California Firefighters Rescue Stranded Boy Scout Troop
Source San Bernardino County Sun, Calif.
Firefighters and sheriff's personnel rescued a dozen members of a Lake Arrowhead Boy Scout troop when they ran into trouble with the hot weather and a difficult hiking trail.
An 11-year-old boy who suffered heat exhaustion was taken to a hospital. No other members of the group were injured.
San Bernardino Fire Department spokesman Steve Tracy said the Saturday incident serves as a warning for people who want to venture into the wilderness.
"As the weather gets hotter and people are planning on doing strenuous activity, they need to start hydrating early in the morning," he said.
The troop began its 10-mile annual hike down the Daley Canyon Road trail at 9 a.m. and expected to complete the hike by 3 p.m.
But the troop was still on the trail at 3, and one of the Scouts couldn't continue. The assistant scoutmaster called the troop's scoutmaster, saying the child would need help getting down the mountain.
High temperatures Saturday were 93 degrees in San Bernardino and 83 in Lake Arrowhead, according to the National Weather Service.
Tracy came to a U.S. Forest Service station in San Bernardino and hiked about five miles up the trail but couldn't find the group.
Meanwhile, eight members of the group split off to get help. Two others stayed with the 11-year-old boy. The larger group hiked down and became lost in 8- to 10-foot manzanita plants.
San Bernardino firefighters launched a rescue mission, teaming
up with the Forest Service and sheriff's deputies in helicopters.
The Boy Scouts, through text messaging, use of a compass and other measures, were able to relay their coordinates to rescuers.
Sheriff's search-and-rescue personnel spotted both groups by about
7 p.m., Tracy said. They hoisted the 11-year-old and two adults to safety.
The rest of the group stayed on the mountain to continue their trip.
Even if they hadn't been found right away, Tracy said all of the Scouts had enough equipment to make it through the night.
He said the group had plenty of water, but it was the boy's first time on the hike and he hadn't had any water before starting on the trail.
"He was severely dehydrated," he said.
Copyright 2012 - San Bernardino County Sun, Calif.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
