July 29, 1999: Mt. St. Helens Rescue

Rescue crews battled blowing volcanic ash as they were lowered from a helicopter to reach a woman who fell 20 feet into a crevasse near the summit of Mount St. Helens, according to CBS Affiliate KOIN in Portland, Ore.

Twenty-nine-year-old Janelle Strandburg was hiking with a group when she fell into the crevasse and apparently hurt her back, said paramedic Mike Hollingsworth of North Country Emergency Medical Services in Yacolt.

An Air Force Reserves helicopter from the 939th Rescue Squadron from Portland, Ore., arrived but could not land because of thick, blowing ash left from the mountain's eruption on May 18, 1980.

The woman, who was about 6,800 feet up the 8,366-foot volcano, was hoisted about 60 feet through the air into the helicopter Wednesday afternoon.

She was listed in serious condition at a hospital, although her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, Hollingsworth said.