Found Safe CA - Gab Song, 73, hiking, Mount Pinos, Los Padres Natl Forest, 15 Feb 2022

[GuyfromCanada]

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Kern and Ventura county search and rescue teams are looking for a hiker from Southern California reported missing in the Mount Pinos area.

Family of Gab Song, 73, say he went hiking in the Mount Pinos area on Tuesday and never returned home. Search and rescue teams were searching the area he was last known to be at since Wednesday morning.

Song is described as an experienced hiker, but he went alone and wasn’t prepared for weather in the area on Tuesday, his family said. Kern County sheriff’s officials say search teams saw 6 to 8 inches of snow on the ground in the area during their search.

Song’s family says he is 5 feet, 9 inches tall, but didn’t bring needed medication with him on the hike.

The search for Song is ongoing.

If you’ve seen Song, you are asked to call the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at 661-861-3110.

Search and rescue teams look for missing hiker in Mt. Pinos area

 

[swanniee11]

His FB Gab Song

 

[ttcRider]

Song is described as an experienced hiker, but he went alone and wasn’t prepared for weather in the area on Tuesday, his family said. Kern County sheriff’s officials say search teams saw 6 to 8 inches of snow on the ground in the area during their search.

Song’s family says he is 5 feet, 9 inches tall, but didn’t bring needed medication with him on the hike.

What? Experienced hiker? Sounds like he threw caution to the wind that day. IMO

 

[GuyfromCanada]

Gab Song headed to the Mount Pinos Nordic Base Camp in Kern County on Tuesday and planned to be home before dark, his family told NBC Los Angeles. But he never returned.

“It’s quite unfortunate that a snowstorm happened on that day, so random,” his son Mike Song told the station. "He didn't bring a lot of gear."

73-year-old hiker missing after freak California snow storm

 

[GuyfromCanada]

Found safe.

Missing hiker Gab Song found safe in Lockwood Valley | KGET 17

 

[swanniee11]

Excellent News!!!!!! Mr Song, you impress me!!!! Glad you are ok!

 

[whitelilac]

Wow ! Well done Mr Song!

I have cross country skied up there in the past. Immense wilderness, and cold when it snows. I was afraid of hypothermia for this man.

 

[LadyL]

Found safe.

Missing hiker Gab Song found safe in Lockwood Valley | KGET 17

great news!

 

[LadyL]

he didn't seem to be wearing hiking type gear in the welcome home video

 

[Luckyzmom]

Yay!! He had an angel !!

 

[cvaldez1975]

Found safe.

Missing hiker Gab Song found safe in Lockwood Valley | KGET 17

haha i cant love this enough. he sounds like a character.

 

[GuyfromCanada]

He spent two nights alone in the wilderness, and thanks to his experienced hiking history, he was able to use that prior knowledge to survive.

Song’s daughter, Jerrie, told CBS reporters just how her father was able to make it so long, “He used a lighter at night so he could create a fire with some wood, and for flammable material he used his bandanna the first night and a sweat towel the second night.”

This was Song’s first time hiking on the Mount Pinos Trail, a challenge complicated by the fact that, “the entire trail was covered with snow, and there was fog too.” she continued. “So it was very hard for him to even see where the trail was.”

More at Missing Hiker Gab Song Now Recovering With Family By His Side

 

[whitelilac]

^ He was planning only an hour's long hike, but he took a lighter and a compass.
Those two things saved his life.