Update by Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue (SBCSAR)
June 30, 2024
[Saturday] afternoon at 2:59 PM, SBCSAR responded, along with Montecito Fire, Santa Barbara County Fire, and Santa Barbara County Air Support to a report of an injured hiker near Tangerine Falls.
With no cell service in the area, the hiker used the SOS feature on her watch to call for help which activated the Satellite SOS feature on her iPhone 14 or newer to call for help. The hiker was located at the creek in Cold Spring Canyon a short distance from the falls with a lower leg injury. She was hoisted and flown to the airport and then transported by ground to the hospital.
While on the rescue, SBCSAR encountered two separate groups of hikers in the creek who had become lost and were unable to find their way back to the trail. Both groups saw the rescue crews and yelled for help.
One of the groups had been lost for over two hours, had run out of water, and had also used the SOS feature on their phone shortly before to seek rescue. Both groups were provided water, assessed to still be in good health, and guided safely back to the trail.
SBCSAR would like to remind those hiking on trails in the local area that dangerous conditions exist, even with countless hours of work by local trail crews. Caution should always be used, regardless of hiking ability. It is recommended to always have the proper navigation and communication tools with you when exploring the outdoors. Have a paper trail map or map downloaded in the event there is no cell service available. Having a device with an SOS feature can be life saving.
Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue is a professional, all-volunteer, and unpaid 501(c)(3) organization that is community-supported by generous giving. We provide services to the County of Santa Barbara under the direction of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. To learn about supporting SBCSAR, please visit our newly updated website or reach out to us.
Hiker Rescued from Cold Springs Trail
By BobScan
June 29, 2024
A hiker was airlifted from Cold Springs Trail around 3:00 p.m. (Saturday).
Search and Rescue and Montecito Fire responded to the area with a Calstar helicopter. Hiker sustained an ankle injury and alerted authorities.
Erect a cairn where a sketchy trail reaches the creek bottom. Or hang some flagging tape. Satellite phones, sheesh!
Lots of clueless “hikers” these days….