LINCOLN CITY — The rescue last week of two men stranded more than 200 feet up a Roads End cliff drew new attention to the perils of a scenic attraction called God’s Thumb.

On Friday, March 16, the crew of a U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Newport plucked the duo from Junction City off the rocky headland north of Lincoln City, a treacherous place where rescuers too often put their own lives at risk.

“It is a very rugged, very steep area,” reflected Chief Doug Kerr of North Lincoln Fire and Rescue after coordinating the 2:30 p.m. reaction by a pair of land-based teams from NLFR to a 911 call from the trapped climbers. “It’s a place of extreme risk, both for hikers and first responders.”

The men, in their late twenties, had parked their car near Chinook Winds Casino and hiked north on the beach to the God’s Thumb area, a part of the striking Cascade Head formation with arresting views, hidden coves and slippery, grass slopes.

“They tried to climb up the cliff but it ended up being steeper than what they anticipated,” said Kerr, describing a crumbly basalt rock that defies sure footing and makes it difficult for rescuers to deploy climbing gear. “We thought there wasn’t much we could do and decided the safest way was for the helo to pick them off. We didn’t have enough rope with us to reach those guys.”

Kerr said the fire department has its own rope-climbing team and adequate gear, but it would have taken hours to mount a ground rescue. He recalled going to the same area scores of times before.

“In my 34-year career with the department, I’d say we go up there two to four times a year,” he recalled, saying the alluring pinnacle of God’s Thumb rises about 450 feet above the beach. “I’m not sure what motivates people to climb into that area.”

The incident resounded in Lincoln City, where the parks department on March 20 issued a first-ever warning about potential hiking dangers in the God’s Thumb area, a checkerboard mix of private and state property reached by beach or an unimproved trail at the end of Logan Road.

“God’s Thumb is not a Lincoln City trail or park, though we want all our residents and visitors to be safe,” said Parks Dzirector Jeanne Sprague.

The notice urged hikers to “assess your ability with the difficulty of the hike” and a list of safety tips, including letting others others know “when and where you’re hiking,” starting early and “do not wait to call 911 if you need help.”

While state officials rallied to a series of accidents at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City with new fences and signage, no signs warning of the dangers are posted in the God’s Thumb area, according to Captain Jim Kusz, safety officer for NLFR.

“The message we’re trying to get out is the ocean is no swimming pool and the beaches can be treacherous,” said Kusz. “If you’re not aware of where you’re going, do something different.”

The names of the men, who were flown to a landing zone at Chinook Winds, were not released.

“So they got a ride in a helicopter and went on their way a bit embarrassed by it all,” he concluded.