70-year-old hiking with family stops for photos and gets lost overnight, CA cops say

A 70-year-old hiker was found safe after spending more than 18 hours lost on a hiking trail, California deputies say.

The Crescent City man was hiking Fairy Falls Trail, “a popular 5.3-mile hike near Beale Air Force Base,” on Friday, April 19, with three family members, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in an April 22 news release.

The group stopped to take pictures at Beale Falls, and the man got separated, deputies said.

After family members searched the area and could not find him, they called 911 shortly after 2 p.m., deputies said.

The family told deputies the man was not equipped with food, water or a cellphone.

Deputies said they, along with other agencies, scoured the area for the man.

“Search teams also included K9s, e-bikes, UTVs, drones, and many ground searchers,” deputies said.

Sixty search and rescue personnel looked for the man into the night and early morning hours, according to deputies. Photo from Nevada County Sheriff's Office
Sixty search and rescue personnel looked for the man into the night and early morning hours, according to deputies. Photo from Nevada County Sheriff's Office

The following day, deputies found the man, who was not hurt, at 8:17 a.m., more than 18 hours after he was reported missing.

Crews medically assessed the man before he “was reunited with his family,” deputies said.

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