Two hikers reported missing were found, one Saturday and the other early Sunday morning in the Lake Tahoe area by search and rescue teams from Douglas County and outside agencies.
On Saturday Sept. 8 at around 3:30 p.m. Douglas County Emergency Communications received a call from a reporting party stating their husband left 3 hours prior for a hike in the area of Skunk Harbor of the Lake Tahoe Basin. There was no communication with the missing person since the time of his departure.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team was activated and launched a search and rescue mission.
DCSO search and rescue had completed a mission earlier Saturday by assisting in locating another missing hiker in Lake Tahoe, who was found safe and healthy.
Saturday afternoon’s intensive search was conducted deploying all assets and services available. At around 10 p.m. Douglas County Search and Rescue suspended the search due to darkness and safety for the SAR personnel.
The search and rescue operation resumed Sunday morning at 5:45 a.m. with the assistance of Washoe County Sheriff’s Office RAVEN helicopter and United States Navy Search and Rescue Seahawk helicopter.
The missing subject was spotted at 7:45 a.m. from the air. The hiker was brought to a meeting point at State Route 28 and Highway 50 where he received medical attention for minor cuts and bruises and reunited with his family.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public when enjoying recreation in the back country to limit your activities to those that do not exceed any limitations one may have due to medical or physical conditions. In this case, the subject was prepared by carrying water and had knowledge of how to survive overnight in a mountain area, which absolutely contributed to this incident having a successful outcome.
