Four Sonoma men set out on a hike from an unknown starting point Monday and ended up in a remote area near Alamere Falls on the Point Reyes National Seashore, with two trapped halfway down a 200-foot cliff with no way to get up or down. One man made it down to the beach (or never climbed up?) but became trapped by the tide, and the fourth man apparently made it out of the area to call 911, according to the Marin Independent Journal.
They report further that some four dozen people ended up being involved in an all-night rescue effort, with members of Marin Search and Rescue, Marin County and Bolinas firefighters, the Marin County Sheriff’s Department, national park rangers, CHP officers, and the U.S. Coast Guard all getting in on assisting the three trapped men.
As CBS 5 reports, initial rescue efforts were stalled because of unstable conditions on the cliff. Deputies reported coming to the assistance of rescuers at 8:55 p.m. Monday, and it was not until 1:01 a.m. that the following tweet went out, announcing a successful helicopter rescue off the beach by the CHP.
USCG helicopter has successfully rescued the 2 victims off cliff in Pr Reyes rescue operation!
— Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) March 29, 2016
No injuries were reported. But how did these four guys make it out to this place and then lose track of how safely to get back? Per the Marin IJ, they were found "northwest of Bolinas about three to four miles north of Palomarin Trailhead."
As some of you may know, Alamere Falls is very pretty and has water in it for the first time in a long time. Perhaps this was the case of a leisurely hike and chill day at the beach that went disastrously wrong somehow after the sun went down? They waited too long and couldn't get back the way they came because of the tide? I'm sure that intoxicating substances were not involved at all.
Below, the Marin County Sheriff's Department going hog-wild with excitement over the situation on Twitter.
Response to rescue in Pt Reyes include Marin So, MarinSAR, Bolinas & Marin Co Fire, NPS Rangers and CHP helicopter. pic.twitter.com/DY7NRbJPhV
— Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) March 29, 2016
CHP helo has dropped one officer on beach with 1 of 3 victims to provide aid as helo heads back to airport for fuel. pic.twitter.com/c9sV269FK9
— Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) March 29, 2016
Victims in Pt Reyes cliff rescue said to be approx 100ft down 200ft cliff. Location is remote and rescue personnel still hiking to scene.
— Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) March 29, 2016
USCG helicopter now being requested to respond to assist with rescue in Pt Reyes. pic.twitter.com/om2pOZyDm1
— Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) March 29, 2016
Conditions have been determined to be too hazardous for helicopters, MarinSAR & firefighters plan for major rope rescue operation.
— Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) March 29, 2016
Initial size-up of rescue scene finds cliffs highly unstable, falling rocks, safe rescue may take hours. pic.twitter.com/x5YGPMZsLd
— Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) March 29, 2016
Quick pic of 20 members of Marin Co Sheriff's Volunteer Search & Rescue involved in last nights rescue effort. pic.twitter.com/uacYTxAg55
— Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) March 29, 2016