A hiker named Lukas McClish, 34, went missing in the mountains of Northern California for over a week. He disappeared on June 11 after going on a hike in Boulder Creek, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. Fortunately, he was found alive 10 days later in a remote canyon in Big Basin State Park when witnesses heard his cries for help.
McClish had left his home in Boulder Creek with minimal supplies, thinking he was going on a short three-hour hike before getting lost in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He mentioned to KGO-TV that he only had a pair of pants, hiking shoes, a hat, a flashlight, and a pair of folding scissors. He survived by drinking water from creeks and waterfalls out of his boot, eating wild berries, and sleeping on a bed of wet leaves.
Five days after McClish went missing, he was reported to the authorities when he failed to show up at a family gathering on Father’s Day. Despite his ordeal, he did not sustain any major injuries and was reunited with his family in the woods. Photos were shared by officials showing a tired McClish hugging his family members.
The sheriff’s office initiated a drone to pinpoint the exact location of McClish’s cries for help in Big Basin State Park. He was eventually spotted in the forest between Empire Grade and Big Basin Highway near Foreman Creek. Multiple agencies, including CAL Fire CZU, Boulder Creek Volunteer Fire Department, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and California State Parks, were involved in the rescue effort.
After being found, McClish expressed that he has had enough of the outdoors for a while, stating, “I did enough hiking for probably the whole rest of the year.” Despite the challenging experience, he was grateful to be reunited with his loved ones after being lost in the wilderness for 10 days.
The successful rescue of Lukas McClish serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared when venturing into the wilderness and the dedication of rescue teams in ensuring the safety of individuals in distress. It also highlights the resilience and survival instincts that can emerge when faced with extreme circumstances in nature.