Many hiker rescues over the weekend

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The weather might feel fine in the city, but just up the East Mountains, hikers were met with snow. Some got stuck and had to be rescued by helicopter.

A g roup of five teens got stuck, hiking in the foothills, Sunday evening , near Candelaria and Tramway.

One of the teens, a 14 year-old boy, broke his leg and had to be rescued by a National Guard Black Hawk helicopter. He was transported to UNM Hospital.

A Search and Rescue team helped the other four teens get down the mountain by 1:30 Monday morning. New Mexico Search and Rescue say they used a 911 call the teens made to find them.

Earlier Sunday, two women who were hiking off the Ellis Trail near the Sandia Crest got stuck in the snow.

They were rescued by Search and Rescue teams on the ground.

The same Black Hawk helicopter that saved the boy in the foothills later flew to Grants early Monday morning to save a 23 year-old man also who broke his leg while hiking.

He was suffering from hypothermia and was taken to UNM  Hospital.

"It's amazing, the number of cases that we actually staff throughout the year for search and rescue, because of the people's willingness to go out and enjoy the outdoors. And sometimes bad things happen to good people," said Lieutenant Colonel Jamison Herrera of the New Mexico National Guard.

Ltc. Herrera advises anyone who's planning to go hiking, to be very aware of the weather conditions in that area.

There are several items outdoor experts recommend you bring along on hikes: food, water, a map of the area you are in, as well as compass.