LASD - Montrose Search and Rescue Team

10/18/2026

If You’re Lost, Stop Moving

One of the most important things you can do if you become lost in the wilderness is simple: stop moving.

Searching for a moving person is much harder than searching for someone who stays in one location. If you are able to call 911 or activate a satellite SOS, rescuers will initially respond to the location provided by that call or device.

If you continue hiking after asking for help, you may move miles away from the location we are searching. That can significantly increase the time it takes for rescuers to find you—and delay getting you the help you need.

Once you’ve called for help, unless you are in immediate danger where you are, stay put. Find a safe location, conserve your phone battery, make yourself visible, and wait for rescuers.

Lost? Call for help. Then stop moving. Let us come to you.

10/13/2026

Two Vehicle Collisions During Wet Weather

Yesterday, we were conducting an article search with our friends from Altadena Mountain Rescue Team in the Big Tujunga Canyon area when a vehicle-over-the-side call came out on Angeles Forest Highway near mile marker 20.72.

Our team responded and arrived shortly after crews from Angeles National Forest Fire. Thankfully, the driver was okay and did not suffer serious injuries.

A short time later, another collision was reported on Angeles Crest Highway near mile marker 54.02, where a single vehicle struck a closed gate. Fortunately, that driver was also uninjured.

Inclement weather can quickly change driving conditions in the mountains. Wet pavement, reduced visibility, debris, and slick curves can make already challenging roads even more hazardous. Slow down, increase your following distance, and give yourself extra time to react.

Thank you to Angeles National Forest Fire for their professionalism and teamwork during the response.

10/06/2026

"Angeles Crest Highway is an incredible road, but it is not a racetrack." Search and rescue officials are urging motorcyclists to slow down after responding to four separate crashes within hours of each other on Sunday that left one rider dead and several others injured. https://ktla.com/news/local-news/motorcycle-crashes-angeles-crest-highway/

10/05/2026

ACH Is Not a Racetrack

This Sunday, Montrose Search and Rescue responded to four separate motorcycle-down calls in the Angeles National Forest.

One of those collisions occurred on Angeles Crest Highway near mile marker 26.78, where a motorcycle went over the side of the roadway. Another collision near Mill Creek Summit was fatal, and a separate motorcycle collision left a rider in critical condition.

These incidents are a serious reminder of how quickly things can go wrong on mountain roads.

Angeles Crest Highway is an incredible road, but it is not a racetrack. Tight curves, limited sight distance, changing road conditions, debris, wildlife, cyclists, and oncoming traffic leave very little margin for error when speeds get too high.

As the sign says: ACH IS NOT A RACETRACK.

Slow down, ride within your abilities, and save the canyon carving for a controlled environment—the racetrack.

A big thank you to Los Angeles County Fire Department, Pasadena Fire Department, CHP Altadena, and Angeles National Forest Fire for their professionalism and teamwork throughout these incidents.

We would much rather see you enjoying the mountains than responding to your crash.

10/02/2026

Too Hot for the Trail — Especially for Dogs

This weekend is going to be hot in the Angeles National Forest, and hiking in these conditions may not be worth the risk. For dogs, though, the message is even clearer: leave them at home.

Dogs do not handle heat the same way people do. They primarily cool themselves by panting, which is much less effective in high temperatures. They can overheat quickly, especially on exposed trails with little shade. Hot dirt, rocks, and pavement can also burn their paw pads, and dogs will often keep following their owners even after they are becoming dangerously overheated.

The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for much of Los Angeles County, with temperatures in some inland areas forecast around 100°F or higher this weekend.

If you are considering a hike, think carefully about the heat, the amount of water you will need, and whether the trip can wait for a cooler day. For your dog, it should wait.

The mountains will still be there when it cools down.

10/02/2026

CBS LA came by to highlight our double rescue from Sunday Evening. We wish the motorcycle rider a speedy recovery 🙏🙏🙏

While on their way to find a lost hiker, the Montrose Search and Rescue scrambled to save a motorcyclist's life after a horrific crash.

09/28/2026

Two Calls, One Busy Evening

At approximately 6:26 PM, Montrose Search and Rescue responded to a call for a lost and disoriented man on the Red Box–Rincon Trail.
Earlier in the day, he had started hiking from Chantry Flats with friends. During the hike, the group decided to turn back, but he continued on alone and eventually ended up near Valley Forge Trail Camp. After becoming disoriented, he called for help.

While our team was heading to that call, at about 6:57 PM we heard a report of a vehicle-versus-motorcycle collision on Angeles Crest Highway near mile marker 38. Because the collision was along our route, team members responded and located the scene.

The motorcyclist had suffered serious injuries and required immediate lifesaving measures to control severe bleeding. Montrose SAR members worked alongside Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel and their air resources, and the patient was transported to a local hospital. We are glad to hear that, at this time, he is reported to be in stable condition.

After the patient was transported, our team continued to the original search mission. Members were able to drive down the fire road, locate the lost hiker, and bring him out safely.

This incident is a good reminder to stay with your group whenever possible. If plans change, make sure everyone understands the new plan and knows the route. Carry a reliable GPS device or navigation app with offline maps so you can determine your location even when there is no cell service.

Thank you to Los Angeles County Fire Department and all of the responders involved in both incidents.

09/25/2026

Know Before You Go: Strawberry Peak

Following two recent rescue calls involving falls in the Strawberry Peak area, Montrose Search and Rescue put together this PSA on the Mountaineers Route and Strawberry Meadows Trail.

Some online trail descriptions and photos do not fully show the steep terrain, loose footing, scrambling, and exposure you may encounter. The Mountaineers Route, in particular, is not a traditional hiking trail and should not be treated like one.

Before heading out, research the entire route—not just the distance and elevation gain—and make sure your experience and equipment match the terrain.

Please watch and share this video with anyone considering Strawberry Peak.

09/22/2026

Countywide SAR Training — Learning From Each Other

This past Saturday, we joined the other Search and Rescue teams from across Los Angeles County for our second annual countywide training day.

Approximately 100 rescuers from eight teams came together to train in a wide variety of disciplines. Subject matter experts from throughout the county taught courses covering searching and tracking, high-risk rescue operations, the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), medical updates, rope rescue techniques, mapping software, and cross-training with Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations.

One of the biggest benefits of countywide training is the opportunity to share knowledge between teams. Every team brings different experience, specialties, techniques, and lessons learned from real-world missions. Training together helps cross-pollinate those skills and strengthens the way we work together when a large or complex incident requires multiple SAR teams.

Thank you to all of the instructors, organizers, Los Angeles County Fire Air Operations personnel, Los Angeles County Fire Camp 2, and the nearly 100 rescuers who gave up their Saturday to train and improve their skills.

We train together so we can respond together when it matters.