Lost hiker, 73, found after surviving alone for a week in California mountains
LA CRESCENTA — A 73-year-old hiker survived a week on his own in the San Gabriel Mountains after getting separated from his companions and becoming the subject of a rescue effort that drew dozens of volunteers from all over California.
A helicopter crew found Eugene Jo, 73, in a canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains and hoisted him to safety, Sgt. Greg Taylor with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.
The crew flew him to a hospital to be examined.
The Montrose Search and Rescue team tweeted that Jo was "walking and speaking" despite not having had eaten in at least five days. He survived by drinking water from a creek. Temperatures have been mild in the mountains.
Jo was hiking with a group to the 8,000-foot summit of Mount Waterman on June 22 when he became separated from them in Angeles National Forest.
Taylor said more than 70 people were searching for him in the mountains Saturday.
Over the course of the week Jo was lost, the search effort included helicopters, scent dogs and ground crews from San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura and Riverside counties.
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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Lost hiker, 73, found after surviving alone for a week in California mountains
