Hikers rescued after becoming lost near Palm Springs Tram

Two hikers were rescued after they became lost on aPalm Springs Tramway trail, a Riverside County sheriff’s sergeant said today.

One hiker, 62-year-old Alejandro Escobedo of Austin, Texas, called 911on his cellphone just before 4 p.m. Sunday to report himself lost and givedispatchers some idea where he was, said Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. MikePortillo. He was hiking with 50-year-old Tracey Pomeroy of Tempe, Ariz.

Escobedo’s cellphone battery ran out of power after the call, so theRiverside County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit searched for and located the hikersand told them to stay in place while the helicopter returned to base forrefueling, Portillo said.

The hikers were airlifted to the bottom of the mountain, he said. Theywere not injured.