Making a challenging hike a safe hike

Have you ever gone hiking and lost the trail? If you are hiking on Long Island, chances are slim that you will be so far from civilization that you can’t find your way back or are in danger of hypothermia. But if your hiking adventure takes you to the mountains of upstate New York or other wilderness areas around the country, there are some steps you can take to stay safe and help rescuers locate you quickly.

Mt. Baldy, in Southern California, is one of the nation’s deadliest peaks. Its proximity to Los Angeles means it has a strong pull for experienced and inexperienced hikers who want to get a climb in without venturing too far from the city.

There have been more than 100 rescues and 10 deaths on the mountain since 2020, including a rescue on Feb. 8 that is notable for its efficiency — due in large part to the hikers’ preparations.

The three climbers lost the Bear Canyon Trail at an elevation of around 8,000 feet because of a “storm and significant snowfall,” according to the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The rescue groups noted that the hikers were experienced and followed a few basic rules that helped make the mission a safe rescue.

First of all, the trio left an itinerary with a family member, who knew to reach out to search and rescue teams.

Once they made contact, the rescue groups were able to maintain contact with climbers, who were told to shelter in place overnight until they could be rescued, the Sierra Madre team said.

The hikers found a spot between rocks that blocked winds, which reached up to 50 mph. They had brought a tent and sleeping bags. Temperatures on Mt. Baldy hovered around 40 degrees that night.

The climbers also had turned around when the weather conditions started to get worse, instead of continuing to try to summit Baldy. They also had appropriate gear and carried a whistle, which helped the rescue team locate them.

“We believe this preparation contributed directly to why these three hikers are alive and back home today,” the Sierra Madre team wrote in a Facebook post.

The rescue team found the hikers around 1 p.m. on the day after the hikers set out.

They began the trek down the mountain and a second crew met up with them with hot chocolate, tea and sandwiches for the climbers and rescuers.

The operation was finished around 5 p.m.