Hikers plucked to safety after 5 days in SoCal wilderness

MOUNT BALDY VILLAGE, Calif. (AP) — A pair of hikers lost in the rugged, icy mountains of Southern California rationed food and sipped water through a filter device to survive for five days until searchers finally found them.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department used helicopters to hoist Eric Desplinter, 33, and Gabrielle Wallace, 31, to safety Wednesday night.

The pair were on a day hike in the rugged San Gabriel Mountain range northeast of Los Angeles on Saturday when lost they trail they were following.

Dozens of rescuers using dogs and helicopters found them huddled around a campfire Thursday night and used a helicopter hoist to pluck them to safety.

Both experienced hikers were unhurt.

Desplinter tells KABC-TV the pair survived by rationing their food and sipping water through the filter device.