Injured Hiker Rescued off Cold Springs Trail

Source: Santa Barbara County Sheriff

Just after 1:00 p.m. on Monday, July 17, 2017, a female hiker in her late forties was hiking down the East Fork of the Cold Springs Trail in the mountains above Montecito when her right knee gave out. Unable to support her weight to continue walking, her hiking companions called 9-1-1 and spoke with dispatchers at the Santa Barbara County Public Safety Dispatch Center to relay that they could not carry her down the trail.  

Emergency responders from the Montecito Fire District and Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) team were paged out to initiate a search and rescue operation. Based on initial reports from the reporting party, it was believed the injured hiker was on the West Fork of the Cold Springs Trail and an additional fire engine crew from Santa Barbara City Fire was requested. However, after further investigation and discussion with the reporting party it was determined the subject was approximately one mile up from the tra ilhead on Mountain Drive on the East Fork and Santa Barbara City Fire response was cancelled. Paramedics from Montecito Fire reached the injured subject and determined that a stretcher carry out was required. Combining personnel from Montecito Fire and SBCSAR, the subject was carried out on a Stokes stretcher with a wheel down the single-track trail to the trailhead where she was released to go to the hospital for further care.

So far this year, SBCSAR has been activated more than 100 times for search and rescue missions, including helping with evacuations with the recent Alamo and Whittier fires and various vehicle over the side accidents. Those interested in joining this professional, all-volunteer organization are encouraged to attend an upcoming recruitment meeting next Tuesday, July 25 at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue station located at 66 S. San Antonio Road in Santa Barbara. The meeting will start at 6 p.m., but all are encouraged to sho w up early to tour the station and chat with current team members. For further information contact Matt Logsdon at Join@sbcsar.net or at 805-452-5620.