Three rock climbers in San Diego County were dramatically rescued Tuesday afternoon after becoming stranded on a narrow ledge roughly 100 feet above the canyon floor in a remote mountain area, authorities said.
The ordeal began around 2 p.m., when the San Diego Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting the climbers were stuck and unable to get down.
Deputies said the group was trapped in a rugged area between El Cajon Mountain and El Monte Mountain.
Nearly two hours after the initial call, a rescue helicopter was sent to the stranded climbers, who were perched precariously above the ground.
Aviation is used when subjects are trapped further out than land vehicles can reach or in extremely rugged spots. Rescuers emphasize that helicopters should not be viewed as an “easy button” for tired hikers, as these missions are hazardous for the crews. Sign up for the California Morning Report newsletter California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.
Dramatic aerial footage captured by SkyFOX/KUSI showed crews carefully hoisting the trio to safety. The helicopter utilized a hoit system to lift each person into the aircraft one at a time.
San Diego County Parks describes El Capitan County Preserve as a rugged, mostly treeless ridgeline with roughly 11 miles of trails. Officials warn that the “hike is considered strenuous and can easily take up to 6 hours to complete.”
Despite the tense situation, all three climbers were reported to be in good health and did not require a hospital visit, officials said.
