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A sudden and powerful storm over Washington state’s Cascade Mountains quickly turned a challenging hike into a fight for survival by an Oklahoma couple.
The pair was navigating the rugged “core zone” of the remote Enchantments wilderness when they were engulfed by heavy, deep snow.
By late afternoon, the freezing, high-elevation conditions brought their trek to a desperate halt.
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At 5:26 p.m., the husband sent an urgent text to 911.
He reported to dispatchers that their clothes were soaked through from the storm and his wife was physically unable to continue moving, according to FOX 13 Seattle.
Help could not reach them in time.
The stranded hiker, identified as 45-year-old Sybil Claborn of Oklahoma City, succumbed to the extreme elements and died in the snow on Sunday.
Before the rescue team reached them, Claborn’s husband tried to carry her out but was unable to do so.
They were stranded at an elevation of roughly 7,000 to 8,000 feet, about 8 to 10 miles from the nearest trailheads.
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The situation prompted a frantic rescue effort involving multiple agencies — but the severe weather repeatedly thwarted attempts to reach the couple by air.
The sheriff’s office requested a hoist-equipped helicopter at 6:51 p.m., and an Army helicopter launched from Yakima shortly after 8 p.m.
Stormy conditions forced the helicopter to turn back as the husband remained in contact with 911 and reported that Claborn’s condition was deteriorating.
A second Army helicopter attempt around 10:50 p.m. was also unsuccessful — while Chelan County Mountain Rescue crews continued toward the couple on foot.
Ground crews finally reached the stranded hikers around 3:30 a.m., finding Claborn dead and her husband suffering from severe hypothermia.
Her husband was warmed inside a tent before he was transported to Cascade Medical Center in Leavenworth for treatment.
Claborn’s body was later recovered and taken to the Chelan County Coroner’s Office.
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Authorities are actively investigating the cause and manner of Claborn’s death.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office for more information.
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While the tragedy in the Enchantments unfolded amid heavy snow and freezing conditions, other hikers have died this year while battling extreme heat.
Earlier this summer, a 68-year-old French tourist died after attempting to hike to safety after his vehicle became stuck in mud in Death Valley National Park.
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A similar tragedy unfolded at the Grand Canyon in June.
That month, an 18-year-old hiker died after developing heat-related symptoms on the park’s Bright Angel Trail, the National Park Service said.
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