Two hikers survived awaiting rescue for three days after falling approximately 800 feet down a snowy cliff. The hikers, one male and one female, were on a ridge line trail about 8900 feet above Idyllwild, California when they fall.
According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit, helicopter Rescue 9 was the first to respond and made several attempts to haul the victims out, but was unable to due to very high winds. Separate helicopters from Cal Fire and Orange County Fire Authority also attempted to rescue, but were unable to due again due to high winds and low clouds.
Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit volunteers made it to the two on the first night. Further attempts made by helicopter Rescue 9 and the helicopter from Cal Fire were unsuccessful on the second day due to mountain obscuration and high turbulence surface winds.
Finally in the morning of the third day the Rescue 9 crew was able to conduct a windy hoist and remove the more severely injured male victim, taking him to Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment. The Cal Fire crew helicopter then came in and removed the female hiker. Both incredibly survived the entire ordeal.
Cheers to everyone involved for this incredible rescue.
