Two separate pairs of hikers had to be rescued from the 49 Palms Oasis trail in Joshua Tree National Park due to heat-related illness Saturday afternoon. County Fire Captain Jay Dimoff said paramedics were called to the trail’s parking lot about 1 p.m. to check out the first pair of female hikers who were hoisted out one-by-one by the Sheriff’s helicopter 40King. They were treated and released for heat exhaustion. Then, Dimoff said, 40King was called back to pick up a male and female hiker from a different location on the trail. Morongo Basin Ambulance transported the 25-year-old woman to Hi-Desert Medical Center for heat exhaustion. Dimoff said the temperature at the time was about 108 degrees. Hikers are urged to start and end their hike in the early morning or late evening hours when temperatures are cooler, and to bring—and drink—a quart of water for each hour you are out.
TWO PAIRS OF HIKERS RESCUED BY HELICOPTER IN 2 INCIDENTS AT 49 PALMS CANYON
