PALM SPRINGS - Three 18-year-olds were recovering today after being rescued by mountain-climbing volunteers and a helicopter crew from above the 10,000-foot mark on snowbound Mount San Jacinto.

Josh Frank of Los Angeles, Max Conniff of Santa Cruz, and Steven Tam of Simi Valley were suffering from early stages of frostbite and hypothermia when they were rescued Monday afternoon, said Sgt. Al Meservey of the Riverside

County Sheriff's Department.

The three were attempting a four-day trip across snowy, ice-clad ridges from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway's upper station to Idyllwild, but they were unprepared for the winter conditions in Riverside County's highest

mountain range, Meservey said.

They left the upper tram station Saturday, planning to arrive in Idyllwild on Tuesday, Meservey said.

Midway through their trip, "the unprepared hikers encountered heavy snow and ice where they became disoriented and unknowingly left the trail, thus becoming lost,'' Meservey said.

The hikers managed to contact a family member by cell phone, and the family member summoned help, Meservey said.

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[ Berry-Bell and Hall Mortuary ] Cabazon Station went to the tramway's lower station around 12:50 p.m. Monday, Meservey said. The Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit was mobilized, as well as a Riverside County Sheriff's helicopter crew.

After an extensive air search, Frank, Conniff and Tam were found in a remote area of Mount San Jacinto, at the 10,300-foot level, Meservey said.

With the assistance of the rescue unit, all three hikers were hoisted off the mountain and flown to the lower tram station, where they were met by family members.

Mount San Jacinto, Southern California's second-highest mountain after San Gorgonio, tops out at more than 10,800 feet above sea level.

Meservey said hikers must be properly prepared for any high-elevation excursion because of severe winter conditions at this time of year. Anyone venturing into the high country should take alpine gear and be prepared for overnight temperatures to dip below the freezing point.

Conditions on the Southland region's highest mountain tops have been considered treacherous because of ice and frozen snow since heavy snows above 7,000 feet more than two weeks ago.