Stranded hiker rescued after spending the night in Palm Springs ravine

A stranded hiker that fell down a ravine in Palm Springs Friday afternoon had to spend the night in the elements before he could be rescued.

The Palm Springs Police Department first received a call around 8:10 p.m. from a lost hiker who said he started hiking up Dry Falls Trail, located West of the Palm Springs Art Museum. The hiker stated he had lost sight of the trail and fell down a ravine and could not get out, due to lacking a proper amount of water.

The Palm Springs Police Search and Rescue unit was dispatched and a rescue became underway. However, due to the terrain and other weather factors, the hiker could not be rescued. The hiker reportedly had a working cell phone and was able to communicate with Search and Rescue throughout the night. By 8:15 a.m. Saturday, additional resources had arrived to assist. A crew aboard a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office Super Puma helicopter was able to hoist the hiker out of the ravine, where other first responders had rappelled down and were assisting.

The hiker was said to be in good health, except for mild dehydration, and was airlifted to a landing zone where he was evaluated and released.