The article said Sky Valley, which is over between Desert Hot Springs and Indio, along the base of the Little San Bernardinos. As is so often the case, the media didn't check all their facts.
In defense of the media, since i used to work for them, i think perhaps it was Cy (sorry Cy) who got the description wrong. The linked story doesn't mention the tramway.
So this really did take place over by Sky Valley? A helicopter was buzzing around near the upper tram station and Tamarack Valley yesterday. I thought it might be SAR.