The rescued UCLA students pose with some of their rescuers. (credit: LA County Sheriff's Dept.)

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Authorities said eight members of a UCLA hiking club had to be rescued Sunday morning after getting stranded in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Teams were activated to look for the eight students who had become lost and started to experience hypothermia in the snow.

The search took place near Throop Peak at an 8,200 foot elevation. The conditions were snowy and icy, with some drifts causing the rescuers to plunge thigh-deep into the snow drifts.

Five members of the hiking group were able to navigate their way out of the forest, while the remaining eight were lost.

Officials said various rescue teams (from San Dimas, Crescenta Valley, and Palmdale Sheriff’s Stations) aided in the search.

The hikers were located at 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning, by the Montrose Search and Rescue Team from Crescenta Valley Station.

Due to treacherous conditions, it took more than six hours to rescue the students.

To prevent the students from falling, the rescue team placed harnesses and ropes around them to safely lower them down icy slopes.

Authorities described the students as being “elated” to see their rescuers. None of the students required medical attention, and were all taken to their vehicles.