LASD - Montrose Search and Rescue Team

09/02/2026

Watch Your Step — Gabrielino Trail Rescue

At about 1:55 PM today, Montrose Search and Rescue responded to the Gabrielino Trail near Fern Canyon for a man in his 70s who had fallen and struck his head.

Montrose SAR responded alongside Altadena Mountain Rescue Team and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Rescuers reached the patient, assessed his condition, and assisted him safely off the trail.

A large number of our callouts involve hikers who lose their footing, misstep, fall, or suffer lower-leg injuries on uneven terrain. Even familiar trails can have loose rocks, roots, steep drop-offs, and other hazards that can quickly turn a routine hike into a rescue.

When you're on the trail, slow down when needed, watch where you're placing your feet, and use extra caution on steep, rocky, or uneven sections.

Thank you to our partners at Altadena Mountain Rescue and the Los Angeles County Fire Department for another coordinated response.

08/31/2026

From Training to a Callout — A Busy Sunday for Montrose SAR

Sunday started with Montrose Search and Rescue members conducting training with an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) tracking system.

ELTs are emergency beacons commonly carried aboard aircraft that transmit a distress signal when activated, including following an aircraft accident. Search and Rescue teams can use specialized equipment to track these signals and help narrow down the location of a potentially downed or missing aircraft. Like many of the skills we practice, it's something we hope we never need—but need to be proficient with when the call comes.

Not long after training, that call came.

Our team was dispatched for a reported hiker in distress near the Crescenta View Trail and Mount Lukens Truck Trail. As resources responded and began investigating, we determined that the emergency SOS activation had been accidental and there was no one in distress.

A quick reminder about accidental SOS activations: If you accidentally trigger an emergency feature on your phone, watch, satellite communicator, or other device, please don't ignore subsequent calls or messages. Respond and let emergency personnel know that you're safe and that the activation was accidental.

If we're unable to confirm you're okay, we have to treat the activation as a real emergency. That can mean deploying Search and Rescue volunteers, patrol personnel, fire resources, helicopters, and other emergency responders to begin looking for you.

Accidents happen. A quick response letting us know you're safe can prevent an unnecessary search and keep emergency resources available for someone who truly needs them.

Thank you to Mark Lassman for the photos!

08/27/2026

Glad to see our safety message is spreading.

A rescue team is warning residents after airlifting a man who became dehydrated on a popular Mount Wilson hiking trail as Southern California endures some of its hottest temperatures of the year. https://ktla.com/news/local-news/mount-wilson-hiker-airlifted-dehydration/

08/27/2026

Dehydrated Hiker Hoisted from the Rim Trail

We responded to the Rim Trail north of Mount Wilson for a hiker suffering from dehydration.

The hiker was approximately one mile into his hike when he became dehydrated and ran out of water. Thankfully, he was able to call for help before his condition became more serious.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Copter 12 and Engine 82 also responded. Copter 12 located the patient from the air and conducted a hoist rescue, safely bringing him out of the wilderness. He was then dropped off at the top of Mount Wilson and reunited with his loved one.

With hot weather continuing, this incident is an important reminder that even a relatively short hike can become an emergency.

💧 Carry more water than you think you'll need. Don't rely on finding water along the trail.

🌡️ Consider postponing your hike during hot weather. If you do hike, start early, choose an appropriate route, and turn around before you're exhausted or running low on water.

🥾 Think twice about hiking alone. If you do go solo, tell someone exactly where you're going and when you expect to return. Carry a fully charged phone and, preferably, a satellite communication/SOS device.

Most importantly, know your limits. The mountain will still be there another day.

Stay hydrated. Stay prepared. Stay safe.

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

The Trails Can Wait — Avoid Hiking in the Heat

With hot temperatures expected through the remainder of the week and into the weekend, Montrose Search and Rescue is encouraging everyone to reconsider hiking until conditions cool down.

Heat can turn an otherwise routine hike into an emergency very quickly. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke can affect even experienced hikers, particularly on exposed trails with limited shade.

And please leave your four-legged hiking partners at home. Dogs are especially vulnerable to overheating because they primarily cool themselves by panting. Hot rocks and trail surfaces can also injure their paws, and your dog can't tell you when they're approaching their limit.

If you must head outdoors:
• Start very early and avoid the hottest part of the day.
• Carry more water than you think you'll need.
• Choose shorter, shaded routes.
• Know the signs of heat-related illness.
• Turn around early if you or anyone in your group is struggling.
• Leave your dog somewhere cool and safe.

Our strongest recommendation is simple: wait for cooler weather.

The mountains aren't going anywhere. That trail will be much more enjoyable—and safer—for you and your dog when temperatures come back down.

Stay cool. Stay hydrated. Stay safe.

08/17/2026

Training Today for Tomorrow’s Rescues

This last Sunday, Montrose Search and Rescue members spent the day sharpening their technical rescue skills with hands-on training in vehicle over-the-side operations, rope ascension, rappelling, and rock climbing.

These are more than just training exercises. The skills practiced in controlled environments are the same ones our members may be called upon to use during real-world rescues in the steep and rugged terrain of the San Gabriel Mountains.

This training was particularly important for our probationary members, who are nearing the end of an extensive training process. Over the past several months, they have put in countless hours learning the technical skills, teamwork, judgment, and safety practices required to operate as members of a Search and Rescue team.

They're now approaching one of their final milestones: successfully completing their final training and evaluation before moving beyond probationary status and becoming fully operational members of the team.

We’re looking forward to watching them put everything they’ve learned to the test—and hopefully welcoming our newest fully trained rescuers very soon!

We train because when the real call comes, there is no practice run.

08/11/2026

Busy Weekend and Start to the Week for Montrose Search and Rescue

It's been a busy few days for us, with multiple missions keeping our volunteers on the move throughout the San Gabriel Mountains.

Saturday: Our team assisted with a law enforcement mission.

Sunday: We responded to three separate incidents:
• An accidental SOS activation near Switzer Falls.
• A hiker experiencing difficulty breathing while ascending the trail near Switzer Falls.
• Four hikers stranded on steep terrain along the Mountaineers Route of Strawberry Peak.

Monday: We responded to a lost hiker near the intersection of the Bear Canyon Trail and Switzer Falls Trail.

While every call is different, they all reinforce the importance of being prepared before heading into the mountains.

Before your next hike:
🥾 Research your route and stay on designated trails.
💧 Carry plenty of water and know your physical limits.
📱 Bring a fully charged phone and, whenever possible, a satellite communication device.
📍 Share your hiking plans and expected return time with a trusted friend or family member.
🆘 If your device has an SOS feature, know how to use it—and how to avoid activating it accidentally.

We would also like to thank our public safety partners for their continued teamwork and support. Successful outcomes are made possible through the collaboration of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Air Rescue 5, Los Angeles County Fire Department, CHP Altadena, and the many dispatchers and support personnel who help coordinate these incidents.

Together, we're ready when the mountains call.

08/11/2026

The Crest and Forest Highway have had several serious accidents recently. Please watch your speed and drive safely.

08/07/2026

Teamwork Makes the Difference

Last night at approximately 10:15 p.m., we were dispatched to a vehicle over the side on Angeles Crest Highway near Mile Marker 27.78 in the City of Pasadena.

Upon arrival, our members joined personnel from the Pasadena Fire Department, Pasadena Police Department, Glendale Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, CHP - Altadena, and other responding agencies. We quickly learned that four occupants had been inside a vehicle that had traveled approximately 250 feet down a steep mountainside.

Under the Incident Command System (ICS), with the Pasadena Fire Department serving as Incident Commander, rescuers from multiple agencies worked together to coordinate a complex rescue operation.

Over the course of the incident, three separate over-the-side rescue operations were conducted. Working side by side, rescuers safely brought three patients up the steep hillside to waiting ambulances on the roadway. Tragically, one occupant succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Incidents like this demonstrate the strength of the Incident Command System. Each agency brought its own specialized personnel, equipment, and expertise, but everyone operated toward one common goal—providing the best possible care for those in need. Through communication, coordination, and teamwork, multiple public safety agencies were able to accomplish a challenging rescue in difficult terrain.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the individual who lost their life, and we wish the surviving patients a full recovery.