Yosemite National Park (CA)
Lost Backpacker Found After Multi-Day Search
On Saturday, September 4th, a group of backpackers from southern California began a backpacking trip in the Tuolumne Meadows area. The group’s plan was to hike for three days and come out of the backcountry on Tuesday, September 7th. All members of the group were experienced backpackers. Mike Arends, a member of the group, decided to stay in the backcountry for another night because he wanted to take a day hike to Grand Mountain. He planned to finish his trip on Wednesday. When Arends did not rejoin the rest of the group on the 8th, his fellow hikers contacted park dispatch. A hasty search was initiated that afternoon, but Yosemite rangers were unable to locate Arends. On Thursday, the park launched a more extensive search, concentrating on the area in which Arends intended to hike. During this time, Arends realized that he had lost the trail and began hiking towards what he believed to be a ridge near Halfmoon Meadow. After 11 hours of hiking, Arends hiked further into the backcountry towards the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne along the Cathedral Creek Drainage, an extremely rugged area of the park. Arends realized he was lost and began self-survival procedures by rationing his food and water supply. After observing a helicopter over the area he was in, he realized that rangers were searching for him. He placed a green tarp on the ground with large white rocks spelling out “SOS”. He also lit a fire to alert rangers of his location. During midday on Saturday, September 11th, rangers spotted the “SOS” message from the helicopter. It landed and picked up Arends and flew him to Tuolumne Meadows. He was found to be unhurt and in good shape.