It doesn’t often work out like this. Two hikers who were attempting to reach Cucamonga Peak, at 8,862 feet in the San Gabriel Mountains east of Los Angeles were found alive after almost five days out.
The tracks of Eric Desplinter and Gabrielle Wallace were found heading into Cucamonga Canyon, which is east of Mt. Baldy, alerting officials. A plane then reportedly spotted a campfire.
“This search was successful in part to the many Search & Rescue teams that volunteered their time to comb the mountain covering 30 square miles (19,000 acres),” wrote the San Bernardino Sheriffs Department in a release.
It sounds as though they were prepared for the ordeal after finding the face of the mountain they were on treacherous walking due to winter conditions, and similarly hazardous hiking once in the canyon. They apparently rationed their food and water.
Best possible outcome we’ve been hoping for! Thank you to all of the Search and Rescue volunteers, aviation units, and our assisting agency partners. Training, hard work, and perseverance paid of. https://t.co/9HeLXmYfAU
— Sgt. Jeff Allison (@SBCSDjallison) April 11, 2019
