Hiker who went missing in Kings Canyon has been found. He lost his tracker and the trail
A 76-year-old hiker who went missing in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks has been found in good health, officials said Monday.
Bill Roberts, a resident of Lake Tahoe, went into the Golden Trout Wilderness of the Inyo National Forest on Wednesday and was supposed to meet up with others on Saturday, parks officials said.
He did not show up for the rendezvous at Bullfrog Lane in Sequoia National Park, rangers said. He was found Monday.
Roberts accidentally deviated from his route and lost his tracking device at some point during the trip, rangers said.
He found his way back to the Lake South America Trail and ran into another hiker late Monday morning at an elevation of about 11,500 feet, officials said.
He used the other hiker’s tracking device to contact his family, and a park search team located him 10 minutes later, rangers said in a news release.
“This incident really underscores the fact that there is still a lot of snow in the high country, and it’s very easy to lose a trail in those conditions, especially with afternoon thunderstorms,” Incident Commander Dave Fox said in a news release. “Fortunately, this story had a positive outcome, but we urge everyone to be extra prepared and cautious in your trip planning and execution. The consequences of getting turned around can be deadly serious.”
This story was originally published August 14, 2023 at 1:36 PM.
