PASADENA, Calif. (AP) – Fifteen hikers from a church group who failed to return from a weekend hike in the Southern California mountains were found safe by helicopter search crew Monday morning.
A medic was lowered to the group and no injuries were reported, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Johnie Jones said.
Just before the midmorning announcement, family and friends of the hikers had gathered in a group hug.
Eleven adults and four juveniles, ages 14 to 36, set out in the Eaton Canyon Natural Area on Sunday morning and were expected back by the evening.
Someone on the trek called the local sheriff’s station Sunday night and said the group was lost. Deputies arrived at Eaton Canyon around 10 p.m. and found two relatives of hikers who reported receiving texts from the hiking party that said “help.”