Climber Rescued After Trying To Scale Mountain Near Anza

ANZA, CA — A climber became stranded Wednesday while trying to scale a mountain south of Anza, prompting a rescue operation that ended with the man being hoisted to safety.

A Riverside County sheriff's helicopter crew was patrolling south of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation, in the area of Coyote Canyon Road and Covered Wagon Trail, at about 2 p.m. when personnel spotted the victim, who signaled for help, according to the county fire department.

Firefighters were sent to the location to determine whether they could reach the climber, but the steep terrain made using any type of ground vehicle untenable, officials said.

A second sheriff's helicopter with hoist capability was summoned, and the man was retrieved and flown to safety at about 3:10 p.m.

He was not injured, according to the fire department.

There was no word on how the victim became stranded.