SANTA BARBARA A missing hiker was found alive Tuesday near a remote area known as Fish Camp, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.
Wesley Welch, 46, and his dog, Davie, left home Friday to hike the Sisquoc Canyon area of the Los Padres National Forest and San Rafael Wilderness over the weekend. He failed to return home Sunday evening as expected.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team responded, spending the next two days combing through the area with ATVs, with assistance from sheriff’s deputies and helicopters. Several other California law enforcement agencies assisted in the search, including the Los Angeles County sheriff’s office.
Mr. Welch was located by a search team at 11:20 a.m. Tuesday. Mr. Welch was taken to Cottage Hospital by helicopter “with signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion.” Davie was in good health and left the area with the search team, according to the news release.
Sheriff’s officials said “excessive heat” might have contributed to Mr. Welch’s difficulties. He hiked 38 out of the planned 40 miles.
Hiking safety tips can be found on the Santa Barbara Search and Rescue web page atwww.sbsar.net
