Flashing light on the mountain--it's worrisome/odd.

[cynthia23]

Just now while driving on the 10 fwy past Palm Springs we noticed a flashing, off and on bright light on the mountain roughly around the SKyline area, seemed to be about 2 or maybe 3 thousand feet, hard to tell. Anyone know if there is a rescue going on? it's bright enough I can see it in Cat City.

Update twenty minutes later--7.30 pm--I just called the non-emergency line of the Palm Springs police dept. The guy who answered knew nothing about it, did not say there were any heli rescues in progress, and said they hadn't received any calls from hikers--he said they would 'log it in." I feel concerned, because the flashing almost made me think someone was trying to send an emergency signal. OTOH, I don't think it's possible for a hiker's flashlight--even a bright one--to flash that brightly and that far. But if it is somehow an injured person, the Palm Springs P.d. is not going to do anything about it, that's clear--the guy blew me off. But if it isn't an injured person signaling or a rescue copter in the process of rescuing them, then what the heck was it?

I can't see it now, but that may be because my house is too low.

Anybody who knows anything, please post. I find this concerning.

[cynthia23]

Thank you for your fast response, 2600fromatari. I wonder if this was the same lights I saw? The last time I saw the light, though, it seemed much lower, at what couldn't have been more than 2 or 3 thousand. Also, I'm puzzled by the fact that I saw the lights so far away--could that be possible, to see hiker's flashlights all the way from the freeway or Cathedral City? Maybe if it was a whole group of them? Maybe some atmospheric anomaly that could amplify lights?

Hopefully everyone is fine, and it's just some anomaly. I guess we'll find out if it's not.

[ornamental]

It's 2 lights, 1000+ lumens, these are my nightly runs for the past few years winter and summer. I do up downs at all elevations and have caches on the mountain ranges and am geared up for each run or hike. Thank you for letting me be a part of this group. Have a great day. Sincerely, Frankie.

[ornamental]

The lights below 4000ft. 1000+ lumens and the flashing is actually the 2nd light on my wrist which breaks up the shadows of the rocks while running so I don't toe hook. Its not flashing, but looks like it cause arm swing. Thank you for the concern. I had to up grade my lights because I literally run on top of the speckles or diamond backs on a lot of the night runs/hikes. Of course everything looks like a snake at night. Besides, with the brighter lights when I do fall, I can see why its gonna hurt. As for the other lights at the traverse, there was another hiker at flatrock or higher, with a day pack and shorts climbing. From what I was told when talking to this guy descending, his only light source was his cell. he mention to me that he tried discourage him. Thanks again.

[cynthia23]

Hey Ornamental! Thank you for clearing up this mystery. Now this all makes sense. As for the guy on the traverse, I"m hoping he managed to make it to the tram--going up there in shorts with no light does not sound wise. But at least we know he had a cell phone?

Thanks again for posting, Ornamental.