Salt Lake County Search and Rescue pulled a stranded hiker off Lone Peak by helicopter on Saturday, Aug. 29.

The peak, which rises to 11,253 feet along the border of Alpine and Highland, is one of the most challenging summits in the Wasatch Range. The hiker was wet, cold and desperate to get off the mountain, the team said in an Instagram post on Sunday, Aug. 30. Crews found a brief safe-weather window and coordinated with aviation partners at the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) to fly in.

The helicopter reached the hiker. But SAR warned the public not to assume a helicopter will always be available.

More than 200 air-to-ground lightning strikes were recorded during recent storms over the Wasatch Range, according to the post. Lightning is one of the biggest reasons helicopters cannot reach stranded hikers, SAR said, because pilots will not fly when conditions threaten the aircraft.

SAR said its helicopters come through DPS and medical aviation providers. The rescue team does not control the aircraft, the pilots, or the weather. If conditions are unsafe, the helicopter stays on the ground.

The warning carries extra weight after a 59-year-old man died July 18 when lightning struck him near the summit of American Fork Twin Peaks, just miles from Lone Peak. In that incident, reported by the Lehi Free Press, storm conditions also initially prevented rescuers from reaching the scene by air.

Lone Peak requires Class 4 scrambling and five to seven hours for most hikers to reach the top, according to Climb Utah. Afternoon thunderstorms are common during Utah's late-summer monsoon season, and hikers are advised to be well clear of the summit before storms arrive.

SAR listed four steps for backcountry users: check the weather before heading out, carry gear to stay warm and dry, take thunderstorms seriously, and know your location.

The hiker's identity, age and condition after the rescue have not been reported. No SAR spokesperson was named in the post or in ABC4's coverage of the incident.

Residents who witness a backcountry emergency can call 911 or contact the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.