A Colorado Springs woman was rescued Saturday, a few miles from the Pikes Peak summit. Marian Steele was rescued by two Air Force Cadets who were hiking up Barr Trail.

The two men carried Steele two miles up to the peak so she could get help.
The cadets say when they saw Steele on the trail floor, in pain, they didn't give it a second thought before they scooped her up and carried her to the top of Pikes Peak.

Steele said after she got injured, she at first thought, "we could try crawling up the hill, but that wasn't going to work."

First Class Cadets Steve Shaffer and Steven Phnewell said when they saw Steele on the ground they knew they had to act. "We took their packs, and switched off carrying her up the mountain, all the way up," Shaffer said.

"They carried me on their shoulders, like Heman," Steele said.

It was a tough climb, even for the cadets. "It definitely took a toll on your body," Shaffer said.

El Paso County Search and Rescue said it's important to be well prepared for a strenuous hike. "Have plenty of water, food and rain gear," advised SAR information officer Steve Sperry.

Shaffer said he would help anyone who needs it. "We would hope that people would do the same for us," he said.

"There's nothing I could do to make that up,” Steele said. “It was phenomenal."

Search and Rescue crews said people should not attempt a rescue like this one. They told 11 News people should leave it up to the trained professionals.

*Editor's Note: Search and Rescue called 11 News to say thanks to the cadets for the rescue. But SAR wants to remind everyone it's best to leave the rescues up to them. SAR said it has the training and proper gear for these types of rescues, which will help prevent further injury.