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Hunter Found After 32-hour Search
September 1998
SAR volunteers were called into action early Monday morning, September 28, for a missing 57-year-old hunter in the Georgetown area.
The hunter, Wayne, had been last seen near his camp across the road from Stumpy Meadows Reservoir on Sunday morning at about 8:00 a.m. That was when he, his brother, and a friend split up and searched in different directions for deer. When Wayne did not return Sunday evening, his brother and friend mounted a brief search of their own, then called for help.
Volunteers started arriving at Black Oak campground about 1:00 a.m. on Monday morning. Initially, several 4WD units were sent to search roads and cabins in the area, but as daylight came, dogs, aircraft and other resources were put into action.
As the search went on Monday, teams found and reported a handful of clues, including paper towels, footprints, and other items. However, nothing proved to be definitive, since numerous hunters had crisscrossed the area. The nearby Cosumnes River Canyon — nearly 1700 feet deep — was steep and treacherous, and searchers were worried that Wayne had stumbled over the edge and gotten hurt, or that he was stranded, unable to climb the muddy, slippery sides.
The search attracted widespread media interest, and two or three broadcast big-rigs set up operations at the Command Post. Although the focus was, of course, on Wayne, El Dorado SAR received favorable coverage. Several volunteers were interviewed and news crews accompanied at least two teams into the field.
Because of the terrain, search efforts Monday night were limited to 4WD patrols and stationary attraction points using lights and noise, but at first light Tuesday, the search grew even larger with mutual aid reinforcements from nearby counties.
The break everyone was hoping for happened just before 9:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. Deputy Todd Crawford, aboard CHP helicopter H-20, spotted someone waving at the bottom of the Cosumnes River Canyon. It quickly turned out to be Wayne. He was cold and nearly immobilized by pain in his hip and leg, but was conscious and alert. H-20 flew him to Georgetown airport, and a medic unit drove him to Marshall Hospital for evaluation. He was released a few hours later.
Wayne had gotten lost Sunday afternoon and had stumbled into the canyon. On Monday, he saw the airplane and the helicopter from the canyon walls, but was unable to attract their attention through the trees. In an attempt to find a clearing, and knowing he needed water to survive, he climbed down to the bottom of the canyon. He became bruised and hurt as he fell several times on the steep sides, and after he hurt his hip he slid the rest of the way down on the seat of his pants. The bottom of the canyon was steep, rocky and overgrown, and once there, he was basically unable to travel. His only hope was to get spotted from the air. Fortunately, he was able to make himself seen.
Searchers spent 32 hours looking for Wayne, and were elated by his survival. Given the terrain where he was found, the outcome could have been much different. Appreciation and applause go to the SAR volunteers, Sheriff’s deputies, USFS personnel and CHP aircrews who worked to make this a successful search.
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