Nationwide — Tiffany Slaton, a 27-year-old African American woman from Georgia, was found alive after surviving nearly three weeks alone in the snowy Sierra wilderness in Fresno County, California. She took shelter in an unlocked cabin until help arrived.
Slaton was last heard from in late April, prompting her parents to report her missing on April 29. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office launched a large-scale search, covering more than 600 square miles of the Sierra National Forest. Snow blocked many roads, making the effort difficult. On May 13, officials announced they were scaling back the search.
Two days later, on May 15, resort owner Christopher Gutierrez arrived at Vermilion Valley Resort to reopen for spring. He noticed a cabin door open and shoes left outside. Slaton appeared in the doorway and ran toward him without saying a word, just asking for a hug.
“She pops out, didn’t say a word, just ran up and all she wanted was a hug,” Gutierrez said, according to WLBT. “It was a pretty surreal moment, and that’s when I realized who this was.”
The resort, located in California’s Sierra Nevada, had been left unlocked for the winter in case stranded hikers needed shelter. That precaution may have saved her life.
Gutierrez gave Slaton a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and called emergency services. Authorities took her to a hospital, where she was treated for dehydration and fatigue. Despite the harsh conditions, she showed no major injuries.
“Three weeks, it’s unheard of,” Sheriff’s spokesperson Tony Botti said. “It speaks to the tenacity that Tiffany has, that she’s a fighter.”
Officials said Slaton was last seen around April 20 near Huntington Lake, about 20 miles from the resort through rough terrain. It’s still unclear how she got lost or what route she took.
Her parents, Bobby and Fredrina Slaton who live in Jeffersonville, Georgia, received the news while shopping. Her mother said she broke into tears and hugged a stranger in relief.
Deputies plan to interview Slaton to learn how she survived in freezing temperatures at elevations over 6,500 feet. Her parents said she was raised to be self-reliant and always loved the outdoors.
“So it’s nice to know, as parents, that all the things that we’ve taught her, she actually did,” her mother said. “We believe that life is an adventure.”
The sheriff’s office credited public tips and mountain access finally opening up for the rescue.