(FOX40.COM) — Two Northern California hikers who were reported missing on Thursday after being hours overdue from their planned return were found by local law enforcement.
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Just before 9 p.m. on Thursday, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office received a report that two men who had gone hiking were several hours overdue for their planned return. Dispatchers and deputies worked together to gather information from the family. According to PCSO, the hikers’ vehicle was located in a parking area near Royal Gorge.
PCSO said it did an aerial search until around midnight, but could not find the hikers. At first light, the Search and Rescue team was deployed.
“Thanks to the detailed information provided by the family, and the coordination between dispatchers and deputies, teams were able to focus their efforts on a specific area,” PCSO said.
Around 9 a.m. on Friday, PCSO teams found the two men near Palisade Lake. They were very cold after spending the night outdoors, but were otherwise in good condition, according to PCSO.
“The hikers did several things right – most importantly, they shared their plans with family members and provided an expected return time,” PCSO said. “That information was crucial in allowing a swift response. In search and rescue operations, every minute matters.”
Veronica Catlin
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