A group of bikers are being credited with helping locate and rescue a missing hiker in the Idaho wilderness.

A group of mountain bikers are being praised as heroes after discovering and helping rescue a missing hiker in Idaho’s rugged backcountry.

According to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), Heather Wayment was reported missing on Wednesday, September 17, after she failed to return home. Authorities later located her vehicle in the Prairie Creek area of Blaine County but found no sign of her nearby.

The search came to a dramatic end the following day when three bikers — brothers Tommy and Vinton Gwinn and their friend Shelton Robinson, all from Pocatello — encountered Wayment deep in the mountains of Camas County, more than 17 miles from her last known location.

“She was wandering in her underwear, and her feet were bleeding,” Tommy Gwinn told *East Idaho News*. “She didn’t want help at first. She was scared and very guarded. It took about a half hour before she would talk.”

Eventually, Wayment shared her name and explained that she was lost. The bikers, unaware of the ongoing search, were soon joined by three dirt bikers who recognized Wayment as the missing hiker. They provided her with food and worked together to determine their location.

Tommy Gwinn managed to contact his wife, who alerted the BCSO. Due to the remote terrain, coordinating the rescue was difficult. Ultimately, an air ambulance arrived to transport Wayment to St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise.

The group remained by her side until help arrived. One of the dirt bikers even carried Wayment on his bike to the waiting helicopter, saving critical time.

In a statement, the BCSO expressed deep gratitude to everyone involved — including multiple search and rescue teams, local law enforcement, and Life Flight 76. Special thanks were extended to the mountain bikers for their quick action and compassion.

Wayment’s rescue underscores both the risks of exploring Idaho’s wilderness and the vital role everyday citizens can play in saving lives.