ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST – Following an extensive search, rescuers Sunday found a hypothermic hiker who spent more than 24 hours stranded in the Angeles National Forest north of Azusa, including a night in sub-freezing temperatures, authorities said.
Manny Kim, 28, of Arcadia became separated from two friends shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday during what was supposed to be a day hike in the Bear Creek Trail area of the forest, about a mile west of San Gabriel Canyon Road and just north of the West Fork National Recreation trail, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.
After about 26 hours alone in the forest, rescuers found Kim about four miles west of where he was first reported missing, near mile marker 5 of the West Fork trail, Deputy Matt Bodell said.
“He’s hypothermic and we’re going to transport (him) to a local hospital,” Bodell said.
The hiker was conscious and speaking with rescuers, the deputy said. “Everything looks good, we’re just trying to get him to the hospital ASAP.”
Further details regarding Kim’s ordeal in the forest were not available.
Wearing only a light jacket and not carrying and water or light source, Kim was unprepared for the frigid overnight temperatures, which dropped into the 20s during the coldest night of what the National Weather Service described as the coldest Southern California January in six years, officials said.
While hiking with two others, “They became separated and they have not seen him since,” Lt. Andy Berg of the sheriff’s San Dimas Station said as the search was ongoing.
Officials hunted for the missing hiker both on the ground with the aid of a search dog and from the air via helicopters.
Between 30 and 40 personnel including sheriff’s deputies, San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team members, Montrose Search and Rescue Team members and U.S. Forest Service officials took part in the search in the rugged terrain Sunday afternoon.
“We’re lining up people again tomorrow, if we need them,” Capt. Don Slawson said prior to Kim’s rescue.