This post was updated on Feb. 8 at 7:28 p.m.
Emergency teams rescued eight members of the Hiking Club at UCLA in the Angeles National Forest Sunday morning after the students missed a turn while hiking in the snow.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department search and rescue team members found the students in the snow and ice near Throop Peak, a 9,137-foot mountain, at 12:30 a.m.
Five club members were able to find their way out of the forest, but another eight students missed a turn late at night in the snow drifts.
Some of the students lost in the snow were hypothermic, according to an LASD press release.
Jocelyn Bailey, a fourth-year bioengineering student, said the two groups of hikers became separated late Saturday afternoon as it became dark and foggy.
She said her group realized that they missed a turn and first called 911 at about 6 p.m., but were disconnected each time they called. However, the five members who finished the hike were able to get in touch with police.
Bailey said the hikers decided to put their belongings down to seek shelter for the night before hiking back in the morning. She added she was surprised to hear the rescue team walking to the hikers at 12:30 a.m.
“It was kind of fun,” she said. “I was out there under the stars all night and got to hike all night.”
Rescuers lowered the students down the ice-covered slope using ropes and harnesses, according to the press release. The hikers and rescuers got back to their cars about 7 a.m. Sunday. None of the students needed medical attention.
Compiled by Sam Hoff, Bruin senior staff.