Hiker Dies in Mountains North of Altadena

A 69-year-old woman died Sunday as she was hiking with friends on the Sam Merill Trail in the Angeles National Forest north of Altadena.

Deputies at the Altadena Sheriff’s Station said the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team was activated at about 12:40 p.m. to respond to the report about the woman passing out about 1¾ miles up the trail. They said her companions and some bystanders performed CPR on the woman for about an hour before rescuers from the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived in the area and took over.

The fire department pronounced the hiker deceased a short time later.

Members of the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team arrived shortly after and assisted with the investigation and transport of the hiker from the trail.

The LA Sheriff’s Department’s Air Rescue 5 chopper hoisted the hiker and flew her remains to USC Hospital where the coroner took over.

Authorities decided to close the popular hiking trail for a short period of time as they investigated the cause of death. Her friends had said the woman just stopped breathing and collapsed on the trail.