Rescue Helicopter Spots Missing Hiker Alive On Mt. San Jacinto

A Redondo Beach man who survived two nights in the snowy Mount San Jacinto wilderness was airlifted to safety today, sheriff’s deputies said.

Brian Carrico, 57, was brought to the Palm Springs tramway’s upper station this afternoon. He did not have any visible injuries but was taken to a hospital to be evaluated, sheriff’s Investigator Matt Diaz said.

“He appeared to be in good condition,” Diaz said.

Carrico left Saturday morning from the Palm Springs tramway, with plans on hiking to the peak of Mount San Jacinto and then cross-country skiing his way down that day.

But near-whiteout conditions that afternoon left him disoriented, and he lost the trail, Diaz said.

Carrico, an experienced outsdoorsman, built a snow shelter to stay warm in overnight temperatures that dipped into the teens. He also made a “SOS” in the snow in the hope a helicopter crew would spot it.

“He relied on his training and he did very well,” Diaz said.

A helicopter spotted Carrico’s tracks and his snow signals and found him near Wellman Divide at an elevation of about 9,700 feet about noon.

More than 60 rescuers and two helicopters crews participated in the search-and-rescue operation.

Carrico had not been heard from since around midday Saturday, when he used his cell phone to make a call to a family member.

Two or more feet of snow fell on the 10,800-foot peak over the weekend.

The rescue team consisted of the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team and volunteers from the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit.