Elderly Man Rescued After Sliding 1,000 Feet Down Mountain, Becoming Stranded Overnight in Freezing Temperatures

A team of volunteers rescued an elderly man who became stranded overnight in below-freezing temperatures.

The rescue took place near Mount Pinos in California’s Los Padres National Forest on Friday, Jan. 9, according to Bakersfield Search & Rescue and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO). Local NBC affiliate KGET first reported the incident.

The 69-year-old man began his hike on Thursday, Jan. 8, on a known trail, but later left the marked route, a KCSO spokesperson said in a news release. After going off-trail, he “began hiking off-trail for hours in an unknown direction.”

Deputies were alerted to the situation just before 12 p.m. on Jan. 8 and were able to locate the man’s vehicle. But as time passed, searchers struggled to find him because of heavy snow and ice in the area.

According to the KCSO, the hiker slid roughly 1,000 feet down a steep mountainside lined with snow-covered cliffs and “icy slopes.” Multiple rescue teams — including Southern Kern, Bakersfield, and China Lake Mountain Search and Rescue — responded with specialized equipment to navigate the hazardous conditions. First responders from the Los Angeles County Fire Department also assisted.

The search effort included a helicopter, based on images shared by Bakersfield Search & Rescue, a Kern County non-profit organization. As teams worked through the night, temperatures dropped to 17 degrees, the volunteer group said, and the man remained stranded until he was found.

Eventually, rescuers located the hiker and airlifted him away from the cliff, law enforcement officials said. He was then taken to Mt. Pinos Nordic Base, where the Mt. Pinos Nordic Ski Patrol provides winter safety support and first aid, according to the patrol’s official Instagram account.

The man was treated for injuries at the base and later released, the KCSO said. Authorities did not disclose the extent of his injuries.

Photos shared by Bakersfield Search & Rescue appeared to show the hiker — bundled in a sweatshirt, sweatpants, a puffer coat, and a hat — smiling and waving after the rescue. Other images showed volunteers and first responders working across the snow-covered terrain.

In a statement shared on Facebook, Bakersfield Search & Rescue praised the teamwork behind the mission, writing that the successful outcome “reminds us what’s possible when dedicated volunteers work together,” adding: “It truly was a miracle, the outcome we all pray for.”

The organization also thanked those involved, writing, “To every volunteer who showed up and to those who drove over 3hrs to the mission and didn’t stop until the job was done, you’re heroes. 🧡.”

After the incident, the KCSO urged hikers to take precautions in mountainous areas: check weather conditions, carry adequate supplies, stay on marked trails, and share plans with someone in advance.