Two teenagers are alive after a harrowing experience during a ten-day hike on the Pacific Crest Trail in Southern California. Riley Ramirez and Cole White got stranded in a snowstorm near the San Gorgonio Mountains, leaving them unable to contact help.
They had been well-prepared with food, a tent, and snowshoes but were not ready for the massive amounts of snow that were dumped on California’s mountain communities.
The boys were slightly hypothermic and were huddled together for three nights to stay warm when they were finally located by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office.
Riley Ramirez had lost his jacket in the severe wind, and their tent had broken. The boys later recounted that they were convinced they were going to die. Despite the harsh weather, they were lucky to be alive and well-prepared for the hike.
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in 13 counties, including San Bernardino County. This was due to back-to-back storms that dumped as much as 10 feet of snow on California’s mountain communities.
The National Weather Service in Sacramento issued a winter storm warning that was in effect through early Monday for Northern California mountain communities, as another strong storm dumped more snow on the area.