The Altadena Mountain Rescue Team (AMRT) rescued two dogs and a man after hikers ran out of water in the Sam Merrill Trail in the Angeles National Forest Saturday. Crew members received the call at 1:25pm.
Ground crews hiked approximately 2 miles up the steep trail and found the 2 hikers and an overheated 6 year old female golden retriever, named “Spicey.” The hikers, a 39 year old male, and 42 year old female, both residents of Pasadena, were on a 12 mile hike when the dog became overheated and refused to walk. The pair had started the hike at 5:30 Saturday morning, when the temperature was mild.
A crew from the United States Forest Service, Engine 11 helped the Altadena Rescue Team because of the remote location and extremely high temperatures. As AMRT members carried “Spicey” in a wheeled stretcher, they found a second dog along the same trail that was suffering from heat related illness. AMRT members carried the second dog, a 2 y/o male Dachshund mix named “Dodger,” about a mile.
After 30 minutes, the high temperatures caused “Dodger’s” owner to feel sick. The 31 y/o male who from Anaheim was given water and cooling measures. He was then able to walk out on his own. AMRT members provided the hiker more treatment at the beginning of the trail, and released him. Rescue crews made several trips back to the start of the trail to get additional water, since approximately 7 other hikers had run out of water. All dogs and people left the area at 6:00 pm.