HIKING: BE PREPARED FOR BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS CAN GO THROUGH DRASTIC CHANGES WITHIN HOURS.

Byline: Keith Lair Staff Writer

The weather on a recent Saturday was perfect and it had Dave Smail worried.

``It was a gorgeous day,'' said Smail, who is one of the directors of the L.A. County Sheriff's San Dimas Mountain Search and Rescue Squad. ``It was definitely a day to be concerned about. People see it as a gorgeous day and decide to go hiking. They're not expecting bad weather.''

Well, the weather forecast - sunny days with overnight clouds and early morning rain Sunday - held true. But what if the weather changed? It's not an unlikely scenario; forecasts can change in a matter of hours, especially in the Southern California mountains.

``A lot of people knew it was supposed to rain Sunday, but if a group went Saturday and the weather forecast changed in the afternoon, they wouldn't know about it,'' Smail said. ``It's a concern for us.

``On Sunday, it was raining and the temperature had dropped. Monday, it was even colder and the snow level was down to 3,500 feet. Things like this happen more often than not.''

A lot of those day-trippers, Smail and others say, might take just water and lunch. If the sun is shining and it's warm, they might even leave the jacket in the car. They might be anglers who hike up the West Fork of the San Gabriel River for early-morning fishing, armed with only fishing gear, a snack and jacket.

But what if the weather changes? The clothing gets wet, there's no protection and it gets cold in a hurry. The hiker is suddenly prone to hypothermia. Being exposed to the elements eventually causes illogical thinking, loss of body temperature and can lead to death.

``Our main concern is to get people out safely and the weather at this time of the year is a concern,'' Smail said.

The team was successful in helping rescue four hikers in the Angeles National Forest above Glendora on Tuesday. They had camping gear and were prepared for the inclement weather, though. They were found when rescuers say they spotted flashlight signals. Among the 10 items recommended by Smail, and other groups, for hikers is a flashlight.

Smail points out that food is not on the list.

``Water is,'' he said. ``You can go several days without food. It's not an essential. But water is.''

Another essential, especially at this time of the year, is protective clothing.

``Even a trash bag,'' Smail said.

With a hole cut on top for the head, trash bags are ideal for protecting hikers from rain and wind.

WHAT TO BRING

The San Dimas Mountain Search and Rescue Squad recommends hikers take:

--Water

--First-aid kit

--Whistle

--Reflective mirror

--Map and compass

--Flashlight with extra batteries and bulb

--Knife

--Sunglasses

--Suntan lotion 

--Matches

--Extra clothing

CAPTION(S):

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Box: What to bring (see text)