Hiker survives 100-foot fall into Lake Serene near Index

Published 1:30 pm Monday, December 9, 2024

INDEX — A hiker was rescued after plummeting about 100 feet into Lake Serene on Sunday night, authorities said.

The solo male hiker fell from a cliff and bounced off rocks several times before landing in the north end of the lake, aid Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Renee Cooper. The hiker activated a personal locater beacon, known as a PLB. He was hypothermic. He sustained a suspected head injury, broken ribs and a possible hip fracture.

He was able to get himself out of the water, but couldn’t move far, Cooper said.

The rescue operation was delayed due to weather, Cooper said. Once the weather cleared, a Navy helicopter airlifted the hiker to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The operation finished around 1:45 a.m.

Lake Serene is a picturesque alpine lake on the south side of U.S. 2 near Index. The popular hike to the lake is 8.2 miles roundtrip, with 2,000 feet of elevation gain.

Jake Goldstein-Street: 425-339-3439; jake.goldstein-street@heraldnet.com; X: @GoldsteinStreet.