Teen backpackers huddle to survive as storm derails journey

San Bernardino sheriff says 17-year-olds spent three nights in cold before being rescued.

One day after a historic blizzard warning for the San Bernardino County mountains expired, Riley Ramirez and Cole White began a 10day backpacking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail through parts of the snow-blasted mountains.

The first two days of their journey appeared to go as planned. But on Feb. 28 — right as a second brutal winter storm was moving into the region — the parents of the 17-year-olds lost contact with them.

Snowfall picked up in the mountains that afternoon, dumping more than 30 inches in 24 hours in some places, according to the National Weather Service, on top of snow from the earlier blizzard. Many mountain communities were snowed in, forcing rescues and requiring additional resources for the growing emergency.

The teen hikers likely encountered 4- to 5-foot-high snowdrifts, limited visibility and freezing temperatures, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office.

On March 3 — three days since anyone had contact with Riley and Cole — their parents called for a searchand-rescue team to find the teenagers along the trail near Mt. San Gorgonio, Southern California’s highest peak.

A sheriff’s helicopter spotted the duo along a remote section of the trail near Mission Creek and landed in heavy snow to take the 17year-olds back to safety, according to the sheriff ’s office.

The teens were slightly hypothermic after spending three nights huddling together to stay warm, according to the Associated Press. They told sheriff’s officials they did not think they were going to survive.

Riley’s father, Cesar Ramirez, told the AP that his son’s jacket had blown away and their tent had broken. He said the teens were avid, well-prepared hikers with extensive training and plans to join the military.