Two Lost Hikers Rescued From Mt. San Jacinto

Two hikers are suffering from cold exposure and dehydration, today, but otherwise fine after spending a cold night atop Mt. San Jacinto.

The Cabazon station of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department got the first call of a hiker missing in the Willow Creek area of the wilderness.

Police say the hiker departed the lower Tram Station in the early morning hours on Tuesday for a day hike to upper Tram Station. The unprepared hiker encountered heavy snow and ice where he became disoriented and unknowingly left the trail, thus becoming lost.

During the hikers ordeal, he located a female hiker who was also lost and in need of assistance. They were able to summon help by cellular phone. After the initial call for help, all further communications with the hikers was lost.

Helicopter searches turned up nothing for a long time, until the two were spotted in a very hazardous area of Willow Creek drainage at the 8,500 level.

The two hikers were identified as Emin Alihodic, age 57 of Palm Springs, and Monica Cullinan, age 38 of Mission Viejo.