Community Corner

Two SoCal Hikers Rescued from Mt. San Jacinto

A man and a woman got lost above the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, but were escorted to safety by volunteer search crews.

Two hikers were home safe Wednesday, after getting lost and spending the night atop Mount San Jacinto.

Riverside County Sheriff's Sergeant Don Fortney says the two Southern California hikers called for help around 7 p.m. Tuesday, when they were stuck at approximately the 9,900 foot elevation.

A sheriff's search helicopter was able to locate 63-year-old Michael Blanc, from Anaheim, and 39-year-old Malgurzata Domagala, from Viejo, by 10 p.m., but couldn't get to them.

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"...due to high and unpredictable winds in the area they were unable to hoist the hikers to safety," Fortney said.

A few hours later, at around 1:15 a.m., volunteers from the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit reached the hikers and escorted them to the ranger station near the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, where they spent the night, according to Fortney.

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"The hikers were lowered from the mountain via the Palm Springs Aerial Tram and escorted to their vehicle in the Palm Springs Museum parking lot at 6:50 a.m. where they were released in good health," Fortney added.


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