A nine-year-old girl was seriously injured after falling on the Red Top Lookout trail in Seattle on September 12. The child was hiking with her family when she fell from the agate beds, a popular rockhounding area, and badly injured her right leg.
Kittitas County Search and Rescue received a 911 call from the parents and dispatched a 30-person crew to the remote location. Due to the trail's limited accessibility, rescuers had to hike to reach the girl. They provided her with initial stabilization before a helicopter airlifted her to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Her current condition is unknown.
The Red Top Lookout trail, located on the Teanaway Ridge, is known for its steep climb and rugged access roads, though it is considered a manageable hike. The area is popular with agate hunters for finds like thunder eggs and crystal clusters.
District fire chief Aaron Lowe advised hikers to be prepared for emergencies in remote areas, citing the potential for long response delays. He noted that visitors should exercise caution on trails like Red Top Lookout.
This incident follows other recent rescues in the area. In June, Kittitas County Search and Rescue assisted in rescuing a hiker who activated a distress signal from their fitness watch after a companion suffered heat stroke. In July, the team worked through the night to rescue an injured 90-pound Rottweiler named Clyde, who had injured paw pads and could not walk, carrying him over four miles down a mountain trail.