The Terrifying Reason You Should Never Hike Alone

Amber Kornhorst, a 25-year-old nurse from Minnesota, fractured her back, broke her nose, and crushed her pelvis after falling from a 100-foot cliff last week on Arizona's Rose Cliffs Trail, FOX 10 reports. She was stranded for almost 25 hours before she was rescued and evacuated to a Utah hospital.

According to St. George News, the owners of the bed and breakfast Kornhorst was staying at were concerned when she didn't return the next day and called the police. She was in Arizona to participate in a volunteer hike for the Best Friends Animal Society of Utah. Ground search crews were sent out into the trails as well as the helicopter. Hildale-Colorado City Fire Chief Kevin Barlow said, "It was really nothing short of miraculous that this lady was found. She was ledged out 200 feet down a cliff in a slot."

Authorities say when Kornhorst regained consciousness after the fall, she managed to find her wilderness emergency whistle and — though she couldn't physically move — blow it loud enough for a nearby search team to hear. When Kornhorst was properly hydrated, she was brought to the ICU in critical condition. Yesterday's update on a GoFundMe for Kornhorst explains:

BEST NEWS: Amber had a huge day herself! After 2 days lying flat in bed, Amber's brace arrived! This will help support her still fractured thoracic vertebrae. Working with physical therapy, she sat up and transferred to the chair for the first time since her accident!!!!! What a ROCK STAR!

She's been discharged from the ICU and continues to work on her physical recovery "like a good diligent nurse!"

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