Cabin and a Peanut Butter Craving
Slaton had stumbled upon an unlocked cabin at a resort near Lake Edison after pushing through a blizzard. The resort’s owner, Christopher Gutierrez, had left it open for emergencies just like this. When Slaton arrived, she thought she was hallucinating.
“When the door opened, I saw the best sleeping bag in the world,” she recalled.
Gutierrez discovered her when he arrived to open the resort for the summer.
“She didn’t say a word, just ran up and all she wanted was a hug,” he said.
After confirming her identity, deputies said Slaton asked for just one thing: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Recovery and Reflection
Slaton was treated for dehydration, minor cuts and burns, and eye damage from sun exposure in the snow. She had lost about 10 pounds but said her blood work came back “perfect,” thanks to her foraging knowledge.
Her mother, Fredrina, said, “I’m very proud of her survival—but I’ll be prouder when she gets a GPS.”
Slaton plans to return home to Georgia with her family and said she documented her entire journey in a journal, which she plans to review as she continues to recover and readjust.
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