Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue responded to four trail emergencies on a recent weekend, as crews assisted hikers during a spike in summer trail rescues.

Search and Rescue volunteers said the increase in calls is normal for this time of year and that many hikers continue to underestimate the conditions they’ll face on the trail.

“One thing that we notice is people are hiking towards the evening hours, or they don’t realize that their hike is going to end up keeping them out there in the dark,” said Jason Copus, public information officer with Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue.

He said getting lost after losing track of daylight is one of several ways hikers can end up needing help from Search and Rescue, and that even if a situation doesn’t seem dangerous, people should never hesitate to call 9-1-1.

“The quicker you call 9-1-1, obviously, the quicker you can get rescued, but also the better outcome that you will have even in a search scenario,” Copus said.

Susie Thielmann, a volunteer with the team and a retired emergency department nurse, said most problems can be traced back to gaps in what she called situational, personal and group awareness.

Situational Awareness

“There’s a situational gap between what someone in Santa Barbara on the coast thinks it’s going to be like when they get in the mountains and then what it actually is,” Thielmann said.

She explained that situational awareness means understanding the conditions hikers are entering, including the terrain, temperature and weather shifts along the route. She said hikers often rely on coastal weather forecasts without realizing how much hotter it can get along exposed mountain trails.

“Our chaparral can be a really difficult, dangerous environment if you underestimate it,” Thielmann said.

The frontcountry refers to trails in the coastal chaparral of the Santa Ynez Mountains above Santa Barbara and Montecito, where there’s little shade and elevations rise quickly, leading to unexpected heat. Those conditions can often catch hikers off guard, especially those unfamiliar with the terrain.

“They don’t understand that it could be 70 degrees at the trailhead, but then they go up and it could be 90-plus,” Copus said.

Personal Awareness

Another key form of preparation is personal awareness, which involves knowing your own physical limits and planning ahead for situations that might exceed them. That includes taking extra steps to stay safe when hiking alone.

“They always say don’t hike alone, but that’s not possible for most of us,” Thielmann said. “Even if it’s just a note in the dashboard of your car at the trailhead, somebody should know where you’re going and when you expect to come out.”

Copus said hikers should always tell someone where they’re going and when they plan to return. Carrying a satellite communication device or GPS beacon is also recommended, especially on remote trails with limited cell service.

Copus recalled a rescue near Tangerine Falls when an injured hiker used a GPS device to send a distress signal. That signal allowed the Search and Rescue team to locate the person and begin rescue efforts quickly.

“Who knows how long they might have been out there before anybody was aware that they needed assistance,” Copus said.

Personal awareness also means understanding your own physical limits and preparing for specific challenges. Thielmann recalled an incident on the Santa Ynez River where a hiker without swimming ability ended up in trouble. She said the situation could have been avoided with better preparation.

“If you’re in the water, you need to be prepared. If you can’t swim, you should be wearing some sort of flotation device,” Thielmann said.

Group Awareness

Group awareness comes into play when hiking with others and can be just as critical as knowing your own limits. 

Thielmann said it is important to watch how others are responding to the conditions, especially in the heat. A common mistake, she said, is assuming someone is OK because they are still sweating, because she says sweating can continue during the early stages of heatstroke.

“You need to be aware of what your group’s tolerance is,” Thielmann said. “There may be one person who’s being affected by the heat, and you need to go at that person’s pace or shade up or stop and turn around.”

Group awareness also includes pets. Search and Rescue teams have responded to calls for dogs that were overcome by heat, and hikers should be just as prepared for their animals as they are for themselves.

As summer temperatures climb and trails grow busier, Search and Rescue volunteers said preparation is key to avoiding emergencies.

“It’s knowing your limits, preparing for your route and being prepared for an emergency,” Copus said.

Signs of Heat Illness

With the rise of summer temperatures, Thielmann said hikers should be aware of the symptoms of heatstroke. 

“You can still be sweating and be approaching heatstroke,” Thielmann said. “The main thing that you look for is confusion. If they’re not acting normal, that means your central nervous system is being affected, and that is a highly dangerous sign.”

The Montecito Trails Foundation shares signs of heat illness that include:

• Tiredness or weakness
• Loss of appetite/feeling sick
• Thirst
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Heavy sweating or no sweating at all
• Irregular skin changes (hot, red, dry, damp, pale, cold or clammy)
• Irregular pulse
• Muscle cramps
• Losing consciousness

Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Anyone showing symptoms should be cooled down and given help immediately. Thielmann emphasized the importance of not hesitating to call 9-1-1 if someone appears to be in trouble.

“I’d rather they called dispatch, had a conversation, figured out what the real problem is and got the proper people going rather than not calling,” she said.

Read the Montecito Trails Foundation Dos and Don’ts of the Trail here.