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Sacramento Hiker, 80, Rescued After 40-Foot Fall On Yuba River Trail

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — An 80-year-old Sacramento woman is recovering after falling 40 feet down a rugged trail over the weekend.

Two days ago, Carol Blake could only dream of being in a hospital bed. She hiked for a few hours up the Yuba River Trail before falling down a rocky path and breaking bones in her lower leg on the way down.

"I don't know; I slipped, tripped, whatever," she said. "I just discovered I was headed downhill."

It was supposed to be a relaxing fall hike with her outdoors group, Women of the Wild. Instead, those women quickly kicked into rescue mode and called for help.

A California Highway Patrol helicopter came quickly and crews wrapped her up like a mummy and hoisted her to safety.

She smiles about it now, maybe because she's used to the elements. She's been hiking for 30 years and is one of the oldest in the group at 80 years old.

The combination of skills in the group worked in everyone's favor. Before a stretcher arrived, the women used two walking poles to create a splint for Blake's leg and tied jackets together for a makeshift harness, pulling her back up the hill.

She says the great part was no one panicked, including her.

"I was nervous but I don't think i was scared," she said. "I just trusted them; I knew what they were doing."

It wasn't until after surgery that she found out her friends left the heroic firefighters the rest of their trail mix bars.

Doctors say Blake will be home in time for Thanksgiving. She plans to hit the trails again but admits she should probably wait a few months.

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