Two young girls had to be airlifted from a Cedar Creek Falls trail Wednesday after suffering heat exhaustion while on a hike, Cal Fire officials said.
The 9-year-old girls were hiking with a YMCA group from La Jolla when they were overcome by heat. The temperature in the Cedar Creek Falls area averaged about 90 degrees Wednesday.
The girls were taken by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department ASTREA helicopter to a nearby Cal Fire station in Ramona around 2 p.m. They were treated there and did not need to be taken to a hospital, officials said. The sheriff’s department said the girls were then released to their camp counselors.
According to the sheriff’s department, a trail volunteer approached the group at the entrance to the trail and told them the challenging trail is not for beginners or children, especially in extremely hot weather. The trail is five-and-a-half miles with no shade from the sun. The return trip is mostly uphill.
Still, despite the warning, the group continued on their hike, officials said.
Just last week, a 24-year-old man fainted from heat exhaustion and died while hiking a trail near the Cedar Creek Falls area.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Forest Service said people must take precautions when hiking in the area. At least one gallon of water per hiker is needed in order to stay properly hydrated along the trail. Hikers should also dress appropriately and know their limitations, officials said.
The trail is also not well-suited for dogs, as it’s littered with sharp rocks and the surface gets very hot, making it tough on paws.
As of June 24, ASTREA has rescued 18 hikers from the Julian and Ramona side of Cedar Creek Falls. Last year, the sheriff’s department chopper made 23 rescues in the same area, officials confirmed.
On Thursday, at around 2 p.m., two possibly injured hikers at the Ramona side of Cedar Creek Falls called authorities for help. The ASTREA helicopter was set to deploy, but the hikers were able to walk safely off the trail on their own, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department said. The helicopter response was cancelled.
Officials want to remind hikers to be aware of the symptoms of heat-related illness. If you suffer heat stroke or heat exhaustion, immediately look for shade, pour water over your head to stay cool and call 911.
Simple tips can help hikers stay safe in the weather:
- Never go hiking alone
- Bring ample food, water and sunscreen in addition to a flashlight, map, GPS, first aid kit and multipurpose tool or knife and a whistle
- Bring a fully-charged phone in case you need to call for help
- Wear proper clothing, boots, sunglasses, hats, gloves and a helmet
- Tell someone you are going hiking, where you will be and when you expect to return
- Know your limitations
- Choose a trail that matches your level of physical fitness
- Pick an area where you know you will not get lost
NBC 7 reached out the YMCA Thursday to discuss the hiking incident.
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The YMCA said proper safety protocols were followed during trip and the organization disputes that the group was warned not to make the hike down the dangerous trail.
The girls were with a group of 11 children from the La Jolla YMCA, accompanied by two staff members, and hiked the trail to Devil's Punch Bowl.
“We determined safety protocols were followed, the children were airlifted as a precaution after the EMT’s determined that was the best course of action,” said Loni Lewis, communications director of the YMCA of San Diego County.
She said all staff goes through extensive safety protocol training.
Lt. Richard Williams with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said the group was strongly advised against taking the trail, but the group was never told not to take the hike.
“According to our staff, they were never advised to abandon the trip completely. They were advised to take a different trail and make sure our students had lots and lots of water, which they did, so they followed protocol,” said Lewis.
But Lt. Williams said a suggestion to take another trail was unlikely because there is only one other path, which is more difficult than the first.
The YMCA says safety is a top priority and it will review whether to continue to take day trips to Cedar Creek Falls.
NBC 7 spoke with the U.S. Department of Forestry, who spoke directly with the trail volunteer who told the group to reconsider their hike at Cedar Creek Falls.
The trail volunteer said the YMCA group was unprepared for the hike and didn’t have a permit. The volunteer said he suggested the group take a different trail in a completely different location – the Blue Sky Preserve at Lake Poway.
The YMCA said they will continue to investigate the incident.
“The safety of the children is our utmost concern,” said the YMCA.
Cedar Creek Falls was closed to the public in July 2011 after 16-year-old Joseph Meram died while hiking there with his family. He slipped and fell down a steep cliff, landing in water below.
The U.S. Forest Service closed access to the hiking spot days after the fatal incident in order to design and implement a new public safety plan for the popular hiking area.
In April 2012, the area partially reopened, allowing hikers east access into Cedar Creek Falls. In April 2013, west access reopened and new rules for the hiking location were rolled out.
