An elderly woman died last week after she and her sister spent a cold night and rigorous day in remote northeastern Grant County, their car stuck in snow.

Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer said the ordeal began May 13, when Stella Adamson, 73, and her sister Sue Blake, 81, both of Vancouver, Wash., were on Forest Road 52, about 8 miles west of the North Fork Campground. Their vehicle became stuck in a drift.

The women spent the night in the vehicle and began walking for help about 6 a.m. the next day. They walked about 12 hours to the campground, where Cove residents Robert Nelson and his wife took them into their camp.

Nelson, a member of the Union County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, said both women were exhausted. The Nelsons gave the pair food and made a place in their camper to sleep.

They made plans to get the vehicle out of the snow the next day.

However, Adamson complained of chest pains about 10 p.m. Nelson took her by car toward Baker City, trying to raise emergency services with a hand-held radio. Nearing Baker City he was able to reach 911.

Adamson was pronounced dead at the hospital in Baker City.

Nelson later returned to the camp to notify her sister, and helped her get her vehicle out of the snow, Palmer said.

A family member said the women were just exploring the area, and had stayed in Condon before driving to Baker City, Sumpter and Granite. They decided to take the scenic route to Ukiah, ending up in trouble on the remote road.