Emergency crews rescue two hikers near Arlington Peak in Santa Barbara Co.

by SLOpulse
on August 31, 2025
at 2:32 am
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Two Hoist Rescues Near Arlington Peak After Hikers Run Out of Water

Santa Barbara County — Saturday, August 30, 2025. Santa Barbara County Fire, Santa Barbara City Fire, and the County Search & Rescue team responded to Arlington Peak at 11:58 a.m. for dehydration calls. Medics first encountered a 66-year-old female in distress and hoist-rescued her by helicopter. The aircraft then returned for the original 911 caller, a 22-year-old UCSB student, also hoist-rescued. Both were flown to the Santa Barbara Airport, declined hospital transport, and were released at their discretion. Ground teams provided water to additional hikers on the ridge and escorted them down safely. KSBY Newsedhat

Why this spot sees so many rescues

  • Terrain: Arlington Peak is a steep, rocky front-country route reached via Tunnel Trail, with sustained climbing and sections of scrambling. Expect serious elevation gain and heat exposure. Parks and RecreationSummitPost100 Peaks

  • Heat + winds: The south face of the Santa Ynez range can run much hotter than the trailhead. Late-day Sundowner winds bring hot, very dry air downslope, which accelerates dehydration and can catch hikers off-guard. edhatWikipediaAGU Publicationswri.ucsb.edu

Smart prep for Arlington Peak (local checklist)

  • Start at daybreak, turn around if you’ve used half your water before the high point.

  • Carry at least 2–3 liters per person in warm weather, electrolyte tabs or powder, sun protection, and a headlamp.

  • Download an offline map; expect spotty cell coverage on the ridge.

  • Know the route: Tunnel Trail → Arlington/Cathedral ridgeline; watch for slabs, loose rock, and poison oak. Parks and Recreationsantabarbarahikes.com

Agencies involved: Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Santa Barbara City Fire Department, Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue (volunteer unit under the Sheriff). KSBY Newsedhat

Sources / further reading:
KSBY initial incident report; Edhat follow-up with three dehydrated hikers and heat context. KSBY Newsedhat
Tunnel Trail overview (City of Santa Barbara). Parks and Recreation
Arlington Peak terrain references. SummitPost100 Peaks
Sundowner winds background (quick explainer + research). WikipediaAGU Publicationswri.ucsb.edu

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