Found Deceased CA - Thomas Castiglia, adult, hiker, separated from group, Lakeside, San Diego County, 26 Jan 2019

[GuyfromCanada]

Thomas Castiglia separated from his group and never returned to the meeting spot. Video at link.

Rescuers Searching for Missing Hiker in Lakeside

 

[Eleanor Rigby]

With all the publicity on how risky it is to separate, even for a short time, or to hike alone, I don't understand why people keep deciding to do both. No matter what you believe the causes of disappearances are, it is well documented that they occur on a regular basis to all kinds of people, regardless of age, sex, race, experience or fitness level. For some inexplicable reason, far too many people believe they can take all kinds of risks but remain unscathed as long as they have a cell phone in their pocket. I really hope he is found alive, but based on similar cases, odds are not in his favor. MOO.

 

[Darling136]

Body found

Body found after hiker goes missing at El Cajon Mountain

 

[Steelslady]

Anyone else's hinky meter flying besides mine?

 

[Concernedmamaof3]

I don’t get how that road would be correct if this is hiking related. Where was he hiking? The road they found him on doesn’t look like it’s near a hiking trail and there are a lot in that area.

 

[Maxcasey36]

Looks like they found his body

Body of missing hiker found at El Cajon Mountain

Edit: oops sorry just saw it was already posted

 

[GraceG]

The following google map shows the mountain (red marker) If you look due south of there, there is a road that runs into the park, then parallels the reservoir. That is the road he was found. It's a ways from the mountain but still within the park system. Google Maps

 

[Steelslady]

The following google map shows the mountain (red marker) If you look due south of there, there is a road that runs into the park, then parallels the reservoir. That is the road he was found. It's a ways from the mountain but still within the park system. Google Maps

So technically, he was a bit aways off from his group, as in an opposite direction?

I wonder if he was trying to get to the parking lot? Maybe he had a heart attack or something, but I find it odd he was a bit aways from where his group was.

 

[Concernedmamaof3]

ETA- just relooked and there is another El Monte Rd, like Grace said that is by the reservoir, not the one I had seen. Whoops!

 

[Steelslady]

Could El Monte Rd not correct? I don't think it is El Cajon Mountain (16+ miles away from El Monte Rd) like the one article's title says, but Mission Gorge Climbing, which has a Lunch Rock hiking spot (5.5 miles away from El Monte Rd) that is mentioned in one article.

For those not familiar with this area, Mission Gorge Climbing is really close to a lot of very popular hiking trails- Cowles Mountain and Big Rock trails are both super popular and almost always busy no matter what day/time of week. To get from there to El Monte Rd, you would need to be walking along some very busy roads for miles. Possible yes, but why would he do this? MOO

thank you for this- I kept looking at where he was found versus where the allegedly started hiking and thought, wow, he went way off track there. Not knowing the area, nor am I good at map reading, I asked you folks in case I was reading it wrong. Now my hinky meter is really going off.

 

[Concernedmamaof3]

Missing hiker found dead on East County mountain

BBM

"Sheriff’s deputies searching the area throughout the night with the help of a helicopter, and eventually locate a body matching Castiglia’s description near the base of a sheer cliff, another news release said."

 

[Concernedmamaof3]

thank you for this- I kept looking at where he was found versus where the allegedly started hiking and thought, wow, he went way off track there. Not knowing the area, nor am I good at map reading, I asked you folks in case I was reading it wrong. Now my hinky meter is really going off.

I was wrong. I haven't lived there in too long and was basing off memory and of Google. Looks like Lunch Rock IS on El Cajon Mountain, though I saw one article saying it was within Mission Gorge Climbing, near Cowles. I am all turned around.

 

[GraceG]

This article has more specific info as to the trail they were hiking. Also, it said he stayed back from the group after experiencing shortness of breath. His body was found at the base of a cliff. They have not ruled out a medical event or other causes of death. Missing Scripps Ranch Hiker Found Dead on El Cajon Mountain

 

[ShellyinTX]

Anyone obtain the cause of death or have information as to what occurred?