Additional Coverage:
Quick Thinking Leads to Happy Reunion for Lost Mother and Son
A mother and her 9-year-old son are safe and sound after a harrowing night lost in the California wilderness. The pair, en route to Camp Wolfeboro in Calaveras County from Sacramento last Friday, found themselves stranded when their GPS signal vanished. Their vehicle became stuck on a remote dirt road amidst the dense forest, a region notorious for its challenging terrain and spotty cell service.
When the two didn’t arrive at camp, and calls to their cellphones went unanswered, family members reported them missing Saturday afternoon. A volunteer search and rescue team, already training in the area, sprang into action.
The team, using four-wheel drive vehicles and aided by California Highway Patrol aircraft, began combing the network of confusing, intertwined roads. Sightings of a vehicle matching the family’s description, reported by other campers, helped focus the search efforts.
The real breakthrough came when searchers discovered handwritten notes left by the resourceful mother. “HELP,” the notes pleaded, providing directions and urging rescuers to “follow the strips of brown sheet” torn from a paper bag. The mother and son even laid a trail of rocks, ensuring rescuers could follow their path even if the notes blew away.
Less than two hours later, the search team located the family and their vehicle about a mile from the second note. Lt.
Greg Stark, a spokesperson for the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, praised the mother’s ingenuity, noting that the notes significantly sped up the rescue. He also commended the family for staying with their vehicle, keeping its hazard lights on, and having the son periodically use a whistle to signal for help – all crucial decisions that contributed to their swift recovery.
The family was reunited at the command post, marking an emotional end to their ordeal. Sheriff’s officials lauded the mother and son’s preparedness and quick thinking, which ultimately led to their safe return.