A hiker who became stranded on the exposed south ridge of Mt. Superior in Little Cottonwood Canyon on Thursday, July 23, was rescued uninjured by the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Search and Rescue team after calling for help shortly before noon.

Two friends started the hike at 6 a.m. Thursday and became separated on the route, according to a statement from the Sheriff's SAR team. One hiker called for help after reaching a point where they did not feel safe moving up or down on the ridge.

A SAR team hiked to the stranded hiker. Around the same time, the hiker began making their way down, though SAR advised them to stay put if they weren't comfortable. The team met the hiker near the avalanche control infrastructure on the ridgeline and helped them walk the rest of the way to the road. All teams were off the mountain by 1:25 p.m.

The hiker was not injured.

A route with serious consequences

The south ridge of Mt. Superior is one of the Wasatch's classic ridge scrambles, gaining more than 2,600 feet of elevation over knife-edged terrain with significant exposure on both sides. A published route guide for the south ridge notes multiple spots where a misstep, loose rock, or other mishap could result in a fatal fall. The same guide documents that a hiker named Daniel Rector fell to his death on the route in September 2002.

The SAR team used the rescue to issue a safety advisory ahead of the Pioneer Day holiday weekend.

"With the holiday weekend coming up, SAR would just like to remind recreators that the south ridge of Superior is not a beginner scramble," the team's statement said. "It is a difficult hike with substantial exposure and severe consequences. As with any route, please research it before you go and if a member of your party decides they are uncomfortable with the terrain, consider turning around together."