2024-039

Cold Hiker Tramway

November 2, 2024
Round Valley below San Jacinto Peak
2024-039

Written by: Andy Hayt

Alex and I had just finished assisting with an OES search in Sierra Madre when the call came out for a hiker who was having a medical emergency in Round Valley. We were approximately an hour and a half from the Palm Springs Tramway, so we elected to head that way, arriving at 6:30 PM. Matt and Solan arrived shortly after us, and after consulting with the RSO deputy on scene we headed up the tram to assist the subject. Word was that the subject was hypothermic and suffering from severe diz-ziness.

State Parks rangers had made contact with the subject and taken him to the Round Valley ranger sta-tion to warm him up. Our comms with the rangers were spotty, and Matt, Solan, and I headed into the field knowing only that the subject and the rangers were most likely at the ranger station. Fortunately, we met them hiking toward us approximately 1.5 miles from the tram. It was heartening to see the subject ambulatory and in good spirits. I performed a quick medical evaluation of the subject while Solan took notes, and we decided to continue the hike out.

We made good time hiking back toward the tram, and the state parks rangers were eventually able to give the subject a ride back up to the tram station using their four wheeler. Richard performed a more detailed patient evaluation at that point, and we were able to get the subject down to the lower tram station where he was evaluated by a waiting crew from AMR.

The subject had taken the tram up to Round Valley earlier in the day, hiked to San Jacinto Peak, and was returning to the tram when he began experiencing extreme dizziness, possibly brought on by a combination of dehydration and altitude, and found himself unable to continue. He sat down, and as temperatures dropped, he became hypothermic. Prompt action by State Parks rangers enabled him to recover to the point that he was able to hike out.

RMRU would like to remind hikers that it is important to hydrate even in cool temperatures, and to take into account the effects that altitude, coupled with strenuous exercise, may have on the body.

RMRU Members Involved: (Alex Cochran, Matt Frenken, Andy Hayt, Solan Watts, Richard Yocum)