Hiking (Rescue) 4:50:00 [3] 8.8 mi (32:57 / mi)
Lost hiker....
In bed at 2200 Friday night, tossed and turned until 2300, called out at 2350-ish *sigh* No one on the tram side available so: "In the absence of orders, attack"
Made the call to activate RMRU - not available until 0600. I checked the trailheads on the Idyllwild side in case he made it out; totally possible if you make a wrong turn where I think he did. No dice. Laid down at about 0300 and back up at 0415. Meh.
At the tram by 0600 for the 0615 employee car up and here comes the "A" team, Carl and Craig (former spec ops cold weather instructor and retired CHP, respectively); didn't get a call, just showed up early because that's how they roll. I LOVE IT.
Teams head out by 0700, Bill and I take a team back to IDY, Royce and I start up Devil's Slide by 1000. Hiker missing since 2030 at that point.
Call comes in about 1230 that mom got gps coordinates from the victim over text. Helo enroute, ground search called off. Dude is way over by Caramba Overlook and headed DOWN the canyon bushwhacking.
19 years old - young, dumb and full of....