Two hikers were stranded for three days in wintry conditions on Tahquitz Peak near Idyllwild, California, after sustaining severe injuries from an 800-foot fall. The incident, which began on Saturday, March 1, 2025, required the coordinated efforts of multiple search and rescue teams from across Southern California, according to a social media post from LASD Search and Rescue.
The hikers lost their footing while crossing an ice-covered trail between the Pacific Crest Trail and Tahquitz Peak. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office received the distress call at 3:07 p.m. on Saturday. Adverse weather conditions, including high winds and low visibility, hindered initial rescue attempts.
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Additional teams were mobilized from Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and San Bernardino counties. At an elevation of 8,400 feet, rescuers faced sub-zero wind chills, blowing snow, and treacherous high-alpine terrain.
The operation required complex rope systems across steep, icy slopes to reach and extract the injured hikers. Rescuers employed high directional systems, tracking lines, and twin tensioned rope systems to navigate the challenging terrain safely.
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Rescue teams worked through the night, providing critical care and warmth to the injured hikers as temperatures plummeted. They carefully moved the patients to a lower elevation, where they waited for a break in the weather.
On Monday morning, March 3, improved weather conditions finally allowed for a safe helicopter extraction. Both hikers were airlifted and transported to a local hospital.
Jon King’s San Jacinto Trail Report had previously warned about the challenging conditions on this particular trail, emphasizing the need for appropriate equipment and knowledge.
Tahquitz Peak, located in the San Jacinto mountain range of Riverside County, California, is a granite rock formation at 8,846 feet. It is a popular hiking destination known for its challenging trails, stunning vistas, and historic fire lookout, which offers panoramic views of Southern California, including the Salton Sea and San Jacinto Peak.
