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Rescuers robbed at gunpoint trying to aid distressed PCT hkr

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 3:53 pm
by rlown
Rescuers robbed at gunpoint trying to aid distressed Pacific Coast Trail hiker

BRIAN MELLEYASSOCIATED PRESS | July 10, 2017, 2:41PM | Updated 1 hour ago.

LOS ANGELES— California sheriff's deputies are searching for two armed men who robbed rescuers trying to aid a distressed hiker on a popular trail.

Kern County Sgt. Zack Bittle said an operation to find the culprits was underway Monday in the Piute Mountains about 85 miles north of Los Angeles.

Bittle says the suspects stole radios from two volunteers with the sheriff's search and rescue team Saturday who were trying to help a hiker on the Pacific Crest Trail. The two were unharmed and walked to their command post to call deputies.

Hiker Charles Brandenburg says he was dehydrated when he sought help.

Authorities closed the trail after the robbery and airlifted Brandenburg and three other backpackers trying to hike the 2,650-mile (4,265-kilometer) route from Mexico to Canada on the trail.
Source: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/71859 ... artslide=0

Re: Rescuers robbed at gunpoint trying to aid distressed PCT

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 2:16 am
by gary c.
How messed up is that!! Robbing SAR volunteers during a rescue.

Re: Rescuers robbed at gunpoint trying to aid distressed PCT

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 6:02 am
by k9mark
Growers? Cookers?

Re: Rescuers robbed at gunpoint trying to aid distressed PCT

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 6:34 am
by AlmostThere
k9mark wrote:Growers? Cookers?

EveryOne assumes that, but they don't hang out near trails stealing from or being seen by hikers. Quite the opposite.

Re: Rescuers robbed at gunpoint trying to aid distressed PCT

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:09 am
by k9mark
Did I read the article wrong? It appears they were back country and had to walk out to the command post?

Re: Rescuers robbed at gunpoint trying to aid distressed PCT

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:47 am
by AlmostThere
k9mark wrote:Did I read the article wrong? It appears they were back country and had to walk out to the command post?
Why is that surprising? Walking someone off the trail is normal SAR behavior. So is having to walk out on your own after a search.

The PCT crosses a lot of roads too. The banditos might have been not so far into the backcountry as all that -- nor the hiker, nor the volunteers. The Piute Mountains are a major OHV area - lots of roads and "roads."

Re: Rescuers robbed at gunpoint trying to aid distressed PCT

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 9:51 am
by Jimr
Piute mountains are right up against Bella Vista, Weldon and Lake Isabella. Not so backcountry to me. And 13 miles away from the PCT. Maybe the location reporting is a bit off. IIRC from other posts, it was a part of the PCT that was temporarily closed.

Re: Rescuers robbed at gunpoint trying to aid distressed PCT

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 10:04 am
by AlmostThere
Jimr wrote:Piute mountains are right up against Bella Vista, Weldon and Lake Isabella. Not so backcountry to me. And 13 miles away from the PCT. Maybe the location reporting is a bit off. IIRC from other posts, it was a part of the PCT that was temporarily closed.
??? This is from the PCT interactive map on the PCTA site. The red line is the PCT.
pct.tiff

Re: Rescuers robbed at gunpoint trying to aid distressed PCT

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 10:10 am
by rlown
At least the rescuers weren't hurt, and Hiker Charles Brandenburg got a helicopter ride out of it after the rescuers returned to base. Hiker Charles Brandenburg recovered from dehydration and is back on the PCT.

Re: Rescuers robbed at gunpoint trying to aid distressed PCT

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 10:18 am
by Jimr
That makes more sense. I was looking at the Northern terminus of Piute Mountains near the lake.