Search and Rescue 

September 7, 2023 - Madera County Sheriff's Office officials report that over the weekend, a 40-year-old man and his three daughters from the Mariposa area left for an overnight camping hike to Spotted Lakes, located within Yosemite National Park boundaries. They didn’t return on the afternoon scheduled, so family members contacted the Madera County Sheriff’s Office to request the aid of Search and Rescue teams.

MCSO SAR Deputies immediately began coordinating crews of Type-1 Foot Searchers, OHV Teams, and an Overhead Team, as well as the United States Forest Service (USFS), and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Helicopter H-40. Additionally, the National Park Service was contacted and their helicopter (known as “Helo551”) and a Type-1 Foot Searcher Team was requested.

Following deployment of these resources, the family was located by a USFS Law Enforcement Officer. It was later discovered the hikers encountered inclement weather, causing a need to set up camp for an additional night. At daybreak, they packed up camp and continued their hike out of the backcountry. Thankfully, the family was in good health and high spirits.

Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue states, “We are grateful for the successful outcome of this mission, and happy the family was located safely. We would like to thank our partners with USFS, CHP, and NPS for their dedicated efforts to help ensure the safety of residents and visitors to Madera County.”

Source & photo: Madera County Sheriff's Office