Teen hikers rescued after being stuck for days in California snowstorm

Two teens hiking in the mountains of Southern California were rescued after being trapped for nearly a week in snowy conditions, authorities said.

The rescue came as Californians dug out of back-to-back snowstorms in the state's mountain communities, which were hit by as much as 10 feet of snow, The Associated Press reported.

According to the San Bernardino Sheriff's Office's news release, Riley Ramirez (17) from Cypress, California and Cole White (17), of Portland, Oregon were found after they got lost on the Pacific Crest Trail, near San Gorgonio Mountain. According to Desert Sun of Palm Springs, the teens were captured during a winter storm. They had been dropped off on February 26.

A search and rescue began for the two teenagers due to the severe weather and lost communication.
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— The Desert Sun (URL) March 4, 2023

A search and rescue was initiated after severe weather conditions caused authorities to lose communication with the hikers, according to the newspaper.

According to the sheriff's office, the parents of Ramirez and White last heard from them on Feb. 28 via a tracking app.

Deputies received a call about the search on Friday, and a helicopter found the two teens on a remote section of the trail along Mission Creek, the Desert Sun reported.

According to the sheriff's office, the teens were hindered by the weather as they faced 4- to 5-feet snow drifts and limited visibility.

'They've told us, ‘We were already convinced we were going to die,'' Ramirez told the AP.

According to San Bernardino County sheriff’s Sgt. John Scalise stated that the teens were slightly hypothermic, and they said they were lucky to still be alive after three nights of huddling together to keep warm.

'They knew there was weather,' Scalise told the AP. 'But I don't think they expected the amount.'