Badly injured hiker spends night on mountain after big rescue effort hampered by weather

Pincher Creek RCMP say a woman who'd fallen about 45 metres on a scree slope was among six hikers rescued from Mount Haig near Castle Mountain Ski Resort.

Police said an emergency locator beacon was activated Sunday afternoon and they received two 911 calls soon after about an injured woman.

RCMP coordinated with several other agencies, including Waterton Lakes National Parks Public Safety and Kananaskis Provincial Park Public Safety, to locate the group.

"This was one of the largest rescue efforts I have been part of," said Pincher Creek RCMP Cpl. Jeff Feist in a news release.

Five of the hikers were successfully rescued Sunday, but bad weather meant the 35-year-old injured woman couldn't be airlifted right away.

A public safety officer from Waterton Parks set up a tent and stayed with her overnight. She was extracted early Monday afternoon and eventually flown to a Calgary hospital. 

"Saving this woman's life can be credited to the superior technical ability of all those who participated in this extremely complex mission," said Feist.

RCMP said the injured hiker remains in hospital in serious condition.

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