Lost hikers rescued Thursday night

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According to a Riverside County Fire press release, a 46-year-old male sustained moderate injuries, including a fractured left leg, after falling about 50 feet while rock climbing at about 2 p.m. Monday. The patient was airlifted by Cal Fire Helicopter 301 to Keenwild Forest Service Station where he was then transported by American Medical Response to a nearby hospital. Riverside County Fire, Idyllwild Fire, Idyllwild Volunteer Fire Company 621, the U.S. Forest Service and AMR were all part of the rescue efforts. Photo by Jenny Kirchner

The Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit helped extricate two lost hikers from the Mt. San Jacinto State Park and State Wilderness, Thursday night, July 31.

About 8:45 p.m., the Riverside County Sheriff’s dispatch unit received a call from the two lost hikers. During the late morning and afternoon, they had hiked to San Jacinto Peak. But when leaving the Peak area, they mistakenly took a trail that put them on the Pacific Crest Trail between Little Round Valley Camp and Black Mountain Group Camp, according to the Sheriff’s Department press release.

The hikers were identified as Ali Esparza, 23, of Jamul, CA and Phuong Nguyen, 25, of San Diego.

Besides RMRU and sheriff’s deputies, the Sheriff’s Aviation unit and staff from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway participated in searching for the two lost hikers. About two hours later, the helicopter and RMRU members found them and they were airlifted to safety. The hikers were found in good health and no medical treatment was needed.

 

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