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Friday, August 3, 2018

Group of Hikers Rescue Hiker who Fell Off Sam Merrill Trail

A group of early morning hikers rescued another hiker who had fallen off Sam Merrill Trail in Altadena Friday, using a tow strap from their vehicle.

The Altadena Mountain Rescue Team (AMRT) received a call at about 6 a.m. about the hiker, who had fallen about 100 feet down the steep hillside.

“The hiker was headed up the trail in the predawn darkness with a powerful flashlight when he saw a pair of eyes in front of him on the trail,” the AMRT said on their Facebook page. “He immediately stopped and took just one step backwards and fell approximately 100 feet down the steep hillside.

The person who called said he was hiking down the trail with his dog when he paused to let another hiker pass. As he did so, he observed the light from the powerful flashlight suddenly disappear down off the trail.

Uninjured except for a few scratches, the victim was able to climb up but unable to continue as the last 15 feet were entirely too steep, according to the AMRT.

“Several bystanders retrieved a tow strap from their vehicle and helped the hiker the last few feet onto the trail. The hiker told us he was fine and just had a few scratches,” the AMRT said.

It is believed the hiker may have seen the leashed dog’s eyes, causing him to step backward and fall.

On Facebook, the AMRT posted a picture of the people who helped, one of them carrying the vehicle tow strap used in the rescue.

“A very big thank you to all the people that came together and helped out, great job!” the AMRT said.

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