Three overdue stranded hikers
By Walt Walker
RMRU members met at the Banning
station of the Riverside County Sheriff's
Department (shortly before dawn) to plan the
search operation for a trio of adult overdue
hikers.
It was finally decided to start one
group of searchers at the mouth of Tahquitz
Canyon. Another group would ride the first
morning tram and hike to Caramba and then descend
the canyon. A third group was held back in hopes
that a military helicopter would soon arrive.
The good news came that a twin
turbined Huey was on the way from Edwards Air
Force Base. The third group drove over to the
Banning Airport and dropped me off to meet the
bird. They then drove to the Palm Springs
Airport.
When the bird arrived I mounted an
exterior antenna for the RMRU radio I had and we
were quickly airborne. On the way I briefed the
pilots on the situation. We started searching
from Caramba and in about 15 minutes we located
the missing men at the 4,500 foot level.
We descended to Palm Springs to off
load extra equipment. When we arrived back again
to the stranded hikers, the pilot hovered the big
bird, while the paramedic descended to the ledge
via a winch and cable. Using the winch and cable,
and two trips, the mission was completed. Many
thanks from RMRU to the Air Force crew and their
powerful machine!
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