A male hiker, who was last seen on Preston Peak after camping with friends at Raspberry Lake, was reported missing on Sunday, June 26th. Del Norte Search and Rescue was activated in the early morning hours on Monday, June 27th, and a search began.
With the top of Preston Peak at about 7000 feet in elevation, and the trailhead to the lake approximately 7 miles, a Del Norte Search and Rescue Coordinator, and an officer from the California Highway Patrol entered the wilderness to get more information about his possible location.
A California Highway Patrol helicopter from the air station in Redding flew over the area for about 1 hour and 30 minutes while the two searching officers stayed in communication from the ground, searching from Preston Peak down South Fork Indian Creek, Rattle Snake Meadows, Copper Mountain down Copper Creek, as well as Raspberry Lake down to Clear Creek to the Devils Punchbowl.
Several Search and Rescue members and Gasquet Fire members also hiked in and searched around the lake with no success. After searching all day, the hiker was not located and searchers returned back to town and prepared to resume the search in the morning as extra help from multiple agencies were activated and coordinated for the search to resume Tuesday morning.
As preparations for the next mornings search were underway, the Del Norte Search and Rescue Coordinator received a phone call from the hiker’s brother stating that the hiker had walked out on his own, made it to Hwy 199 where he hailed a motorist and got a ride to O’Brien Or. where he then called his brother for help.
It is estimated the hiker walked about 30 miles in the wilderness, over 5 valleys with no food, and other than being tired, the hiker was reported safe, in no need of medical attention and is expected to make a full recovery.
