California hiker who fell off cliff and survived three weeks in wilderness hit by shocking claim

Daily Mail​

22-05-2025

A hiker who was found after falling off a cliff and surviving for three weeks in the California wilderness has been called out by skeptics who are questioning if she's telling the truth about her journey.
Tiffany Slaton, 28, was reported missing by her family on April 29 after not hearing from her for nine days, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office said.
The department then sent out several alerts about her disappearance and called on the public to look out for her, as one tip confirmed she was last seen at Huntington Lake on April 20.
Slaton, of Jeffersonville, Georgia was on a solo trip through the Sierra Nevada when she said she suddenly became lost after falling off a cliff.
After her fall, Slaton said she endured a treacherous three weeks before she was finally found on May 14.
She was located inside a cabin at the Vermilion Valley Resort near Lake Edison, the sheriff's office said.
Despite making it out of the situation alive, many are now wondering if Slaton's shocking survival journey is truthful and if her family's fundraising motives were created with the right intentions.
'I'm glad to see that other people don't believe this story. So many things don't add up, I hope this office investigates fully since resources were used,' one commenter said.
'Something's very off about the story. I don't believe her at all. I think she's just looking for fame or money,' wrote another.
'It's embarrassing to think people believe someone fell off a cliff, survived 2 hours unconscious (guess she was timing it), popped her knee back into place, and traveled 20 miles after splinting her leg,' another wrote.
While many are unsure if the story is factual or fictional, a lot of people stood up for Slaton after she returned home.
'The kid went on an adventure with no reception. It's not her fault search and rescue crews didn't listen to the family and found her weeks later,' someone said.
Another stated: 'Tiffany is a true survivor and fighter to the end. Sounds like a movie in the making.'
After falling from a cliff, Slaton said she was unable to return to the main road because she was then hit by an avalanche, causing her to fall unconscious for two hours.
When she finally woke up, she realized she injured herself and went on to splint one of her legs and pop her knee back into place, she recalled.
She then proceeded on her journey, where she made it through 13 snowstorms, two landslides, had to eat wild leeks, boil snow melt for drinking water, and also got her tent, electric bike, phone and two sleeping bags stolen, according to the hiker.
She also recalled being unable to contact 911 but was somehow able to get GPS information from a Starbucks location, leaving skeptics even more confused.
'I eventually got mad at my GPS and decided to ask, "Well, where is the nearest Starbucks?",' she said at the news conference.
'It was like, "Oh, well, we can answer that question. It's 18 miles from here".'
A GoFundMe page set up by her parents was officially shut down on Monday after an influx of speculation crowded the family.
'The donations feature is closed but kind words are welcomed,' the page read.
Her parents still noted that the family is 'in need of financial help for any and all expenses while we are in California.'
Slaton's father, Bobby Slaton, previously called out the skeptics on the donation page, writing: 'Believe it or not, we even thank those who have questioned the merit of the events — That is what makes miracles so unbelievable.'
Online users aren't the only ones who don't quite understand Slaton's story, as Howie Schwartz, an experienced Sierra mountain guide, shared the same concerns.
Schwartz told the Los Angeles Times he understands her getting lost in the wilderness, but the rest isn't quite adding up.
'It doesn't seem like a story you can really wrap your head around,' he said.
'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.'
Schwartz was actually in the area guiding a five-day ski trip in the Mono Recesses in the Sierra while Slaton was missing.
He told the outlet he recalled seeing helicopters searching for her at the time.
The expert said the area still experienced late-season snow storms around this time of year, but the elevation near Huntington and Edison lakes is low enough that only rain would come down.
Tony Botti, a spokesperson for the sheriff's department, told the outlet they still don't have a full understanding of what exactly happened to Slaton out in the wilderness.
'We can only work with the information she told us because there are no other independent witnesses,' Botti said.
'If there are inaccuracies or embellishments, we really can't do anything about it.'
Meanwhile, Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni praised Slaton for her 'incredible story of perseverance, determination and survival,' adding that it resembles 'something that you may see on TV that they would make movies about.'
Christopher Gutierrez, the resort owner who found her taking refuge in the cabin, echoes Zanoni's response.
'She has stories, she could write a book. It's just unbelievable,' he said.