What safety tips you need to know before you hit the mountain trails this winter season

Within the past week, there have been several rescues in the mountain trails.

Mount San Jacinto State Park closed the Skyline Trail from the 5,800 ft park boundary to the top of the trail. California State Parks closed the trail to the public until further notice due to dangerous weather conditions and said it's out of an abundance of caution.

Due to the recent rise in mountain rescues, the Palm Springs Police Department is reminding hikers to take the correct safety precautions before hitting the trails.

PSPD posted hiking safety tips on their Facebook over the weekend. Some of the tips include:

• Notifying friends or family members when you leave and plan to return from the hike
• Always have a back-up plan to escape a dangerous area safely
• It's safer to hike with somebody else than to do it alone
• Review local weather forecast and take appropriate clothing and equipment
• Plan your hike and have a solid understanding of the terrain and potential hazards

PSPD also recommends having a backpack with essentials that can save your life. Things like a first-aid kit, extra food and water, extra clothing, map/compass, and a fire starting kit.

Within the past month, Riverside County Sheriff's Department Aviation Unit said it has done four hikers rescues. One happened last Thursday: a state park ranger fell 100ft into a ravine while attempting to rescue two hikers who were left stranded on Skyline Trail, near the Palm Springs Tram. The hikers and the ranger were eventually brought down. The ranger who fell suffered minor injuries. Corporal Andy Rasmussen was the helicopter pilot for that air rescue.

"I would say first and foremost, have the right equipment," said Rasmussen. "If you don't have the proper shoes, you don't have the proper equipment, crampons, or whatnot, you're not going to be able to traverse the terrain like you think you would."

Also, make sure to let others know your hiking plans.

"Give them an idea of when you might be back," said Rasmussen. "We have gotten a lot of calls where they haven't heard back from somebody."

On Saturday, rescue crews were back to that same trail to rescue three more hikers who were left ended up trapped on the trail because of snow and ice conditions.

Glenn Henderson volunteers with the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit. Henderson helped out with the rescue on Saturday.

"Take a map, take a cell phone, and make sure you have a backup so you can recharge that cell phone," said Henderson.

But what do you do if you end up trapped in dangerous conditions?

"Just stay put and dial 911, stay put, stay put, stay put," said Henderson. "That's the most critical thing is to be able to call for help and get yourself out."