The search for a California backpacker who went missing in Sequoia National Park this weekend has come to a happy close.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks’ Facebook page posted an update late Monday afternoon confirming that Bill Roberts, 76, of Lake Tahoe was found safely after a weekend-long search effort.
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Roberts was reported missing Saturday, when he was supposed to meet up with family members at Bullfrog Lake after a three-day solo backpacking trip along the John Muir Trail, according to a statement by the National Park Service.
The 76-year-old’s family had dropped Roberts off Wednesday at the Cottonwood Pass trailhead, which goes to a portion of the Golden Trout Wilderness in central California’s Inyo National Forest, park service spokeswoman Rebecca Paterson said in a news release sent Sunday.
According to the latest information on Facebook, Roberts made it to a ridgeline of Caltech Peak, which is just over 13,800 feet in elevation, before losing the GPS tracker his family had been using to follow his progress. The mountain where the GPS last pinged is just about 9 miles south from Bullfrog Lake, Roberts’ meeting spot with his family, and about 30 miles northwest of where Roberts began his trip. The ridge is an optional short detour along the John Muir Trail.
Roberts deviated from his planned route three days ago, said the post, and eventually made it back to Lake South America trail, sans tracker. Luckily, he ran into another hiker late Monday morning at an elevation of about 11,500 feet and used their tracking device to contact his family.
Search crews were able to locate him about 10 minutes later. He was reportedly found in good health and is being reunited with his family.
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The search
Crews began their search for Roberts in the area where the GPS tracker last pinged and found some of his tracks on Sunday, said spokesperson Rebecca Paterson.
Roberts, who was on his first solo overnight backpacking trip, had intended to pass through areas that are still covered with snow and creeks that have unseasonably swift waters, she said.
Paterson did not immediately respond to a question about whether Roberts had mountaineering experience or gear.
Search effort hampered
The conditions in the area, paired with heavy rain and thunderstorms over the weekend, hampered search efforts both on the ground and in the air. Officials said that three ground teams, a drone crew and helicopters were deployed to help the search on Sunday and Monday.
Incident Commander Dave Fox said in the Facebook post that these conditions, especially the snow in the high country and thunderstorms, make it easy to lose a trail and end up lost.
“Fortunately, this story had a positive outcome, but we urge everyone to be extra prepared and cautious in your trip planning and execution. The consequences of getting turned around can be deadly serious,” he said.
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