Family of Hikers Rescued By Helicopter Near Las Trampas Sunday
SAN RAMON – A family of lost hikers and their dog were rescued from a trail adjacent to Las Trampas Regional Wilderness Sunday after they got lost and called 911.
According to East Bay Regional Parks Police Lt. Gretchen Rose, the family began their hike from the Las Trampas staging area at the end of Bollinger Canyon Road at around 10:30 am Sunday morning.
At around 11:30 am, the family realized they were lost and the two daughters were exhausted, prompting them to call 911.
According to radio dispatch audio, the 911 call first triangulated to Moraga, nearly 3 miles away, until the father provided GPS coordinates that placed the family at the intersection Rocky Ridge Road and Callahan Road, just outside the Las Trampas area.
Two hours later, the East Bay Regional Parks helicopter located the family at the top of Rocky Ridge Trail, just inside the EBMUD south watershed area.
Rose said the best option was to transport the family via helicopter, due to parts of the trail being impassable by vehicle.
The helicopter made two trips, first with the two daughters, then with the dad and dog back to the airfield before they were all driven back to their vehicle on Bollinger Canyon Road by an officer.
Rose said the family was not billed for the rescue.
Rocky Ridge Trail requires a EBMUD hiking permit to use. The entrance to the EBMUD south watershed entrance from Las Trampas is guarded by a fence and three signs informing hikers of risks, requirements and rules of the area.
Lt. Rose said it’s unknown if the hikers held a EBMUD hiking permit required for the trail system they were rescued from.
Lost or injured in the wilderness? iPhone's "Compass" Application can give your GPS coordinates to relay to rescuers pic.twitter.com/Uoj4poImFA
— Danville/SR Updates (@DanvilleSR_News) September 8, 2015
