Hikers follow trail of blood to find and save NY woman critically injured in mystery accident
A New York woman is lucky to be alive after suffering a devastating fall during a solo hike in Washington, only to be discovered by two Good Samaritans who followed a trail of blood to reach her.
Jacque Tietijen, of Saratoga Springs, set out last week for what was meant to be a routine hike to Bridal Veil Falls. An experienced mountaineer who has tackled some of the world’s most challenging peaks — including Mount Everest — Jacque had no reason to expect danger on the Washington trail, her family told KSL TV.
But on Feb. 3, while climbing near the falls, Jacque fell. Her sister-in-law, Katherine Tietijen, said the family believes she may have slipped and struck her head or been hit by falling rocks.
Two hikers passing through the area noticed a trail of blood and chose to follow it. The path led them to Jacque, who was lying unconscious at the bottom of a steep, 45-degree slope.
“They took care of her, wrapped their coats around her, tried to get her body temperature up,” Katherine told the station.
Jacque was airlifted to Utah Valley Hospital, where she remains under treatment for multiple brain bleeds, serious skull and facial fractures, and a small tear in her carotid artery, according to a GoFundMe set up by her family. She was intubated for several days as doctors closely monitored swelling in her brain.
“If it starts to swell too much, they will have to do emergency surgery and take a piece out of her skull to give the brain space to expand,” Katherine explained.
The family calls the two hikers heroes, saying their decision to follow the blood trail likely saved Jacque’s life.
“The fact that they not just noticed that, but had the inclination to follow it and investigate — that potentially saved her life,” Katherine said. “Our family is so grateful. There are no words for how grateful we are to those men.”
Jacque’s loved ones remain stunned that such a serious accident could happen to someone with her level of experience, noting she has completed “thousands of hikes” over the years. The GoFundMe page describes her deep love for the outdoors and her strong connection to nature. As of Sunday evening, the fundraiser was just $600 shy of its goal.
“We know she will fight with everything she has to be able to return to her family and all the things she loves,” her family wrote.
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