Graduation/Rescue August 1st, 2011

Two members of Altadena Mountain Rescue who have been in Sheriff's Reserve Academy had their Pinning and Graduation Ceremony on Monday. We're proud to have our teammates back after 6 months of hard work. Congratulations! Unfortunately, for a few of us, just as we arrived in Down Town L.A. for Graduation we needed to turn right back around to respond on a call for a hiker stuck on a cliff in Eaton Canyon. Two AMRT members were already on scene by the time we arrived for support. Sierra Madre Search and Rescue were also kind enough to lend us a hand. Our hiker had found himself stuck on the side of a cliff on the South side of Acrophobia ridge, about an 1/8 of a mile down canyon from the start up point. Our plan of action was to get above him, setup a rope system to lower a rescuer to his location and attach a harness, and finally lower both rescuer and hiker to canyon bottom. This is exactly what we did and it worked out very well! He was lowered to canyon bottom with no injuries and was then escorted out. We cleaned up on top and hiked back down and out.
Another note; this is the second rescue we've had in the same exact spot within two weeks. GOING UP THIS RIDGE IS NOT ADVISED! THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL TRAIL, NOR IS IT MAINTAINED. ACCIDENTS HERE CAN BE UNFORGIVING. As you can see in the last post and recent news reports, a hiker lost his life after taking a tumble off of this same ridge.
Feel free to post any comments or questions about this. Be safe out there!

Fallen Hiker, Eaton Canyon - July 31st, 2011

As usual for Sundays, AMRT was on patrol this day. It was very hot out with plenty of people out on the trails. Our day was nearing an end when at approximately 6:30pm, we received a 911 call indicating a hiker had fallen from one of the cliffs in Eaton Canyon. We immediately responded and made our way to canyon bottom in good time. As we were driving down past the Mt. Wilson Toll Rd. Bridge, bystanders indicated an informant was trying to flag us down. We met the informant. She was the person who called 911 for help and stated she knew the individual who had fallen while leading us up canyon. Upon arriving on scene of the fall, there were several people crouching down near the hiker trying to help. The young man was unresponsive and in critical condition. He needed to be transported right away. During our medical assessment, a Fire helicopter that was en route to the location had arrived to assist in an air extraction and additional Fire Paramedics came in on foot. We tended to the patient and air lifted him out of the canyon. He was flown to Huntington Memorial Hospital.

It is with great sadness to say that he passed away later after being extracted from the canyon where he had fallen... Altadena Mountain Rescue sends our condolences to all his friends and family. We are very sorry for your loss.

We ask that everyone, please take caution while hiking up and over Acrophobia Ridge to get to the second falls. It is a dangerous hike across terrain that is always changing and unstable. Though, it may not be a mistake on anyone's part, it can just be the mountain side becoming slippery or rock below your feet coming undone, causing unfortunate incidents.