SAR and Sheriff's Helicopter Combine for Nighttime Rescue

Cathedral Peak - August 25th, 2010

The Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue Team and the Sheriff’s Aviation Bureau worked together last night to rescue a Santa Barbara man who got lost while hiking in the mountains above Santa Barbara.

The 22-year old was hiking near the backside of Cathedral Peak at about sunset on Tuesday, August 24, 2010, when he became disorientated and lost the trail on which he had been walking. The man had started his excursion from his home near Stevens Park with the initial intent of hiking to Inspiration Point and then back to his home. However, he changed his mind once at Inspiration Point and continued to Cathedral Peak hoping to make it to La Cumbre Peak and return before nightfall.

After trying but failing to locate the unofficial trail going up to La Cumbre Peak from Cathedral Peak, the hiker called 9-1-1 at approximately 8:30pm to ask for assistance.  County Dispatchers activated members of Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue and the Sheriff’s Aviation Bureau to locate and rescue the lost hiker.  At approximately 9:50pm, Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Copter-2, using night vision equipment, spotted the hiker.  Sheriff’s Copter-2 then directed ground SAR units to the hiker where he was evaluated by SAR Wilderness EMTs, given some water, and then guided out to La Cumbre Peak where he was released at approximately 11:50 pm.

Although the hiker was alone, members of Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue credit him for making the right decisions once he determined he had lost the trail.  He stayed put and notified County Dispatch of his situation.  He carried extra water, first aid equipment and an emergency space blanket, which he was directed to wrap around his body and head, to keep warm.  The hiker also had a flashlight that he used to shine towards Copter-2 to help the helicopter crew to quickly locate him with their night vision equipment.  

Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue is an all volunteer arm of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office. For more information about this SAR incident or Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue contact the team’s PIO, Nelson Trichler, at 805-698-0752.

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please contact Drew Sugars, Public Information Officer.

Business Hours: (805) 681-4100
EMAIL:pio@sbsheriff.org