Author: smsradmin

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Not Just a Creek: Why Moving Water Is So Dangerous for Hikers

Swift, moving water is one of the most overlooked but lethal hazards hikers can encounter in the mountains. Recent tragic accidents in the local San Gabriel Mountains highlight these risks, and SAR teams hope to prevent future tragedies by increasing public awareness. The following discussion outlines the hazards presented by moving water and how hikers can better assess and manage those risks.

Objective Hazards of Moving Water

Moving water presents many objective hazards that we cannot control and are often unfamiliar with as casual hikers in the mountains. Some of these include:

– Hydraulic force of water: Even water at knee–thigh depth can knock an adult over if it is moving quickly; the force increases dramatically with depth and speed.

– Strainers and entrapment: So-called “strainers” such as logs, branches, brush, and boulder sieves allow water to pass through but can trap a person, holding them underwater.

– Foot entrapment: A foot wedged between rocks or under wood in swift current can pin a person face-down, leading to drowning. People swept off their feet often attempt to stand up and can get a foot caught.

– Waterfalls, drops, low head dams, and undercut banks: Rapids, falls, and undercut banks can flush a swimmer into hydraulics, recirculating holes, or pockets where escape is difficult. Low head dams that cut across a river from bank to bank can create extremely dangerous hydraulic “holes” immediately below the dam.

– Cold shock and hypothermia: Snowmelt or very cold water can cause cold shock, gasping, loss of coordination, and rapid hypothermia, impairing self-rescue or creating a serious situation if someone cannot quickly get warm and dry.

– Debris and poor visibility: Murky or surging water may carry branches and conceal rocks or other hazards.

– Backpack and gear hazards: A loaded pack can push you off balance, hold you underwater, or snag on obstacles unless it can be quickly ditched.

– Dynamic conditions: Heavy rain, snowmelt, and dam releases can change a seemingly safe crossing into a dangerous one within hours. Late-day crossings may be especially hazardous due to snowmelt increasing water levels.

Subjective Hazards, Risk Assessment and Decision Making

While we cannot control objective hazards, we can control subjective hazards. The most important decision skill when encountering moving water is recognizing when not to cross and choosing to turn around, wait, or find another route.

Key assessment steps used by organizations such as the Pacific Crest Trail Association, state wildlife agencies, hiking groups, and search and rescue teams include:

– Consider depth and speed: Water above mid-thigh or moving faster than you can comfortably walk is likely too dangerous to cross on foot.

– A simple field check involves throwing a stick in the current. If it moves faster than your normal walking pace, the crossing is likely unsafe.

– Consider downstream hazards and “runout”: Identify what happens if you fall and are swept downstream. Look for strainers, boulder gardens, rapids, dams, falls, or undercut banks.

– A safer crossing has an open, obstacle-free runout where a swimmer could exit the water.

– Choose location carefully: Prefer wide, shallow sections with firm bottoms and good entry and exit banks.

– Avoid narrow constrictions, obvious rapids, or crossing immediately above logjams, strainers, waterfalls, or dams.

– Environmental and human factors: Consider recent rain, snowmelt, air and water temperature, group fatigue, group experience, pack weight, swimming ability, and physical limitations within the group.

– Be cautious of decision-making shortcuts or heuristics. Just because someone crossed recently or you crossed safely before does not mean conditions are safe now.

– Be conservative. If conditions appear marginal, find an alternate route, wait for levels to drop, or turn around.

A simple mental model is useful: If any one of depth, speed, or downstream hazards is high, treat it as a no-go; if two are concerning, you should already have decided not to cross.

Ropes and Why Tying In Is Dangerous

Guidance from trail organizations, the PCT community, and swiftwater rescue instructors is remarkably consistent: do not tie yourself or others to a rope in moving water unless you have professional-level swiftwater training and equipment.

Risks associated with tying into a rope include:

– Being pinned underwater: A rope anchored to shore can pull a fallen hiker into rocks or strainers and keep their head submerged.

– Strangulation and entanglement: Loose rope can cinch around limbs or neck and prevent swimming or self-rescue.

– Dragging others down: Tying multiple people together means one fall can pull an entire group into the current.

– Creating an in-water hazard: A rope stretched across current becomes another strainer capable of trapping swimmers.

What Can You Do to Cross Safely?

A variety of techniques are commonly taught by trail and hiking organizations and are described in resources such as Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills. These approaches align with widely accepted backcountry safety practices.

Preparation and equipment

– Keep boots or shoes on for traction and foot protection; avoid crossing barefoot.

– Loosen or unclip hip belts and sternum straps so your pack can be quickly ditched if you fall.

– Use trekking poles or a sturdy stick to provide additional points of contact and to probe depth or unstable footing.

– Secure loose items and stow dangling straps or clothing that could snag.

– Ensure everyone understands the crossing plan and what to do if someone is swept off their feet.

Solo crossing technique

– Face upstream, lean slightly into the current, and cross at a shallow angle, often slightly downstream.

– Take small shuffling steps while maintaining at least two points of contact at all times.

– Probe ahead for holes, unstable rocks, or drop-offs before committing your weight.

Group crossing techniques

– Line or wedge formation: Stand side-by-side with the strongest or tallest person upstream to break the current. Move together and communicate each step.

– Tripod or triangle stance: Three people form a triangle facing inward, leaning against each other for support, and shuffle together slowly.

In all cases, the no-rope tie-in rule applies, and these methods should only be attempted at crossings that clearly fall within conservative safety limits.

If You Are Swept Off Your Feet

Swiftwater safety guidance commonly teaches a “defensive swimming” position:

– Immediately ditch your pack or any gear that could hold you underwater.

– Float on your back with your feet pointed downstream and your head upstream so you can see hazards.

– Keep your feet up to protect against rocks and obstacles.

– Avoid attempting to stand until you reach slower, shallower water.

– Move with the current toward the nearest safe shore or eddy.

– Once out of the water, focus on getting warm, drying off, and assessing injuries.

– Consider contacting SAR if injuries occur or if recrossing the water would be required.

Decision Frameworks and Pitfalls

The most important tool we have in managing risk is our judgment. Everyone is susceptible to decision-making shortcuts that can obscure real hazards.

No-Go Criteria

– Water above mid-thigh, especially with strong current.

– Current faster than a comfortable walking pace.

– Dangerous downstream hazards such as strainers, waterfalls, or boulder sieves.

– No safe exit point on the opposite bank.

– Fatigue, cold, solo travel, or poor swimming ability.

Safer-Side Criteria

– Wide braided channel with water below the knee and moderate current.

– Clear visibility of upstream and downstream hazards.

– Strong group communication and an agreed emergency plan.

If conditions do not clearly fall within the safer-side criteria, the conservative choice is to delay, reroute, or turn back.

None of the above is intended to provide detailed training. Hands-on instruction and practice are invaluable when learning how to evaluate and safely manage swiftwater hazards.

References

– Appalachian Trail Conservancy – https://appalachiantrail.org/experience/hike-the-trail/essential-skills/safety/weather-hazards/river-stream-crossings/

– Pacific Crest Trail Association – https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/backcountry-basics/water/stream-crossing-safety/

– Green Mountain Club – https://www.greenmountainclub.org/education/hiking-101-vermont/safe-water-crossing/

– Wilderness Medical Society – https://wms.org/magazine/magazine/1263/Creek-and-River-Crossings/default.aspx

– Rocky Mountain National Park – https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/swift-water-safety.htm

– Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills – https://www.mountaineers.org/books/books/mountaineering-the-freedom-of-the-hills-10th-edition

– Sierra Madre Search and Rescue – https://smsr.org/2026/01/04/heuristics-risk-and-decision-making/

– River Rescue – https://www.nrs.com/river-rescue-4th-edition-book/pu3d

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Heuristics Risk and Decision Making

Recent tragic deaths on Mt. Baldy and a jump in the rescues in the higher elevation areas of the San Gabriel, San Jacinto, and San Bernardino mountains have increased efforts to improve mountain safety, especially in the winter months. While there is never zero risk when recreating in our local mountains, venturing into the mountains during the winter increases risks and requires a broader set of equipment, experience, and hazard management strategies.

Most people are familiar with the need for the proper equipment, in particular the need for an ice axe, crampons (worn on appropriate, crampon-compatible footwear), a helmet and other equipment for dealing with harsher weather conditions. The experience to recognize the need for and possessing the training and skills to properly use that equipment should be obvious. What is often overlooked and is just as important in managing risk is our decision-making processes. Central to this is the idea of objective and subjective hazards and factors that influence these factors.

Objective vs Subjective Hazards

Objective “environmental” hazards originate in the mountain environment and exist regardless of our presence. These hazards include things such as steep slopes, avalanches, rockfall, high water levels, unstable weather and many other things. Subjective hazards are all about us and the choices we make or experience, attitude and behaviors we bring to the mountains. Subjective hazards include fitness, skills, equipment, judgment, group dynamics, and behavioral tendencies like summit fever or overconfidence. Unlike objective hazards, we can do something about subjective hazards if we recognize them. 

– Many hikers often have the physical ability to ascend the mountain, i.e., they are quite physically fit, but lack mountaineering experience to recognize subjective and environmental hazards – particularly in the winter. 

– Over time, acquired experience and feedback (i.e., “lessons learned”) help people better identify both objective risks and their own biases, but experience can also feed familiarity, expert halo, and overconfidence if not checked. 

– Heuristic traps are mental “shortcuts” that can help with rapid decision making with limited analysis and are something we need to consider re: subjective risks. Heuristics usually help decisions feel fast and easy but can subconsciously push people toward poor choices in complex, high‑consequence environments like avalanche terrain, snow covered slopes or remote trails. These traps often involve group dynamics – both in-person (i.e., with your hiking companions) and notably, in the context of social media. These factors are combined with training (or lack of training), equipment (proper or improper), and both objective (environmental) and subjective (human) hazards that shape risk‑taking, often without anyone noticing. While this is particularly challenging for those who, “don’t know what they don’t know”, i.e., people who don’t even realize a hazard is present, experts or experienced individuals can easily miss key objective or subjective factors. 

Key Heuristics in Outdoor Settings

Ian McCammon, an expert in avalanches, identified six common heuristic traps in avalanche accidents that are directly applicable in broader outdoor recreation activities and should be considered by every outdoor recreationalist. The acronym FACETS: Familiarity, Acceptance, Consistency/Commitment, Expert halo, Tracks/Scarcity, and Social facilitation is quite useful in understanding some of these heuristic traps. 

– Familiarity: People make riskier choices in terrain they know well (“I’ve hiked to the summit of Baldy a dozen times”), even when objective conditions (e.g., there is 8” of hard frozen snow on the upper mountain) are more dangerous than before. This effect can be strongest with groups or individuals who feel comfortable and over‑rely on past success. 

– Acceptance: Desire for approval or to impress others – in-person or online – leads individuals to take more risk than they would alone, especially in action sports and mixed‑experience groups. This is often linked with group norms, identity, and “macho” or performance‑oriented attitudes. 

– Consistency/Commitment: Once a plan is set (e.g., summiting the mountain), people tend to stick with it despite new warning signs, because changing course feels “costly” (e.g., I took the day off to do this hike) or embarrassing. This can make it hard to turn around even when the objective (e.g., the weather is getting worse) and/or subjective (e.g., I’m not feeling 100% today) hazards clearly increase. 

– Expert Halo: Groups often defer to the most experienced member, who may miss cues or be biased, while others stay quiet even when they see or sense problems. This becomes more pronounced when there is a large skill or status gap inside the group. This is particularly dangerous when someone is perceived as an “expert” but may only be marginally more experienced than others in the group. 

– Tracks/Scarcity: People value “rare” opportunities more and accept disproportionate risk to obtain them (e.g., first tracks before powder is gone or summitting Baldy before the snow melts).  

– Social Facilitation: The presence or observation of others amplifies people’s existing tendencies—high‑risk individuals go riskier, low‑risk individuals become more cautious. Seeing other groups on a slope such as those in Baldy Bowl can falsely signal safety and drive riskier choices (i.e., “I see others doing it so it must be OK”). 

All of these likely look familiar with things we’ve all seen or done in places like Mt. Baldy? Knowing that these factors are at play, how do we deal with them?

Individual Practices to Mitigate Heuristic Traps

How do we manage these factors? Individuals can use simple, structured practices to slow thinking, raise assumptions, and create space for safer choices. 

Key practices include:

– Pre‑plan decisions: Decide go/no‑go thresholds (e.g., terrain limits, avalanche danger ratings, river levels, turnaround times) at home, before emotional or social pressures ramp up. 

– Use formal tools: Apply checklists or frameworks (e.g., FACETS cards, terrain/condition checklists, risk matrices) to force explicit consideration of hazards, options, and uncertainties. 

– Normalize “veto power”: Adopt a “rule” that anyone can call a stop or turn‑around at any time, with no explanation required, and make that explicit at the start. 

– Schedule pause points: Build in short “decision stops” (e.g., at trail key junctions or locations like the Sierra Club Ski Hut on Baldy or just before committing to an area like the Devil’s Backbone) to re‑evaluate conditions and the plan from scratch.[2][7]

– Check emotional state: Notice excitement, fatigue, ego, time pressure, and fear of “missing out”; strong emotions are a cue to slow down, gather more information, or step back. 

– Choose partners intentionally: Travel with people who value conservative decisions, communicate well, and already accept you, reducing acceptance and performance pressure traps. Going solo may create notable increases in risk since key items may be missed due to altitude, fatigue or any number of other factors.  

Questions to ask to address risk

Explicit questions asked in a group or even “asked in one’s mind” may help convert vague unease, i.e., a “gut feeling” into concrete discussions or evaluation of observations and reduce the impact of unexamined heuristics. 

Core individual questions:

– “What has changed since we/I made this plan? Does anything we/I see now contradict our/my original assumptions?” 

– “If we/I didn’t care about the summit/first tracks/finishing this route, would we/I still choose this option?” 

– “Am I more motivated right now by conditions or by impressing others, avoiding embarrassment, or keeping up?” 

– “What is the worst credible outcome here, and can we/I live with that?” 

– “If another group were watching us/me, would we/I be proud of this decision?” 

Other key questions individuals and groups should consider include:

– “What are today’s top three objective hazards, and how can they hurt me/us?” 

– “What subjective hazards do I/we bring today (fitness, skills, stress, gear (did I forget something?), group size, etc.)?” 

– “Who feels even slightly uneasy, and why?” LISTEN to and CONSIDER any concerns raised! 

– “Are we following someone’s lead because they’re ‘the expert’, or because the reasoning is clearly laid out and everyone understands it? 

– “What is my/our turn‑around or bail‑out point, and what specifically will trigger it?” 

Training, Equipment, and Experience

While a more expansive discussion of specific equipment (e.g., crampons vs. micro-spikes) is warranted, considering training, gear, and experience in the context of objective and subjective hazards shape both exposure to risk and vulnerability to decision making traps. 

Training: Snow/ice travel (e.g., self-arrest), avalanche, cross country route finding, and risk‑management training increase hazard recognition and provide decision-making tools (e.g., stability assessments, communication protocols), often reducing accident likelihood. However, training can also foster overconfidence or a sense that “the rules don’t apply to me,” feeding risk‑compensation and risky shift phenomena (i.e., increasing risk taking behaviors). 

Equipment: Proper gear (ice axe, crampons, helmets, communication tools, first aid supplies) expands safety margins, but can also encourage pushing into more hazardous terrain if viewed as a substitute for judgment. Simple, reliable equipment that users know well tends to support better decisions than complex systems that add cognitive load. 

Experience: Diverse, reflective experience helps people calibrate risk perceptions, recognize weak signals, and build more accurate mental models of hazards. Yet high experience can reinforce familiarity, expert halo, and overconfidence, especially when past “near‑misses” are interpreted as proof of skill rather than as warnings. 

Beyond Heuristics and Biases

Heuristics are only part of the broader decision‑making picture in outdoor recreation. Other important considerations include: 

– Risk perception and appetite: Individuals and cultures differ in how much risk feels acceptable, and leaders must balance participant safety, quality of experience, and environmental considerations. 

– Group processes and culture: Power dynamics, communication norms, cultural bias, and psychological safety strongly affect whether people speak up, share information, or conform to risky norms. 

– Environmental and systemic factors: Access pressures, time constraints, or permit rules (e.g., Mt. Whitney Trail permit lottery) can all create incentives to “press on” despite deteriorating conditions. 

– Analytic and expertise traps: Over‑reliance on complex analysis or on one’s own expertise can backfire when conditions are uncertain or when data are incomplete. Random choice or “just going for it” without analysis is another documented failure mode. 

With greater awareness and deliberate analysis we can improve our ability to recognize and assess risks. Developing skills in recognizing and mitigating objective hazards in any mountain environment, but particularly in winter environments where many more factors exist vs. the summer requires time and experience in environments that may contain those hazards we want to learn to recognize. Classes such as the Sierra Club’s Winter Training Course (WTC), guided programs in the Sierra, trips with experienced friends who are willing to teach and guide (avoid those who want to “summit at all costs”) are worth exploring. Books like the Mountaineer’s Freedom of the Hills are great resources. Online offerings are helpful as well. Remember – no book or YouTube video is a substitute for hands-on training and practice in critical skills like ice axe use. Practice, practice and more practice is essential for some key skills. Always be prepared for the unexpected and ensure you’ve got the 10 Essentials and have let someone responsible know your plans so that they can seek help if you don’t return when expected. 

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How to Use Satellite SOS in the Backcountry

Since 2024, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue has responded to several emergency calls initiated through satellite-based SOS messages. These tools provide your exact location and allow two-way communication with rescuers, often eliminating the need for a lengthy search.

No Cell Signal? No Problem.

Satellite-enabled devices do not rely on cell coverage to communicate with emergency services. Options include:

– Dedicated devices like Garmin inReach and Zoleo

– Smartphones with satellite texting (e.g., iPhone 14+ and recent Android models)

While many of these tools require a subscription, they’re typically rugged, have long-lasting batteries, and use powerful antennas to ensure reliable contact in remote areas.

iPhone and Android Satellite SOS

– Apple introduced satellite SOS texting with the iPhone 14 in 2022; it’s now available across newer models with the iOS 18 update.

– Some Android devices gained similar functionality starting in 2023-2024.

Apple encourages users to set up their Medical ID and emergency contacts in advance. This information is automatically shared when you send an SOS.

Watch: How to Use SOS on iPhone

Watch: How to Use SOS on Android


Important #1: Do not test the SOS feature just to familiarize yourself. Practice responsibly using device simulations or official tutorials.

Important #2: If your situation changes and you no longer need help, please update emergency services immediately so that rescue efforts can be canceled. You will not get in trouble for doing the right thing.

When Should You Use Satellite SOS?

The first step is recognizing you need help. Activate the SOS feature if:

– Someone is injured, incapacitated, or lost

– You’re unsure of your location

– You feel your safety is at risk

When in doubt, call for help. It’s always better to cancel later than to delay assistance in a potentially serious situation.

What to Expect After Triggering SOS

Once activated:

– Your device connects to a satellite (you’ll need a clear view of the sky—deep canyons or thick forests may cause delays).

– Your emergency message is routed to a 24/7 communication center or 911, which contacts the appropriate responders, including SAR teams.

– Stay put unless it’s unsafe. Moving may make you harder to find.

While help is en route:

– Follow instructions from the communication center

– Preserve battery life: Close unused apps, avoid unnecessary communication

– Dim your screen brightness

– Only use your phone to stay in touch with rescuers – do not text or attempt to call others

What Info to Include in Your SOS Message

To help SAR respond quickly and effectively, include:

Nature of the emergency

– Number of people in your party

– Injuries or medical conditions

– Your activity (hiking, biking, climbing, etc.)

– Any known hazards or allergies

No Charge for Rescue

Sierra Madre Search and Rescue is a 100% volunteer, non-profit, and unpaid organization. We are a proud 501(c)(3), and our mission is to keep the public safe in the wilderness. You will never be charged for requesting help from our team.

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Chantry Flat reopening – October 2024

Chantry Flat will reopen to the public on Oct. 2, 2024, following the expiration of the Bobcat Fire closure order.

The gate will open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. daily.

While many trails will be open to the public, a number of trails are closed or non-existent following the fire and present a significant safety risk. Refer to the lists and map below (also linked here if you wish to download).

Open trails are marked in GREEN:

  • Sturtevant/Gabrielino Trail to Sturtevant Falls
  • Sturtevant/Gabrielino Trail to Sturtevant Camp
  • Rim Trail to Newcomb Pass
  • Upper Winter Creek
  • Lower Winter Creek
  • Winter Creek Trail to Manzanita Ridge/Mt. Wilson Trail
  • First Water Trail from Chantry Rd. to Sturtevant Trail

Closed trails are marked in RED:

  • First Water Trail to Hermit Falls
  • Gabrielino Trail from Sturtevant Trail to Newcomb’s Pass
  • Sturtevant Trail from Mt. Wilson to Sturtevant Camp
  • Zion Trail

We encourage all hikers to recreate safely on these trails. Rescues in this area involve considerable SAR resources, and a helicopter rescue is never guaranteed because of weather conditions and other safety factors. Cellphone coverage is limited. Attempts to access trails marked in red represent a significant risk to your safety.

Preparing to hike in Chantry Flats

Create an itinerary and text it or give it to someone in town, especially now that some trails are no longer accessible. 

A basic itinerary includes:

  • Who you’re going with and contact numbers
  • Trailhead/starting point
  • Destination
  • Start date and time
  • Estimated end date and time
  • Emergency contact information

Carry the Ten Essentials.

If you’re in need of help, SMSR does not charge for rescue.

  • Do not continue to hike. Shelter in place. 
  • Take inventory of your Ten Essentials and save your phone battery. 
  • Report the following when you make your 911 call:
    • Any relevant medical condition or injury you may have
    • Where your car is parked and its description
    • What time of day you started and how long you’ve been moving
    • The direction you took from your car, trail signs, and your hiking objective
    • Describe yourself: age, height, weight, what you’re wearing, and what equipment you have with you. 

Do not delay a call to 911, if you have cell coverage. Limit phone use to emergency personnel only. 

Responding to rescuers:

  • If you hear shouts, answer them.
  • If you hear whistle blasts, shout back or check the sternum strap on your backpack for a whistle. 
  • If you hear a helicopter approaching, gather your belongings quickly and make yourself noticeable by waving your colorful clothing, pointing the reflection of a mirror/shiny object in the direction of the helicopter, and/or lie down when the helicopter flies over to make a large X with your body.
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Swift-water Crossing

Everyone loves it when they can spend time in and around the streams in our mountains. Most of the time, it represents a chance to cool off and enjoy the sights and sounds associated with moving water. 

The situation changes when the water is high or moving swiftly. First and foremost, if you have ANY doubt, reconsider your plans and avoid a water crossing entirely. 

During the spring months, many streams become filled with high volumes of water due to snowmelt and crossing streams during this time can present significant risks.
– Water levels/flow that may be modest in the morning may increase significantly later in the day when snowmelt reaches its maximum.
– Crossing later in the day may be more difficult.

Do not automatically follow other hikers into a crossing without assessing it yourself.

Relatively modest amounts of moving water create significant forces that are more than sufficient to sweep someone off their feet.
– Children or smaller people are at higher risk.

Even for good swimmers, swimming in fast moving water is quite dangerous.
– Streambeds filled with rocks and rapids or water flowing in/around debris can easily result in significant traumatic injuries.
– Entrapment and drowning is a notable risk.
– Being swept hundreds of yards or even miles downstream is a possibility.

“Rock hopping” or trying to cross on a log may increase your chances of slipping/falling.

A rope stretched across the stream may be used as a handline but you should never attach yourself to the rope.
– If you are tied into a rope and are swept off your feet, you may not be able to escape the rope and will be pushed down and held under the moving water.

Always cross with the rope on the upstream side of your body to limit risk of entanglement.

We encourage you to learn more about stream crossing techniques and considerations by going to some of the many good online resources (Stream crossing safety while hiking and backpacking – Pacific Crest Trail Association (pcta.org); How to Cross Streams and Rivers – Trailspace) or by picking up a copy of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills (Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, 9th Edition — Books (mountaineers.org) which can provide additional information on safely crossing moving water. 

Go out to a safe location and practice these techniques with your friends.

As always, never hesitate to turn around if you are uncomfortable. The hike will still be there when the water is lower.

Waiting till water flows to drop is often the best choice. 

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Critically Missing in Strawberry Meadows

Many people who follow the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team or other SAR teams on social media are familiar with what we do and our messages on how to be safe in the mountains and avoid ever needing our services. What many are not familiar with is how a SAR operation evolves. The often demanding physical and mental effort in challenging conditions involving many individuals, SAR teams and other agencies that usually lead to a successful outcome are notable and worth sharing.

At 10:28pm Sunday night, the pager went off. Montrose Search and Rescue was requesting help to search for an autistic, deaf, missing person in the Strawberry Meadows area. Along with children, individuals with disabilities are considered as “critical” subjects where time is of the essence – particularly if weather or location present notable risks. Ten members of SMSR stopped getting ready for bed and shifted to getting ready to head out into the night in sub-freezing temperatures to support the search effort.

The missing person, who was separated from his group, had been missing since just before noon. Like many hikers out for the day, our missing person was wearing shorts and a tee-shirt, simple sneakers, and was not carrying any supplies. His friends and other hikers made every effort to locate him, but his disappearance wasn’t reported to SAR until late evening. As weather conditions were deteriorating, SAR teams knew time was of the essence to prevent hypothermia, dehydration, or risk of injury.

Utilizing information gathered from the friends of the missing person combined with detailed knowledge of the area, senior members of the responding SAR teams acting as the “operations leader/incident commander” (in this case, since it was in their area, Montrose SAR personnel filled this role) determined the best course of action. Rescuers from Montrose, Altadena, LASD ESD, and Sierra Madre were deployed from various trailheads to maximize our ability to quickly locate our missing hiker. Covering areas in which a missing person is likely to be found is one of the reasons SAR operations require large numbers of trained personnel. A helicopter from Los Angeles County Fire joined the search for almost an hour but, due to the low clouds and fog, they were not able to locate our missing hiker. 

One team, who was alerted by their search dog, stopped, and heard moaning sounds emanating from hundreds of feet below the trail. A rescuer from Montrose SAR went over the side into the canyon and confirmed that we had located our missing subject and while he had only minor injuries, extensive work would be required to rescue him. It was now just before 1 a.m. on Monday morning.  

Rescuers had been in the field now for nearly 3 hours and the weather remained poor with fog limiting visibility and a constant drizzle ensuring that everyone was wet. The missing hiker had been found approx. 3.3 miles from the nearest road and now that the “search” part of the search-and-rescue operation was done, crews on other search assignments shifted their focus to rescue.  SMSR was requested to bring the equipment necessary for the technical rescue of a subject over 500’ off the trail and in a canyon. Carrying multiple 150’ coils of rope, a rescue litter and wheel, and equipment to set-up rope rescue systems the teams also gathered extra clothing and additional medical equipment that would be necessary to care for the hiker during what would be several more hours on the mountain.  The SMSR field crews, composed of 3 women and 4 men (many are surprised by the diversity in SAR) traveled through the mist, over snow and ice, and downed trees to aid in the rescue. 

Members of these crews rappelled down to the missing hiker and joined the rescuer already with him to assess his injuries and provide him with warm clothing, gloves, and a hat. By putting rope hand lines in place, they were able to help him climb 300’ before the terrain became too steep and choked with downed trees to continue. With the possibility of a long technical rescue and with on scene crews having been in the field for an extended time, additional resources from other LASD SAR teams were requested. With the arrival of additional rescuers and more resources from the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team enroute to augment existing personnel, systems were built to lower a rescuer on a rope rescue “system” in order to initiate what we call a  “stranded hiker” rescue. 

Due to the unique circumstances associated with a deaf and autistic individual, two rescuers, one above to help with face-to-face communication, and one below to help guide him worked in conjunction with the rope rescue equipment being managed by the personnel on the trail to get our hiker out of the canyon. Although he was worn out and suffering from a deep cut over one eye and several lacerations on both legs, the hiker was quite brave and determined to help us help him get to safety. It was now just after 7 a.m. Crews had now been in the field for over 10 hours.

Based on trail conditions observed during the search, crews knew the trails for a possible ground evacuation contained too many hazards for a “wheel out” utilizing a rescue litter and wheel. Various evacuation options were considered and rescue leaders felt that, if a small break in the weather were to be present, a helicopter-based rescue would be the best option. A request was made to the Los Angeles County Fire Department for assistance and LACoFD’s ‘Copter 22 flew in to assess the possibility of a hoist. The weather turned out to be quite marginal, but we got lucky with a moment of clearing. With a hoist rescue not being possible, crews quickly got our hiker ready for transport and assisted him to an area where the helicopter could land on one wheel. Members helped our hiker climb into the Helicopter, and he was off to a trauma center. This is the video we shared earlier that shows about 90 seconds of what had transpired up to that point. It was now just about 8 a.m. and rescuers had been in the field for 11 hours. 

While  our subject was safely transported and out of the mountains, rescuers still needed to safely get off the mountain. Rescuers gathered all their equipment and began the hike out. Thankfully, the fresh rescuers from San Dimas met us along the trail to help the fatigued crew carry the gear out. Crews reached the command post at Red Box at approximately 9:30 a.m. and just over 12 hours since beginning the operation. We are glad to have been trained and equipped to support this SAR effort and hope this write-up gives you a sense for how SAR is a “team” activity that involves a lot of effort on the part of many individuals and agencies.  

SMSR wants to remind everyone that even though the weather in local towns is warm and sunny, extreme conditions continue to exist  above 3500’. Please be prepared for these conditions – including being equipped to spend an unexpected night out, never hesitate to turn back when hazards arise, and do not delay on calling for assistance.

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Rescue with Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit

On Saturday, January 21st, the Team was paged to assist Altadena Mountain Rescue with four hikers and a dog stuck above the second waterfall in Eaton Canyon. With the help of LACoFD, all were safely rescued.

Upon arriving back at the station, a mutual aid request was sent to teams throughout the state to assist Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit with a rescue for a woman who slipped 150’ on ice earlier that afternoon. Two members of RMRU hiked in late afternoon to provide warm clothing, a sleeping bag, and spent the night hovering over the subject to provide protection from ice blocks that rolled down the slope throughout the night. 

Four members of SMSR arrived at the command post around midnight. After being briefed on the mission, assembling the needed rescue equipment, and traveling to the trailhead, they started their 6 mile approach with three members of San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team and three members of Orange County Mountain Rescue Team around 2AM. Members of the San Diego Mountain Rescue Unit happened to be winter training in the area and sent a few members in the middle of the night to assist from another approach route, but unfortunately were not able to access the scene due to hazardous ice conditions. Sierra Madre, San Dimas, and Orange County hiked throughout the night and arrived on scene by 9:30AM, after traversing an icy slope that required the use of proper snow travel technique with ice axes and crampons. With a combination of wind and sun, blocks of ice were falling from trees and rolling down while the teams were making their way towards the subject. 

High winds prevented helicopter operations, so the teams worked together to build rope systems to raise the subject back onto the trail in a litter and discussed staying another night until winds were favorable for a hoist or performing a series of lowers and raises to avoid moving the litter on an unsafe, icy trail. 

Four members of Winter SAR Ski Patrol arrived on scene to help haul the subject up to the trail. Around 3:30PM, winds had finally calmed and CalFire Copter301 was able to hoist the subject and her husband out. Together, the four teams gathered equipment and made their way back to the trailhead, meanwhile seven SMSR members hiked up the trail to meet with the four crews and carry their gear out. By 7PM, all teams were out of the field.

 Here are a few takeaways from this operation:

  • Hikers commonly mistake microspikes for crampons. Crampons have 10+ large spikes on the bottom and are worn with sturdy boots for crossing or climbing icy, high-angle slopes. Microspikes have small ¼ to ½ inch long spikes and are meant for flat terrain only. A basic set of strap-on crampons will cost around $150 minimum, while microspikes are around $75.
  • A wide, flat trail in the summer becomes a steep, slippery slope in the winter, with dangerous consequences in the event of a fall.
  • Turning around when conditions are unsafe is imperative to returning home safely.
  • Clear blue skies, known as “bluebird” days, do not always mean good snow conditions. 
  • Snow conditions may change throughout the day.  Afternoon snow may be soft enough to walk across, but could turn into hard ice by evening that persists throughout the next morning.  
  • Supportive agencies (i.e., Sheriff’s Department or Fire) can assist with helicopter hoists, but they are dependent on weather conditions and other factors. It is unsafe for helicopters to hoist subjects if there are high winds, so a hoist cannot be guaranteed. 
  • Rescue personnel have the option to decline any assignment that team members do not feel safe proceeding.
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Mountain Safety Message

For many, the repeated messages about mountain safety may seem excessive but given the current volume and seriousness of recent accidents in our local mountains, local SAR teams would like to reiterate and reinforce key safety considerations.

Venturing into the mountains at this time of year requires not only the proper equipment, but the skills and experience to recognize hazards of all types AND make informed decisions on mitigating those risks. Conditions will be variable and will change over time, often while you are on the mountain. You cannot control any of the objective risks associated with avalanches, weather, or terrain, but you CAN control your decision making and preparedness. Be honest with yourself and your partners in assessing your experience and readiness to address current conditions. If you are feeling uncertain or nervous – that is a warning to which you should listen. It’s important to note SAR teams are trained to perform rescues in various weather and terrain, but the conditions can still pose threats to their safety, causing them to decline an assignment and turn around, which could delay a rescue. 

Mountain SAR resources from throughout California are being stretched thin. In January alone, three individuals remain missing and two people are dead on Mt. Baldy and the surrounding peaks. Another hiker remains missing on Cucamonga Peak since the Fall. This week, SoCal teams rescued two hikers from Mt. San Jacinto that involved rope rescue systems and took over 24 hours to complete. In our current conditions, a rescue may take many, many hours even if you’ve triggered an SOS via inReach or similar satellite messenger. Helicopters can be a great resource to assist SAR teams, but they cannot fly in high winds or poor weather. Being appropriately equipped (i.e., carrying the gear necessary to spend the night, in addition to the “Ten Essentials”) to spend significant time on the mountain waiting for ground crews to hike to your location may mean the difference between surviving and dying – even in the case of a “minor” injury. Solo travel will SIGNIFICANTLY increase your risks should something happen. ALL the missing hikers were alone or had separated from their group.

Let a responsible person in town know where you’re going, planned route, and when you plan on returning. 

“Walking away is the chance to come back someday.”

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Mountaineering Risk Assessment

Beyond responding to emergencies, part of the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team’s mission is to provide education and guidance that helps prevent the need for a search and rescue response. We hope the information shared here provides hikers and others insight and items to consider related to decision making and assessing risk. 

For the most part, we think of dangers/hazards as falling into two distinct categories – objective and subjective.
 
Objective hazards are those outside of our control and include things like weather, falling rocks/ice, avalanches, errors of other people, etc. It is impossible to entirely see or assess all sources of objective danger or influence them, i.e., a rock may spontaneously fall regardless of what we may do. What we can do is consider what we can do to help recognize and mitigate those objective hazards. In cases of extreme objective hazard, e.g., extreme avalanche risk, the appropriate mitigation strategy may be to stay home. 

Subjective dangers are those that have their origins in us as outdoor recreationalists. These subjective dangers are largely in our control and typically include lack of experience, ignorance (“I don’t know that I don’t know”), errors in judgment, poor fitness/exhaustion, insufficient equipment, poor planning (this could include an objective that is outside your skill set), etc. Often thought of as “human factors”, these dangers can be mitigated through actions we take in decision making, planning, training, acquiring the proper equipment, and building skills/experience. 

Many accidents are a result of a combination of both sources of danger, and while it may not be flattering, WE (people) are the problem – we do stupid things – all the time (mostly without major consequences). 

For our mountain adventures we often focus on acquiring the “right” equipment or making big plans and spend less time on thinking about how we make decisions. It is fair to say that people tend to be overly confident when evaluating their experience and this can blind us and limit our recognition of warning signs, e.g., deteriorating weather, evidence of avalanches, etc., that the mountain is sharing. We often filter observations of objective information with ego, emotion, and impulsivity. The root of these errors most often lies in the subjective part of our decision making and a failure to make full use of objective factors and information. 

The mountains are always telling us a story – the snowy slope is getting steeper and icier; chunks of ice are falling from trees or rockfall is increasing as temperatures warm; bad weather is moving in; etc. The story is dynamic, continually changing, often complicated and frequently quite nuanced. Our individual and collective (group) skills and experience are key factors in gleaning insight and taking action based on this information.

Being honest in our assessment is a key aspect in our decision making and interpreting the mountain’s story. Some things are readily apparent (“I know that I know”) such as observing deteriorating weather, but we may still overlook, or not recognize key factors. Even for experienced people, fatigue can be a big contributor to missing something important. Other dangers may be more difficult to assess (“I know that I don’t know”) because we only have partial knowledge about them and the most we can do is take preventive measures against them, e.g., wearing a helmet because we never know when rock/icefall may occur. The most challenging situation is one where we are largely ignorant (“I don’t know that I don’t know”) because we don’t know about the danger and are therefore taking risks and we don’t even know it.
 
For beginners, insufficient experience often can result in not recognizing key information in the mountain’s story, but even experienced mountaineers are not immune.
 
Another key aspect of decision making is recognizing that when selecting, assessing, and interpreting information our own biases can play a significant role and adversely impact our decisions. We often focus on information that reinforces our preconceived or preferred point of view and ignore other information. This “confirmation” bias can create a serious blind spot in our decision making and often looking FOR risk factors (i.e., what am I seeing that could be a risk factor?) vs. an absence of risk factors can often help increase risk awareness and aversion. We also need to account for other human factors (often referred to as “heuristics”) including:

F: Familiarity – We find comfort in the familiar and may feel safer with trails and routes we know, particularly if we have hiked a trail or climbed a peak dozens of times before, with nothing bad happening. This is particularly dangerous when some key material fact is different, e.g., a mountain in the winter vs. summer.

A: Acceptance – The desire to fit in is powerful and social media can often drive behavior. A desire to “fit in” can influence decision making.

C: Commitment – The desire to meet some objective (i.e., summit the mountain) can be a powerful driver even if the conditions may be questionable.

E: Expert Halo – Someone in your group may have high levels of knowledge or exude confidence that can influence an entire group. This may lead others to follow without raising concerns or questions.

T: Tracks/Scarcity – The idea that a particular resource is “scarce” (e.g., a snow-covered Mt. Baden-Powell) and must be experienced before the snow is gone can cloud judgment.

S: Social Proof – Previous tracks leading up a slope or a line of other hikers ascending some route can give you a false sense of security (i.e., they are going up, it must be safe). Just because other people are on the same path, does not mean that it is safe to follow their path.

We are aware that many of the factors noted above are at play in an environment where social media may drive some of these dynamics. Developed as part of a strategy to look at avalanche risks (Ian McCammon, http://www.sunrockice.com/docs/Heuristic%20traps%20IM%202004.pdf
), the above mnemonic, FACETS, can help you recognize human factors that should be part of your thinking. 

The concepts shared here are far from exhaustive but are representative of a decision making and risk management mindset that, combined with on-site observations and your (your group’s) skillset, experience, and equipment, can help you make informed decisions. Thinking about how you approach gathering information and interpreting it to help mitigate risk is a key element of enjoying our mountains safely. Taking classes, reading books, and learning from more experienced people are all great options to build your skills and competence.

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The Dog Stories of Sierra Madre Search and Rescue

Sierra Madre Search and Rescue’s (SMSR) motto is “anywhere in the wilderness that someone needs help.” And by anyone we mean human, dog, donkey, mule, horse or bear. Yes, we’ve rescued them all, but the dogs we have rescued have a special place in our hearts.

Since the team started keeping records, in 2003, there have been 41 dog rescues. The Team has helped dogs that have been out with their lost owners, stranded in steep terrain, dangerously overheated, or simply exhausted.

Overheated Dogs

In the last couple of years SMSR has seen multiple overheated dogs on the Mount Wilson Trail. This trail has very little access to water or shade and is a dangerous place for a dog on a warm day. In these cases, rescuers responded with extra water, frozen water bottles and ice packs to begin cooling the dogs immediately and then transported the dogs off the mountain. 

When considering taking your dog for a hike, remember that short snout breeds like pugs and Boston terriers are not great hikers. They are especially prone to exhaustion and overheating. If temperatures will be reaching 75℉ carefully consider how dark your dog’s coat is and how much shade is on the trail. If temperatures will reach 80℉ it is best for your dog to stay home. When your dog does join you for a hike be sure you carry plenty of water for both of you. 

Lost Dogs

Two dogs SMSR helped this summer spent an unexpected night out with their owner and a friend when the group got lost on a hike to Cooper Canyon Falls. A SMSR team was thrilled to find the group alive and well the next day, and hiked the women back to the trailhead giving the exhausted pups a ride for most of the hike out.

In 2019 one dog helped lead rescuers to their missing owner. On July 12 Sheryl Powell and her dog went missing from the Grandview Campground near the Bristlecone Pine Forest. Teams from across California joined in the search and on day 4 of the search the dog was found, alive and well. This find caused search assignments to be shifted to the area, and later in the day Mrs. Powell was located alive and well by a SMSR crew. 

Stranded Dogs

Another dog helped lead SMSR to a new team member. In 2014 Bandit was out hiking with his owner, Michael Owens, when Bandit got stranded on a narrow ledge off trail. Our friends with the Montrose Search and Rescue Team, sent rescuers down on ropes to retrieve Bandit and hoist him back up to the trail. This was Owens’ introduction to what mountain rescuers do, and shortly after Owens joined SMSR.  

Behind every search, and each rescue that SMSR responds to there is a story to be told. But the ones that involve dogs are especially memorable to our teammates. Although we are always ready to help any dog that needs it, we’d rather you be prepared when you are hiking with your dog so that we don’t have to. 

Know that dogs build physical fitness just like you. If your dog only takes walks around the block, they’re not ready for a 14 mile trip to Mt. Wilson. Be cautious about putting them in a situation where they will overheat. Know that your dog will be safest on a leash.

Since 1951, the all-volunteer Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team has responded to calls for help in the local mountains and beyond.  SMSR also provides a range of wilderness safety programs. The Team never charges for any of these services, and is funded entirely by charitable donations. For more information, to donate, or to arrange a wilderness safety demonstration for your school or group, visit www.smsr.org. 

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