A tourist visiting the top of Mount Walker got a view Tuesday she won't soon forget.

Emergency responders from the Brinnon Fire Department and Quilcene Fire Rescue were called to the north viewpoint after a California woman fell into a vault toilet while trying to retrieve a cellphone she had dropped.

The woman had been visiting the destination viewpoint in the Olympic National Forest while exploring spots along US Highway 101.

Brinnon Fire Chief Tim Manly said the tourist, a woman in her 40s, dropped her phone while using the facilities.

She then took the toilet apart, removing the seat and its casing, in an attempt to get at the phone.

She couldn't get close enough to grab the phone, however.

The woman had several small dogs with her, so she tried to use the dog leashes to fish out her phone.

When that didn't work, she then took the leashes and tied them together in an attempt to create a safety harness so she could reach down deeper into the toilet for her phone, Manly said.

Instead, she dropped about 8 feet to the bottom of the outhouse pit.

"She tried to tie herself off so she wouldn't fall in. You see how that worked," the chief said.

"She fell in head first, covered from head to toe," Manly said.

For 20 minutes or so, she tried to climb out, without success.

"She could reach the top with her fingertips, but she wasn't strong enough to pull herself out," Manly said.

The woman then used her cell phone to call 911.

Four firefighters/EMTs from Rescue 41 from the Brinnon Fire Department and Aid 21 from Quilcene Fire & Rescue responded to the mountaintop.

Unable to reach the woman, the crew passed down pieces of wood cribbing to the woman so she could make a platform to stand on. Emergency crews then put webbing around the woman and pulled her out.

A hose line was attached to Rescue 41 and the tourist was gently hosed down.

Manly said she was given a Tyvek suit to wear.

The woman did not want to be taken to the hospital, Manly said, despite being strongly encouraged to seek medical attention and being warned of her exposure to human waste.

"She just basically wanted to get in her car and leave," he said.

It was her decision to make, the chief added.

The rescue went quickly, Manly said, and the woman was grateful for the help. Manly said the woman was extremely fortunate not to be overcome by toxic gases or sustain injury.

It was a memorable afternoon for many, to be sure.

"This was one of the many calls that I've been on that I will never forget," Manly said.