Couple stranded by darkness
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May 18, 1986 |
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By Glenn Henderson
Michael McCarty, Anita McCarty, Susan Gallagher, and James Ballenberg planned to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from Black Mountain road to Snow Creek Village on Sunday May 18. This is a long and tiring trail that is about sixteen miles long. Anita became extremely tired as the day wore on. When the group got above Snow Creek Village they decided to take a short cut from the trail. This shorter route led them into steep terrain just as darkness fell. Because Anita was exhausted, and the group had not carried flashlights, she and her husband, Michael, decided to stop hiking rather than risk injury by hiking in the dark. Their two hiking partners, Susan and James, hiked on and eventually got to the water company caretaker's house. James telephoned the Riverside Sheriff's Office (RSO) in Banning and notified them of the situation regarding Anita. The RSO then called RMRU into service.
When the RMRU arrived at Snow Creek
the Deputy Sheriff on the scene had his
spotlights on the rocky ledge where the couple
was stranded. It didn't look too far away but not
knowing what to expect the RMRU men loaded their
packs with an assortment of technical gear before
hiking to the couple. After twenty minutes of
hiking, Anita and Michael were reached. Michael
was fine but Anita was extremely tired and sore.
However, Anita was able to walk with assistance.
With help and the light of RMRU headlamps guiding
the way Anita and Michael slowly hiked to the
rescue van. The RSO deputy drove the hikers back
to their vehicle. The RMRU men had a quick meal
and then headed home about 2:00 am, in time for a
few hours of sleep before going to work.