MURRIETA: Elderly hiker rescued from remote hiking trail after heat injury

MURRIETA — An elderly woman was rescued Saturday afternoon from a remote, hiking trail in the hills west of Murrieta and Temecula. The unincorporated area is home to a number of popular, well-traveled hiking trails, including Sylvan Meadows, Santa Rosa Plateau and Hidden Valley Trails among others.

Emergency first responders were dispatched to the Vernal Pool Trail, in the area of Rancho California and Tenaja Roads, shortly before 1:30 p.m., after receiving reports of an elderly hiker with an unknown medical emergency.

Nine firefighters from one engine company, one truck company and a Paramedic Squad responded to the scene, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire spokesperson April Newman explained in an incident report.

After arriving at the scene firefighters hiked about a mile and a half to the patient’s location, where they determined she was suffering from a heat-related injury.

Firefighters eventually loaded the elderly victim onto a gurney and carried her back to a waiting ambulance, where AMR medics then transported her by ground ambulance to an area hospital for further evaluation and follow-up treatment. The victim’s injury was considered minor and she was listed in stable condition.

Officials did not specify if anyone was with the hiker when she fell ill and have not stated if the woman had water and other safety equipment essential to enjoying a hike on any of Riverside County’s countless hiking trails.

Law enforcement and fire officials remind all hikers to wear appropriate clothing for the conditions, carry a reasonable amount of water, have a fully charged cell phone and if possible – a cell phone charger, stay on established trails and allow enough time to return to trail heads – well before dark and/or closing time.

Additionally, hikers should carry common hiking safety equipment, such as GPS, maps and compasses, a signal whistle and/or signal mirror, and remember to always tell a friend or family member details of the hike, including the name and location of the trail and estimated return time.

Interested in joining or learning more about one of Riverside County’s elite teams of volunteers that dedicates themselves to helping with remote area rescues, searches for missing persons, and remote emergencies? Visit: Riverside County Volunteer Search and Rescue, Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit (RMRU), Desert Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (DSSAR), Riverside County Search Dogs, Lake Elsinore Marine Search and Rescue (LEMSAR), or Palm Springs Mounted Police Search and Rescue.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.