Missing Clovis man wandered wilderness for a night, broke into cabin for shelter

The 24-year-old Clovis man who went missing in the wilderness near Shaver Lake last week spent a night sleeping in the wilderness and survived by breaking into a cabin and building a fire.

Cody King was discovered Sunday morning in a remote cabin near Dinkey Creek, four days after he was reported missing.

King and his girlfriend on Wednesday afternoon had gotten their car stuck in the snow on Ross Crossing Road. After an hour of trying to dig the car out of the snow, King walked toward the main road to get help, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.

He didn’t return to the car.

His girlfriend the next morning was able to hike out, got a ride to Shaver Lake and called for help.

The Fresno County’s Sheriff’s Office deployed dozens of deputies and volunteers to the area, where they searched on foot and horseback used off-road vehicles and a helicopter. Eventually, the California Office of Emergency Services, and the Tulare and Tuolumne county sheriff’s offices were called in to assist.

Searchers found shoe tracks, which showed paths King had likely traveled. A search dog alerted rescuers to the cabin where they found King. He told rescuers he became lost soon after leaving his car and spend the first night sleeping outdoors before breaking into the cabin for shelter.

King was taken to the command post on Dinkey Creek Road and was reunited with his family.

The sheriff’s office used the rescue to remind the public of some quick tips should one become lost in the wilderness. In a news release, the office said you should:

▪ Leave markers (including sticks) to spell out words or draw arrows in the direction you are located.

▪ Circle your shoe tracks and tie objects or clothing to trees.

▪ Get to an open area and stay there so you can keep an eye out for search teams or flag down aircraft that may pass by (by flashing shiny objects or a mirror, for example)

▪ Yell or whistle. Loud noises carry long distances in the mountains and make for excellent signals to attract rescuers to your location.

This story was originally published February 24, 2020 at 3:19 PM.