Missing Hiker Marion Mt Trail

October 18, 2013
San Jacinto Mountains – Marion Mt Trail
2013-031

Written by Helene Lohr

The team was called out in the afternoon to help locate a missing hiker who had missed a switchback on Marion Mountain Trail and become lost. Les Walker and I responded to the Trailhead quickly while other team members were on the way. Luckily, Riverside Sheriff Aviation Unit had already been activated as well. Les radioed in and advised Star 9 to search the Dark Canyon drainage. This is a canyon that subjects are often funneled into after missing a switchback. With this information, the subject was found within minutes by the aircrew. The pilot performed a one skid landing/hover on a rock outcropping and the Technical Flight Officer (TFO) escorted the hiker into the helicopter. Les and I remained on scene until the rescue had been completed by the aircrew, then headed back to Idyllwild.

RMRU team members present: Glenn Henderson, Helene Lohr, Dana Potts, and Les Walker.