Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue (SBCSAR) responded to a report of a lost hiker near Romero Saddle in the Los Padres National Forest just after midnight on Saturday.
At 12:06 a.m., a mountain biker called 9-1-1- after taking a wrong turn while returning from the Divide Peak OHV trailhead toward Romero Saddle.
With only 7% battery and no lights, the male cyclist wisely decided to stop and call for help, stated SBCSAR.
Using his coordinates, SBCSAR team members located him safely in the Divide Peak OHV area. Team members hiked in on foot after reaching the closest access point by vehicle over rough terrain.
The biker was uninjured and was guided safely back toward Romero Saddle to his vehicle.
“This incident is a good reminder to always carry a reliable light source, a navigation device, and extra battery power when venturing into the backcountry, especially when your route includes unfamiliar trails or long rides near dusk,” SBCSAR states.
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Cue the “let’s install a taxpayer funded kiosk at all trailheads” and “charge them for their rescue” melt downs here.
I gotta say, a midnight mountain bike ride does sound fun!
Portable and rechargeable battery chargers are a great investment and this reminds me to buy another one!
According to the article the biker was not injured or in any danger. They had already spent half the night up there. Have them stay put for a few hours and ride out when the sun comes up.
Very poor planning.
Correct. You should never plan to make a mistake.
Riding in the dark, barely a first quarter moon. As if the nocturnal animals of Romero Canyon don’t have enough to deal with already, trying to forage and find a mate. Mountain bikers just have to get out there and disrupt and disturb. I have zero sympathy for those who disrespect nature and, whether inadvertently or not, harass wildlife.
Imagine going mountain biking…at midnight…by yourself…no plan…no GPS…no backup light/battery…don’t know the trails…and probably no food/water. Being sooooooo ill-prepared that you have to call 911 to be rescued by those who are prepared and do know what they are doing. Kudos to those who risked their lives to save this person.
There she is!
Additionally, this person could have prevented this whole situation had they consulted with a trail monitor prior to heading out in to the great outdoors. Anyone who plans to ride their bike at night need should be educated, even if it’s simply basic info (know where you are going, have a backup light/battery, don’t go alone, etc.). This person c-o-u-l-d have ridden off a trail and fallen into a canyon…then we’d be reading about a “recovery” operation. Be safe people!
So now the trail kiosks will run 24/7 in case night time adventurers decide to use a trail? All night shuttles to and from the trails would be a nice touch too!