Woman’s Legs Mysteriously Go Numb During Hike. She Thought It Was a Bite, But Here’s What Really Happened

A hiker was rescued from California’s Sierra Nevada mountains after she could no longer "feel the skin on her legs," which she initially believed was due to a spider bite — but authorities now say that something else was to blame.

In a news release, Inyo County Search and Rescue said they received a report on June 12 at approximately 6: 30 p.m. that the hiker could not descend from the Taboose Pass Trail. They added that she had been hiking on the John Muir Trail, when she came across too much snow on Mather Pass.

“About 1.7 mi shy of the trailhead, the hiker went to fetch water from the creek when she reportedly got bitten by what she thought was a spider,” read the statement. “Afterwards, she was unable to feel the skin on her legs and could not continue her hike down. She still managed to call for a rescue and relay her coordinates, then her phone battery died.”

A team of responders was assembled and drove up to the Taboose trailhead, said rescue officials. They “pushed a wheeled litter up for about 1.5 mi, then stashed it when the trail became too rough to safely continue with a litter for the last quarter mile.”

After evaluating the hiker’s condition, the rescuers walked her down walked her down a tricky part of the trail, with ropes to ensure her safety, per authorities. They brought her to the wheeled litter, and both the hiker and responders arrived at the trailhead before close to midnight.

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A representative from the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office tells PEOPLE that as far as they know, the hiker wasn't bitten by a spider, but was accidentally stung by stinging nettles.

"Taboose Pass Trail is not an easy trail. The road leading to the trailhead is only suitable for high-clearance vehicles," says the representative noting that the trail "can be tricky to find in some spots," and it can get very steep and is not maintained.

According to the University of California’s Integrated Pest Management website, stinging nettles are upright plants native to California and other Western states and have stinging hairs that can irritate and blister the skin. 

“When human skin comes into contact with a leaf or stem, it often rapidly develops reddish patches accompanied by itching and burning,” according to the website. “Frequently, a prolonged tingling sensation may persist on the affected skin for more than 12 hours, even after visible symptoms have faded.”

Inyo County Search and Rescue’s June 16 statement offered neither indication of the woman’s current condition nor identity. The representative tells PEOPLE that as far as they know, the woman is doing well.

Authorities advised that hikers carry a power bank for their phone or a satellite messaging device since emergency calls usually come from people with a dying phone battery. They also added that the Taboose, Sawmill, Baxter, and Shepherd Pass Tails are not as thoroughly maintained compared to the other trails in the Sierra, As a result, hikers may experience steep grades, tricky sections and route-finding issues.