What began as a solo camping trip turned into a survival story with an unbelievable ending. Tiffany Slaton, 28, is safe and recovering after surviving for weeks alone in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains—thanks to her resilience, resourcefulness, and a bit of well-timed luck. Injured in an avalanche and left without gear, she melted snow for water, foraged for food, and kept a journal to stay grounded until help came.
The breakthrough came when she discovered an unlocked emergency-use cabin more than 20 miles from where she was last seen. Just eight hours later, the owner arrived to open it for the season—and found her alive. A former competitive archer from Bermuda, Slaton credits her training and mindset for helping her endure. Her parents, who had feared the worst, called her survival nothing short of a miracle. She only walked out with bruises—and an unforgettable story of strength and survival.