‘So many things don’t add up’: California hiker falls from cliff, survives three weeks before rescue: Critics say she made it up

In a tale that has captivated the nation, 28-year-old Tiffany Slaton from Jeffersonville, Georgia, survived a harrowing 20-day ordeal in California’s snowbound Sierra Nevada after a solo camping trip took a dangerous turn.

However, as details of her survival story emerged, some online skeptics began to question its authenticity. Critics on social media platforms have pointed out perceived inconsistencies in her account. They doubt the feasibility of surviving on boiled snow and wild leeks for nearly three weeks. They also question the likelihood of enduring 13 snowstorms in that period. Some have drawn parallels to previous survival stories that were later scrutinized or debunked.

It’s not a story “you can really wrap your head around”

Howie Schwartz, an experienced Sierra mountain guide, told the Los Angeles Times, “It doesn’t seem like a story you can really wrap your head around. Falling off a cliff, having to splint her leg. You don’t splint your leg unless your leg is broken, and if your leg is broken, you’re not walking miles on it.” Perhaps in response to the controversy, Staton’s family closed their GoFundMe page, used to raise funds for the search.

Reportedly her father said in a comment on the page before it shut down, “Believe it or not, we even thank those who have questioned the merit of the events — That is what makes miracles so unbelievable.”

What happened to Tiffany Slaton?

Setting out on April 20 for a three-day biking and backpacking trip from near Shaver and Huntington lakes to Mono Hot Springs, Slaton purportedly suffered injuries from a cliff fall, leaving both legs impaired. With no cell service and limited resources, she said she endured 13 snowstorms and traversed elevations up to 11,000 feet, relying on melted snow and foraging for leeks.

Slaton chronicled her experience in a journal to maintain sanity. Slaton eventually found refuge in an emergency cabin at Vermilion Valley Resort near Lake Edison, discovered just hours before the resort owner arrived to open it for the season. Despite her injuries, she was in good health upon rescue and reunited with her parents on her birthday.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, which had conducted an extensive search covering nearly 600 square miles, has not indicated any doubts about Slaton’s account. Authorities plan to interview her further to understand more about her ordeal.