After more than a few decades on Santa Barbara’s Search and Rescue team, Nelson Trichler has learned a few things. For starters, hike early in the morning, before the heat of the day kicks in. Here in Santa Barbara, once the fog burns off, the temperature spike can creep up on you.
“Bring layers to protect your body temperature and your skin from the sun,” said Trichler. “Another thing we see a lot is dehydrated hikers. It all comes down to preplanning — where you’re going to go, how long you’re expected to be gone.”
That preplanning is emphasized among the team. “We are strong believers in preventative search and rescue,” Trichler said. Given the recent spike in temperatures, despite it still being late winter, it is a timely reminder.
Outside of assisting hikers and other day-trip adventurers, the team has also been called into some of the region’s darkest moments. Trichler himself has taken part in more than 3,000 missions, including the Montecito debris flow, the Camp Fire, and swift-water rescues along the San Diego River…