Firefighters Rescue 3 Hikers From Cliff in Altadena

County firefighters rescued three hikers Wednesday from a crumbling cliff in Altadena, two by helicopter and one by ground crew.

The daughter of hiker Steve Tolkin managed to get to safety, as her father, brother Leo and friend David Tice waited for help. She used a mobile telephone to call for help.

The incident occurred about 3 p.m. on a cliff off a trail near East Loma Alta Drive and Lake Avenue, said county fire Inspector Mike Brown.

“We all took a stupid hike and we went hiking where we probably shouldn’t have gone hiking, and it was really steep,” Tolkin said.

“And David and I got caught on a ledge where the ledge was really shaky and the ledge above us was too shaky to hang on to,” he said.

Tolkin said he was calm as he and his rescuer twirled together as a helicopter hoisted the two off the cliff.

“I completely trusted the firemen,” Tolkin said. “They were awesome.”

Brown said Tolkin scraped his forehead when he slid back down the hill as they tried to lift him out.

Tice said he and Tolkin got a “little too adventurous” and went too far up on the crumbly cliff.

He said the rock he was holding was “getting looser and looser” and felt as it might break free.

“I love the ground,” he said.