Group of hikers airlifted off Mt. Baldy unprepared for frigid conditions

A group of hikers airlifted off Mt. Baldy after getting stuck at around 9,000 feet Wednesday were ill-prepared for the frigid, often deadly winter conditions on the mountain.

Despite much of the mountain terrain being a dead zone for cellphone coverage, the group, who ran into trouble on Bear Canyon Trail, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, was able to text 911 for help.

LASD air-rescue crews received a call from San Dimas Search and Rescue notifying them about the six hikers who were lost and unable to find their way off the mountain. 

With less than 40 minutes of daylight left, LASD launched one of its helicopters and, using GPS coordinates, were quickly able to locate the group on a clearing, where officials said they were clearly not prepared to endure a night on the mountain.

“Cotton hoodies, track pants, regular school-style backpacks, tennis shoes,” L.A. Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Springer said of what the hikers were wearing. “Not the mountaineering type of equipment you would expect of somebody up on the mountain potentially spending the night to have.”

The hikers, all males in their 20s, were not from Southern California and may have been visiting the U.S. from another country.

After lowering one of the tactical medics to the mountain, the group was put in a single-file line while the helicopter performed what’s called a “one wheel,” where the group is loaded into the hovering chopper quickly rather than hoisting each person up one at a time.

This rescue comes just days after the remains of 22-year-old Lifei Huang, from El Monte, were recovered on Mt. Baldy. Huang went for a solo hike in the area on Feb. 4 at around 2 p.m. and was later reported missing.

Just a day after the 22-year-old went missing, on Feb. 5, a trio of experienced hikers had to be rescued after spending a night in frigid temperatures and severe weather at 8,400 feet, LASD said. The group got lost on Big Bear Canyon Trail after running out of daylight.

Fortunately, the group had left their itinerary with relatives who notified authorities, the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team said in a post on social media.

Now, with the possibility of yet another storm headed for Southern California, rescuers are warning hikers of the danger the mountain poses.

“Mt. Baldy is a serious alpine environment during the winter,” Deputy Springer told KTLA’s Shelby Nelson.

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Located in the San Gabriel Mountains, Mt. Baldy presents acute dangers to hikers during the wintertime. In 2023, several hikers were found dead, including British actor Julian Sands, 65, after heading out for a hike in the area.

“Many hikers, experienced or novice, underestimate the steep terrain, unpredictable weather, and high winds that present themselves in our mountain areas,” officials warn. “Exposure to the elements and falls contribute to Mt. Baldy’s growing mortality rate and the risk of avalanches prolongs rescue efforts.”

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