Oregon hiker's tale of survival

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A hiker who survived a 50-foot fall, broken bones and three nights in a national forest says a strong drive to live led her to keep moving, eat berries, bugs and even try a bite of a "plump and juicy" slug.

Pamela Salant said the snail-like forest mollusk "looked really tasty, but it was not" and she spat it out after giving it a chew.

"I was thinking, 'I can't believe I'm doing this, but it's what's happening,' " she said.

The 28-year-old Portland nursery school art teacher was rescued Aug. 2 by the crew of an Oregon Army National Guard helicopter. While on a camping trip with her boyfriend July 30 in the Mount Hood National Forest, she walked off to look for a campsite, got lost and fell.

Speaking from a wheelchair at a hospital, Salant said she was wearing only shorts and a tank top when she got lost. She covered herself with moss to stay warm. Salant suffered a broken tibia and fractures in her middle back.

She thanked her rescuers and her boyfriend, Aric Essig, who called for help when she didn't return. Next time out, she said, "I'm going to look at the map and be acquainted with my surroundings." -- AP