Calif. Deputies Use Helicopter to Rescue Hiker Clinging to Cliff

A hiker couldn’t go any farther and was stuck clinging to the side of a cliff, California police said.

Jared Lopez, a 22-year-old from Orange, California, started a hike on Saturday, May 28, on Cucamonga Peak, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said. He was disoriented when clouds started to cover the sky.

He called for help at about 12:30 p.m. the next day, deputies said.

Rescuers went to help, but they couldn’t get to him because of the layer of clouds.

“The crew attempted to get to him a few hours later, but the cloud layer was still too low,” deputies said in a news release. “A third attempt was made and the crew was able to locate Lopez on the side of a cliff with no room to move.”

Lopez was standing in a small area, deputies said. Rescuers had to be dropped into the area to reach him.

The hiker carefully slid down the cliff to get to rescuers and the medic, according to the sheriff’s department.

“He was hoisted safely to the helicopter and placed inside,” officials said. “The crew then hoisted the medic back into the helicopter and flew Lopez to awaiting medics.” Lopez was not injured, and he was released.

The Cucamonga Peak Trail leads to its summit. Certain routes to the peak are 12 miles round-trip and gain 4,300 feet in elevation, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

“Snow and ice conditions on exposed sections of this trail are very dangerous at this time of year,” the Forest Service said. “Visitors should take extreme caution and only go with proper gear.”

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