Stranded Eaton Canyon Hikers Rescued in Hours Long Effort

Two hikers trying to find a waterfall in Eaton Canyon needed rescuing Tuesday night when they got stuck on a ridge on the side of a cliff after wandering off trail at Acrophobia Ridge toward Power Line Trail, the Altadena Sheriff’s Station said in a release.

After family members contacted the Downey Police Department to say the hikers did not return home, Downey PD contacted the Altadena Sheriff’s Station.

Altadena Search and Rescue was called out to the area at about 6:36 p.m. but called for assistance from Sierra Madre Search and Rescue and Montrose Search and Rescue at 8:20 p.m. since the hikers position was “extremely dangerous and precarious,” the Sheriff’s Station release noted.

All three S&R teams participated in the rescue, which ended in the early morning hours and involved harnesses to pull the hikers off the ridge to safety.

LASD Search and Rescue advises hikers to fill out this hiking plan and give it to someone who can contact law enforcement in the event a hiker does not return as planned: http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_163961.pdf

Search and Rescue Team members are Reserve Sheriff’s deputies who volunteer their time to help others for $1 a year, and who partner with sheriff’s civilian volunteers who volunteer for free. There are over 150 members of the eight Search and Rescue teams of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. These rescuers were activated for over 450 search and rescue missions last year, making it one of the most active counties for search and rescue missions in the nation. Reserve deputies and civilian volunteers are supervised by full-time sheriff’s deputies.

Did you see or hear any part of this rescue? Do you fill out a hiking plan when you hike? Share in the comments section.