On Monday night, May 26, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department received a call about lost hikers. Cabazon Station deputies responded to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
The wife of hiker Jason Popwski, who resides in the city of Joshua Tree, reported him and his two friends, Larry Duffield, also of Joshua Tree, and Brian McBrayer of Yucca Valley, missing. They had started a day hike about 8 a.m. and had not returned.
About 2 p.m., Popwski sent a text message stating they were near the top of the mountain and heading to Wellman’s Divide; however, no further communications were received.
Personnel from the Sheriff’s Department, State Park rangers, California Highway Patrol Aviation Unit, Riverside County Mountain Rescue Unit, Riverside County Desert Search and Rescue Unit, and Palm Springs Tramway employees responded to assist in the search for the hikers.
Just after midnight, the search teams located the hikers at the top of the tram and escorted them to its base. All were uninjured.