Search team rescues lost hiker at Montaña de Oro
Hiker was cold and disoriented but declined medical attention
– A San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue team located a lost hiker after a coordinated search in the Valencia Peak area of Montaña de Oro State Park on July 17, according to a press release.
The search and rescue team responded that evening to a request from California State Parks to help locate a hiker who became lost while hiking alone. The hiker, who was visiting family from outside the United States, had gone on a solo hike earlier that afternoon. He later contacted a family member to report that he was lost and that his cellphone battery was nearly depleted.
Search and rescue volunteers, sheriff’s deputies, and the Sheriff’s Office Unmanned Aerial Systems Team launched a coordinated air and ground search of the area’s trail system. Authorities located the hiker about one hour after search operations began.
The hiker was cold and disoriented but otherwise uninjured. Search crews escorted him safely back to the trailhead, where he reunited with his family. He declined medical attention.
The Sheriff’s Office reminded hikers to take several precautions before heading onto the trails. Authorities recommend letting someone know where you are going and when you expect to return, carrying a fully charged cellphone and a portable battery pack, bringing plenty of water and appropriate clothing, and avoiding hiking alone whenever possible.
