ANZA (CNS) - A woman died today after collapsing while hiking in the San Bernardino National Forest east of Anza.
The "hiker down" call was received at 11:30 a.m. on the Pacific Crest Trail, near Highway 74, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The hiker, whose name and age were not immediately released, was with another trekker when she passed out, possibly while struggling to catch her breath, on a day when the mercury reached 100 degrees by noon.
The victim's companion called 911, and firefighters were sent to the area but could not find an access point to reach the pair. A sheriff's helicopter crew was summoned and initiated a search, locating the unconscious hiker and her friend shortly after noon, but she died before the crew could ferry them to a makeshift landing z
