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3 Hikers stopped by obstacles
By Kevin
Walker
Just as we
were about to break for lunch at work, the phone
rang with news of a search in Tahquitz Canyon.
So, skip lunch to get the #1 van, pick up Walt
and drive to Palm Springs.
Base was set
up in front of Ann Dolly's home. There Sgt. Dave
Weakley from the S.O. told us that three men had
set out Saturday morning to hike down Tahquitz
Canyon, and that they had planned to be out by
Sunday evening. One of three things had happened,
someone was injured, they were stranded, or they
were taking much longer than planned.
Don Landells
arrived with one of his Jet Rangers, as we were
finishing loading our packs. Walt and I were the
first load in. We would make a search run up the
canyon, and then be let off to start searching on
foot. As we searched up the canyon, various
groups of people could be seen in the lower pools
swimming and sunbathing, but as we lipped over
the second fall the crowds thinned out. And as
suspected Walt spotted the three men just up
canyon from the third (largest) falls. Don
quickly found a large boulder to let us off on.
We made our way down to the subjects, confirmed
it was indeed them, and led them back to the
helispot. As we waited for Don to return, the
leader of the group Bill Whittenberger explained
that they had found some of the obstacles to be
very hard to get around in the canyon. We then
explained to them that the falls they were
approaching would have proved to be to much for
them and their equipment, and that the only way
to go was up and out of the canyon if it was to
be done on foot.
Don quickly
returned, and two men were loaded and flown out.
Next trip was the last of the three, and the
cargo net loaded with their packs and our two.
The last load was Walt and myself. Because of the
location that the subjects were found, the
mission went quickly and smoothly. So ... after a
quick lunch, it was back home and to work.
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