Crews rescued a hiker who had fallen in the wilderness last Thursday.
Sgt. Joel D. Wilson of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department reported that at 10:37 a.m. Thursday, March 30, Cabazon Station deputies responded to Black Mountain Trail and Highway 243 regarding a hiker stranded in the Mt. San Jacinto Wilderness area.
The hiker was identified as Robert Duncan, 33, of Los Banos in Merced County. Duncan reported he had slipped and fallen, and did not believe he could continue.
Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit, National Forest Service Rangers, Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team, Riverside County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit and the California Highway Patrol Aviation Unit were summoned to assist in the rescue.
Riverside County Aviation Unit was able to locate Duncan, although neither the Riverside County Aviation Unit nor CHP Aviation Unit were able to hoist Duncan out due to high winds.
RMRU was able to respond to Duncan’s location and hike him out to safety. Duncan did not suffer any injuries and did not require medical attention.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department would like to remind hiking enthusiasts to carry proper equipment for any outdoor excursions. Proper preparation includes a well-thought-out travel plan shared with friends and family, as well as familiarity with common hiking equipment, such as GPS, maps and compasses.
RMRU offers several helpful, lifesaving tips at its website (www.rmru.org).
