Volunteers Rescue 2 Lost Hikers In Angeles National Forest

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE (CBSLA.com) — Rescue crews found two brothers Thursday who got lost overnight hiking in the Angeles National Forest near La Cañada Flintridge.

Andre and Rene Laurencut had set out for a quick afternoon hike on Wednesday, but quickly lost sight of the trail.

"To me it looked like a tornado went through there because you have fallen trees. There was absolutely no trail," said Andre.

The volunteers from Montrose Search & Rescue said the trails the brothers hiked as teens growing up in La Cañada no longer exist.

"Since the Station fire, the terrain burned, the floods came, there are trees, boulders, and rocks… and no trails in existence," said rescuer Tim Berry.

By nightfall, Andre was exhausted. Rene set out to hike back up the mountain to Angeles Crest Highway.

"Neither of us had cell phone signal," he said. "I thought if I could just reach the top of the ridge, I could get a bar or two."

When Rene was found, he was stuck 300 feet up a cliff.

The search and rescue team used a helicopter to lower a rescuer down to help him.

"We used what's called a horse collar, which is a strap that we put around (him). (We) fastened him on that strap and he holds on to the rescuer and off he goes," said Sgt. Rod Kubly from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.

The brothers didn't have any serious injuries despite having no food or water.

"Once I found subject number two, he consumed three 20 ounce bottles of Gatorade and a Clif Bar," said rescuer Mike Leum.

"They were very professional and they were real lifesavers," said Rene.