{"id":665568,"date":"2026-05-26T06:59:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T06:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/665568\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T06:59:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T06:59:12","slug":"dozens-of-hikers-suddenly-fall-sick-on-california-section-of-iconic-pacific-crest-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/665568\/","title":{"rendered":"Dozens of hikers suddenly fall sick on California section of iconic Pacific Crest Trail"},"content":{"rendered":"

Roughly a dozen hikers have reportedly fallen ill with a nasty stomach bug after traversing a section of the scenic Pacific Crest Trail.<\/p>\n

The popular hiking destination<\/a> spans more than 2,600 miles and goes from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington.<\/p>\n

The Pacific Crest Trail Association acknowledged reports of \u201cgastrointestinal illness\u201d in the Wrightwood area of the hike, writing in an Instagram<\/a> post on Thursday that they are working with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health to asses the situation.<\/p>\n

\"Dozens<\/p>\n

Dozens of hikers have had symptoms of the norovirus while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Cavan \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Pacific Crest Trail Association confirmed reports of a \u201cgastrointestinal illness\u201d in the Wrightwood area. Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cIllnesses like norovirus or other communicable diseases are serious issues, people should prioritize their health and safety,\u201d Chris\u00a0Rylee, the director of communications, told SFGATE<\/a> in a statement. \u201cWe sincerely wish for all affected hikers a speedy recovery and the chance to get back to the trail.\u201d<\/p>\n

A reddit page<\/a> dedicated to the Pacific Crest Trail said there is an \u201coutbreak\u201d of norovirus \u2014 a highly contagious stomach illness<\/a> that can cause sudden and severe vomiting and diarrhea.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A sign marking the trail on the Pacific Crest Trail. Kit Leong \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

Over the past two weeks, there have been \u201c7-12 confirmed\u201d cases in and around Wrightwood, with one hiker even having to be airlifted to a hospital for medical attention, according to the Reddit post.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince Sunday, there have been approximately 2 dozen hikers who\u2019ve had symptoms and 7 who were seen and diagnosed with Noro by medical professionals,\u201d the post read.<\/p>\n

The first cases of the virus started popping up the around May 8, according to SFGATE.<\/p>\n

When 73-year-old Ron Hals settled into his camp in the Wrightwood area on the night of May 14, he told the paper that he has \u201cnever been that weak\u201d and was so ill that he struggled to even leave his tent.<\/p>\n

Hals, who planning to hike the first 1,000 miles of the trail as a personal challenge after his wife died, called 911 and was ultimately airlifted out to receive further medical attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy emotions were very much on the surface, and I admit that I cried because I didn\u2019t want to go,\u201d Hals, who was later diagnosed with norovirus, told the paper. \u201cBut I knew that these people had risked their lives to come find me, and I couldn\u2019t just tell them to go away.\u201d<\/p>\n

While its unclear how the outbreak started, some cases appeared to have originated near a water cache in Swarthout Valley between Cajon Pass and Mount Baden-Powell, according to the outlet.<\/p>\n

The Reddit page urged hikers to practice good hygiene<\/a> to avoid catching the virus, including washing hands and drinking from sealed water bottles.<\/p>\n

\"Thousands<\/p>\n

Thousands of hikers visit the scenic trail every year, according to the Pacfic Crest Trail Association. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cNorovirus can survive for weeks on surfaces and objects, such as countertops, doorknobs, phones, and furniture, or any items that may have been in contact with vomit, diarrhea, or unwashed hands of someone sick with norovirus,\u201d according to the California Department of Public Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There are approximately 109,000 hospitalizations every year in the US from the norovirus, and roughly 900 deaths \u2014 mostly among older adults, according CDPH.<\/p>\n

Norovirus outbreaks in remote regions is not uncommon, and according to SFGATE a 2022 more than 200 hikers came down with the bug in the Grand Canyon National Park.<\/p>\n

\u201cNorovirus is like the cockroach of viruses,\u201d Noelle Harrison, a retired public health educator and hiker told the paper. \u201cIt\u2019s almost impossible to kill, and if you end up getting sick in really remote areas, some of its more severe symptoms can put you in a really bad place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thousands of outdoorsmen make the trek through the Pacific Coast Trail each year, according to association\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

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