Caught this on CNN. Not a lot of information out on this yet, but they have located one of the missing hikers. These two have been out in in the elements for four days now. It will be interesting to read about the details when they come available.

http://ktla.com/2013/04/04/search-underway-for-hikers-missing-in-trabuco-canyon/#axzz2PV3nmEWg

This is getting a lot of media attention. There was an extensive article in the LA Times this morning. One of the problems is the response of untrained volunteers who are flocking in to "help."

I am not at all familiar with Trabuco Canyon, but, in general, the southern California chaparral is unbelievably dense and difficult to penetrate, especially if it hasn't burned recently. You have to experience it to believe it.

Something just doesn't sound right about this story. You don't get lost for 4 days in that area unlesss you're trying to stay hidden.

Well, most of the ones who would hide out there are much better prepared to hunker down for multiple days. And would not have called 911 from their dying cell phone.

Based on the when they placed the 911 call (around 8:30 PM on Easter Sunday), they likely underestimated how soon they'd be back to their car when it got dark.
And they likely only had their phone, maybe a bottle of water and the clothes on their backs when set out, but we'll probably read more details in days ahead.

But they're not unusual: On our own little day hike down in Crystal Cove that same day, it was rare to encounter anyone with much more than a bottle of water (granted there are a lot of trail runners). As we pulled out from the parking lot in the early afternoon, a large (we assumed a church) group had just arrived to start their own hike.

Rescuers found both of them as of today, and they were both transported to area hospitals. News reports state they were separated. The guy was found without his shoes, extremely dehydrated and disoriented. He told a rescuer, when asked if he knew where he was, "Newport Beach". He was found about 1/2 mile from the parking lot. The woman has been found and airlifted out. Both were stuck in the dense chaparral when they were found.

Here's a topo map of the trail they were hiking along: http://www.mountainbikebill.com/images/Thumbnails/TrabucoHolyJim/HolyJimMap-LR.jpg

And a description of the colorfully named trail: http://www.greeneadventures.com/2011/02/07/holy-jim-falls-one-of-orange-countys-best-known-hikes/

Hmmm,rough country and prayer,injured deputy.And they were thinking it an easy 2.8 mile roundtrip.
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http://news.yahoo.com/2nd-lost-hiker-rescued-calif-forest-191748873.html

Cendoya was "extremely confused and disoriented," when he was found less than a mile from the pair's car..........

Rescuers had flown Cendoya to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, where Dr. Michael Ritter told reporters the teenager said he survived by taking shelter at night in heavy brush and passing his days by praying..........

"He's got a lot of faith in the Lord, which I think will help him to work his way through this," Ritter said.........

"He was in an area near where people were calling his name and he didn't even know it. It just shows the extent of his disorientation,"...........
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Kyndall Jack, 18, was weak and dehydrated but conscious and responsive when searchers plucked her from a rocky outcropping halfway up the wall in some of Southern California's most rugged backcountry.

A line was placed around her and she was hoisted into a helicopter.........

A reserve deputy aiding the effort suffered a head injury when he fell 60 feet down the canyon.......

Wow, glad to hear they made it out alive and relatively healthy. When I first read this post yesterday I thought it might end poorly.

Glad they were found. Sounds like typical SoCal hikers. Shorts, t-shirt, maybe a bottle of water. People just don't appreciate the harsh terrain, variable temp, and lack of water. 85F (29C) day and 55F (12C) night is normal.

Glad they found them both and they are going to be ok!

I hope and pray that the rescuer who took a 60 foot tumble will be OK as well. He is reported as being in intensive care for a head injury.

We all wish him a full and speedy recovery. In training our people we always stress that safety of the rescuers is the highest priority. We try to be as careful and safe as possible, but even so, bad things sometimes happen.

In Alaska, the SAR community is reeling from the loss of the Alaska State Trooper helicopter "Helo 1" (N911AA), which crashed last Saturday on a short rescue mission near Talkeetna. The pilot, a State Trooper who was flying as spotter, and a rescued snow machiner died. Most of us in the volunteer SAR community have flown missions with pilot Mel Nading. He was a wonderful guy and we will miss him greatly. I will be attending the memorial service tomorrow.

Please be careful out there.

Helicopters! - Can't live without them and sometimes you can't live with them. The only SAR related memorial service I have hadto attend was for two Arizona DPS crew whose chopper crashed as they were returning to base after their final flight. They had just dropped off some of our guys or it would have been a lot worse...

My condolences for your situation. I have never met a helo pilot I didn't like...

Weather-wise, this past week has been pretty mild, in fact fog hindered searching by helicopter in the area according to news reports.

But yes, it's very typical to see people out hiking with just the clothes on their back and maybe a bottle of water. If you're out there geared up in a backpack, you're generally in the minority.

From the LA Times:


(from: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0405-hikers-20130405,0,7897433.story )

Maybe we'll start seeing more folks out on the trails with their backpacks.

It's a bummer to hear that one of the rescuers got injured in all of this. I hope the deputy makes a good recovery.

From the Girl......

http://news.yahoo.com/calif-hiker-4-days-missing-felt-dream-234658888.html

It makes me wonder if drugs were involved. That's a pretty short time to be in such dire shape. I wonder if they were super dehydrated well before they began their hike? Guess they also don't know much about the rules of three! One of them said they didn't know if they'd survive the night since they were out of water. Dude, you don't die of dehydration in one day! At least, not in that climate.

Still, glad they made it through alive. Hopefully they'll know better next time.

BTW, I wonder if the "animal" they fought off was the dragon they'd been chasing?

Yes,wife feels the same way. Wouldnt be surprised if hospital did a drug screen,and wouldnt surprise if HIPPA keeps the answer hidden,think those with suspicions might be on to something.

Man that Deputy was injured bad,glad he is out of ICU.

Seems like a good jump-off point for a PSA: "They" say that most people are chronically dehydrated, even wihtout the strains of outdoor exercise.

-start hydrating BEFORE you head out the door
-don't wait until you are thirsty to drink
-don't be fooled into thinking that just because it's not hot and dry outside that hydration isn't important

I almost assumed that from the very beginning. A lot of things just didn't make sense. To get lost in that area for 4 days would take some really, really bad luck and multiple bad decisions. I wonder if we'll ever hear the real story.

It was drugs

I guess we know the real story now.

Can't say I'm shocked!

You might be able to die in one day out here during the summer. Assuming you went straight from a home to the desert early in the morning with no prep or gear.

I'm sure the meth didn't help them any!

This development is no surprise. Mind altering substances, usually booze, are significant factors in a lot of outdoors emergencies.

We once hauled out four young teenage glue sniffers, one of whom had perished (waded into a canyon pool and drowned), none of whom had the slightest idea of where they were or what was happening. Very sad.....