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Hiker stranded by exhaustion
By Kevin
Walker
The team was at Joshua Tree for
training, but for different work-related problems
several of us were back in town when the call
came for a hiker stranded because of exhaustion.
As news of the call was transferred to the rest
of the team in J.T., Walt Walker, Glenn
Henderson, John Dew and I responded to Ann
Dollys in Palm Springs. Enroute, Capt. Ray
Canova contacted us by radio and asked us to stop
at the Banning station. There we met the captain
and not long after, informant Obert Kingston.
Obert told us that he and his companion, Howard
Small, both from, England and here in the U.S. to
do the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada
(sound familiar?) had become lost in the area of
Red Tahquitz. They wandered down hill out of the
snow and ultimately became exhausted in dense
brush. After resting Obert was able to continue,
and made it to Palm Springs. Howard, though, was
unable to continue.
We went on to
Palm Springs, and arriving with us was Don
Landells in one of his Bell jet Rangers. Walt
assigned Glenn and I to fly search, and try and
locate the subject. Once on board we flew to Red
Tahquitz where we quickly picked up their prints
in the snow leaving the trail and heading in the
general direction of Caramba. When we got below
snow level, we started sweeping across the
escarpment. We flew below Caramba, and as we
neared the 7,000 foot level, I spotted smoke in
the distance. Sure enough, on the ridge that
separates Tahquitz Canyon from the Long Valley
drainage, was Howard. Don put us out on a boulder
by his camp and then flew off to a nearby
helispot where he could land and wait. Howard was
feeling better, but was quite glad to have us
there. We helped Howard gather his things up,
then called Don back in. Once in position we
helped Howard in and fastened the seat belts. Don
flew Howard out and then returned for us. As we
landed, we were met by a disgruntled Mel Krug who
just didn't get there fast enough to help. Sorry,
Mel. Anyway, Howard and Obert were already
talking about moving on. They were sad though to
hear that Lisa Carlson had had to be rescued a
month earlier. They had been keeping track of her
by registers along the way. With everything
secure, I headed for home, and the rest of the
gang went back to Joshua Tree.
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