15 hikers found after missing in Eaton Canyon

ALTADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- Rescuers on Monday located 15 hikers who went missing in Eaton Canyon. The hikers appeared to be uninjured, except for one person, according to family members.

Concern grew when the hikers, ages 16 to 35, went hiking Sunday with their church group from Huntington Park but never returned. Fellow church members say the hikers were well-equipped and were going up to rappel down one of the waterfalls. This was an annual trip that they had done many times before, but rescue crews say the size of their group slowed them down.

The hikers, who set out around 9:30 a.m. Sunday, say they were forced to brave the elements overnight because they ran out of daylight. The search began at 10 p.m. Sunday after friends reported that they received a text from the hikers with just the word "help."

"It was just cold. We were wet, we were tired, but we just decided that the best thing we could do is just stay there and rest," said hiker Nancy Picado. "We ended up just making a fire to try and keep us warm."

The hikers were found around 9 a.m. and airlifted to a safe triage location. They were checked out by paramedics and then driven to Eaton Canyon Nature Center to meet their relatives.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Forest Service shut down a section of Eaton Canyon, declaring it too dangerous due to a growing number of hiker fatalities and rescues. Officials say in 2012 alone, more than 60 rescues were performed in the now off-limits Upper Falls area.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Air Rescue crew members say Monday's airlift may have gone off without a problem, but as a helmet cam video shows, rescues are inherently dangerous.

"Extracting 15 people, one at a time, obviously takes time so there's a lot of hover time. Anytime you have a helicopter in a hovering position it's most-vulnerable," said Tracy River of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Emergency Services.

Rescue worker James Moussally says the hikers in this case were well-prepared and did not cross into any restricted area. As for injuries, one woman did suffer a minor ankle injury during the rescue.

River said this was the biggest airlift rescue he has ever had in his 13 years on the job.