Multiple rescue teams conducted an extensive search in the Bear Canyon area of the Angeles National Forest on Monday afternoon for a hiker who had been bitten by a rattlesnake and required immediate medical attention.
The rescue operation was initiated after the hiker, whose identity has not been disclosed, sent a text message to a family member detailing the bite and requesting assistance. Officials from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Montrose Search and Rescue Team confirmed the alert, stating that both Montrose Search and Rescue and the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team were dispatched to the Bear Canyon area where the victim's precise location was unknown.
Hikers often access this region via the Switzer picnic site in Altadena, which serves as a trailhead to the Bear Canyon hike-in campground located five miles away, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Rescuers employed a multi-pronged approach: members of Air Rescue 5 searched from the sky, Montrose Search and Rescue members traversed the Switzer Falls Trail, and the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team entered from the Tom Sloan Saddle area.
Officials reported that the dense tree cover presented a significant challenge for the helicopter crew, hindering their ability to visually locate the victim from above. Despite these difficulties, all three search teams simultaneously pinpointed the hiker's location. They collaboratively assessed the individual, prepared him for extraction, and facilitated his transport via helicopter to a local hospital for treatment. His current condition was not available as of Tuesday afternoon.
The incident occurs during California's peak rattlesnake season, which typically runs from April to October, with an observed increase in reported bites this year. The California Poison Control System indicates an average of 290 to 390 rattlesnake bites occur annually statewide, but 277 bites have already been reported in California this year, including several fatalities.
In light of the event, the Montrose Search and Rescue team urged hikers to carry satellite emergency communication devices or GPS messengers that can transmit precise location data. They emphasized that in an emergency, knowing one's exact location is critical and can significantly expedite rescue efforts, enabling responders to reach individuals more rapidly.
