Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) located an overdue hiker safe late Monday, January 5, after deploying a drone with an infrared camera over the 7 Falls area, the team reported.
Dispatchers activated SBCSAR at 9:00 p.m. after a man in his 20s who had set out for 7 Falls earlier in the afternoon failed to return home. His parents went to the trailhead, found his vehicle still parked, and called 911.
A drone team hiked to Bubb’s Peak to launch an infrared-equipped drone. From the peak, rescuers called out and made verbal contact with the hiker, who confirmed he was at 7 Falls and was instructed to stay put while teams moved in…