Responses

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1. 

   Jeff June 8, 2018

   What’s the story behind the lost hiker, @temo!? Were they hiking solo? Where were they headed, and where did the get lost? Were they okay?

2. 

   Tentcho Totev June 8, 2018

   I only stayed just to make sure the hiker was OK and back on the trail. And I didn’t get all the details.
   This happened just shortly after the start of the switchbacks before the Cucamonga Peak. He was way high up on the steep slops waving an emergency blanket trying the flag the helicopter. The aircraft was circling in the area for at least 2+ hours – all the time since I passed the Icehouse Saddle on my way up until I was making my way back from the peak on the switchbacks. I wouldn’t have seen him if not for another hiker I passed who told me where to look for the lost hiker.
   The helicopter pilot was not showing any indication he has seen him yet.
   At some point, on the circles, he was flying exactly towards me and I’ve started waving my arms and pointing up in the direction the hiker was. Either, the pilot saw me and where I was trying to get his attention to, or he finally saw the emergency blanket, after 2 more circles he started communicating with the hiker. This was the first time I heard the helicopter’s load speaker.
   After 10 – 15 more minutes the helicopter left and didn’t come back.
   A policemen was waiting at the trailhead. I asked him if he was there waiting for the lost hiker. He confirmed and didn’t ask for details. I assume he wanted to get firsthand info from the lost guy.