Hike into Hell: Chopper saves couple near Devil’s Punch Bowl

Two hikers were hoisted into a fire department helicopter after they became stranded near Devil’s Punch Bowl in the Angeles National Forest near Palmdale amid a building winter storm.

Neither hiker was injured, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. They were described only as a male and a female,

Firefighters were notified Wednesday that the pair was stranded and a rescue helicopter was sent, a dispatcher said.

The helicopter crew had to contend with high winds and a building storm as they searched for the hikers, who were located at 6:25 p.m., he said.

The hikers were hoisted into the chopper and flown to ground units as increasingly heavy rain and snow fell in the mountainous area, the fire department reported.

—City News Service