Interesting search and rescue operation this week

[OtherHand]

There was a search/rescue operation in the San Jacintos this week that the hardcore members of this forum would probably have more than a passing interest in.

On Monday (Memorial Day) a group of 5 or 6 college students from San Francisco were headed up the Devils Slide trail from Humber Park. About a mile prior to reaching Saddle Junction, about 12:30 PM, one of their group was feeling extraordinarily fatigued and told the rest he would probably turn back. The others proceeded on. Upon their after dark return, they found no trace of their friend, yet his car remained in the parking lot. They notified the Sheriff and spent until after 10 PM calling out for him in the dark, to no avail.

RMRU responded very early Tuesday morning and sent a team up over the Saddle and in as far as Laws and Willow Crossing. Desert Search and Rescue (DSAR) was also activated and by late Tuesday morning had a team proceeding up the tram and then down to Caramba. Hikers lost in that area often end up in the treacherous Caramba drainage as they are lured by the seemingly near lights of Palm Springs below.

At the same time other RMRU team, along with a few DSAR members began scouring the Devil’s Slide trail and the slopes down from the saddle to Humber Park. This was all becoming very strange, as it would seem quite difficult to get lost on the Devil’s Slide on a holiday. But since 24 hours had now passed since the hiker was last seen, concern was rising quickly. The description was the hiker was dressed in a T shirt and shorts, and had a day pack with a bottle of water and some Gatorade, along with a couple of Powerbars. His shoes were lightweight hiking boots.

Indications were that the individual had done some camping, but wasn’t necessarily experienced in backcountry travel. At approximately 1:20 PM the day he was last seen, there was a cell tower ping at a Pine Cove cell tower which suggested he hadn’t crossed over the saddle. His cell phone then had all calls going directly to voicemail and was unreachable.

Starting about 2:00 on Tuesday, the Riverside Sheriff’s helicopter spent considerable time searching the area around Devil’s Slide, then across the high country and out past Caramba with no results.

Around 6 PM as the search operation was starting to gear up into a multiagency effort, word came over the radio he had just walked into the tram station and the search was over. Most team members were stunned that he could have made it that far, but were thrilled to hear the good news. Since the helicopter was still in the air, it diverted to the tram to pick up the subject, and return him to Humber Park for a debrief where his friends and family were waiting. RMRU was more than a little interested to hear how he got to the tram.

A map was laid out on a vehicle and RMRU tried to piece together the subject’s travels. It turned out the group’s destination was actually San Jacinto Peak, and not just the saddle or Tahquitz Peak as the early info had indicated. The subject, who did not have a map (!) decided to try and catch up to his group. He apparently was able to follow the trail to Wellman’s Divide and then up to the peak, reaching it right at sunset. Somehow he never met his party, and at that late time never saw anyone else. He did not have a flashlight. His intent was to return the way he came, but appears to have lost the trail, and continued to follow the drainage downhill. As most of you know, this generally gets you back to the tram, which is what RMRU assumed the scenario to be. Somewhere along this route, he spent a cold night out (He did in fact have a jacket along).

The subject then mentioned he got to a point where he could see the “bottom of the tram” and started towards the tram, so he sort of knew where he was. This puzzled the RMRU members, as the locations where the bottom of the tram was visible tend to be over towards the top of Skyline, and it wasn’t likely he walked past the tram station.

As the questioned proceeded, mouths started to fall open and there were shocked looks all around. Everyone assumed he had walked into the upper tram station. He hadn’t. He walked into the LOWER tram station! Somewhere between Cornell Peak and the upper station, he went over the side and started down. Eventually he found himself under the tram cables and made it down Chino Canyon to the lower station (with the scratches to his legs to prove it). He was able to find plenty of water due to the snowmelt and the water in the canyon. Everyone on RMRU was stunned. No one had ever heard of a lost hiker ever making a trip anything like this. He made it up to San Jacinto from Humber, in the snow, then down cross country to the lower tram station. An amazing journey and he was very lucky not to be dead.

It sort of makes Skyline seem not so tough....

[Tim Le]

HOLY COW!! I've been on Leatherneck Ridge and have looked down in Chino Canyon. All I can say is you DO NOT want to go down there! I can't wait to read the RMRU write-up on this one.

Great build up in your story, btw.

[lee]

What a route that guy took !!!

Thank you for the story, OtherHand.

Somewhere between Cornell Peak and the upper station, he went over the side and started down. Eventually he found himself under the tram cables and made it down Chino Canyon to the lower station

Steve and Fernando, can I get a TR from you two on this route :)

[Cy Kaicener]

Thats amazing. I did a Google search on Richard Wong on San Jacinto.
Maybe later we will get a trip report. It seems like he is a photographer.
http://towncrierbreakingnews.blogspot.com

http://www.rwongphoto.com/blog/mount-sa ... state-park

[Florian]

That is pretty amazing. The story in today's Desert Sun says he walked into the tram's "base station" at 6:30pm Tuesday. I just assumed was a mistake and they meant mountain station but they actually got it right!

-Florian

[kd]

Humber Park to the Peak to the lower Tram station via straight down the canyon?????

The craziest route I have ever heard.

I'll be sharing this story---- wow.

[Lcpl Hughes]

Very interesting..he must of had a crazy night/day

[Marknhj]

Using my native vernacular...I'm absolutely gobsmacked at this report

[harryquach]

Thats is nuts, looking forward to the write on this one I would also be curious to see a map of his route

[DSSAR guy]

Our team went to Caramba falls and back, I'm still feeling the pain lol