One hiker found alive, actor Julian Sands still missing on Mt. Baldy

While one missing hiker was found alive on Mt. Baldy, sheriff’s officials continue to seek actor Julian Sands, who went missing on the icy mountain on Jan. 13.

Meanwhile, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials are also discussing the closure of mountain trails due to extreme weather conditions.

Sheriff’s Search and Rescue members on Tuesday located missing hiker Jin Chung, 75, of Los Angeles, who was reported missing on Sunday.

When found, Chung suffered some weather-related injuries and a leg injury during his nearly 2-day ordeal.

He could walk out of the area with the assistance of crew members and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

His condition is unknown and more information is not available, sheriff’s officials said.

Chung goes missing

Chung was last seen at around 6 a.m. on Sunday. He initially carpooled to Mt. Baldy with two others but separated from them when they arrived.

The group planned to meet back at the vehicle at 2 p.m. However, as the other hikers regrouped, Chung did not return and has not been seen or heard from since then.

Ground crews searched for Chung on Sunday night. A ground search was conducted on Monday. A high wind warning was that day, which prohibited the use of helicopters.

The ground search for Chung allowed sheriff’s officials a secondary search of some of the areas previously searched to locate the 65-year-old Sands.

Julian Sands

On Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Department said no evidence of Sands’ current location has been discovered. The search for Sands will continue, weather and ground conditions permitting.

Sands, who lives in North Hollywood, was first reported missing by his wife, writer Eugenia Citkowitz after he embarked on a hike in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Sheriff’s officials on Jan. 20 reported that cell phone pings from Jan. 14 and 15 were delayed and showed Sands’ movement on Jan. 13.

Evidence of avalanches was spotted on the west side of the slopes earlier in the week, delaying ground search and rescue efforts.

Detectives worked with California Office of Emergency Services officials with other cell phone forensic technology to pinpoint an exact location. No workable leads have been developed, authorities said.

Dangerous conditions

Sheriff’s officials on Tuesday continued to warn hikers to avoid hazardous mountainous areas, such as Mt. Baldy, especially during this time when trails are icy, and avalanches are a potential threat.

Search and Rescue teams are composed of highly trained citizen volunteers who take on personal risk to help rescue lost and injured hikers.

Many hikers, experienced or novice, underestimate the steep terrain, unpredictable weather, and high winds that present themselves in our mountain areas, sheriff’s officials said.

These circumstances and conditions put the hiker, SAR volunteers, and sheriff’s personnel at risk during these dangerous search and rescue missions.

Mt. Baldy mortality rate, rescue costs 

Exposure to the elements and falls contribute to Mt. Baldy’s growing mortality rate. Additionally, the risk of avalanches prolongs rescue efforts, sheriff's officials said.

From 2017-2022, SAR teams conducted 233 missions, searched for 27,277 hours, and came across eight fatalities on the mountain.

The SAR missions equated to an estimated $775,578, as determined by the Office of Emergency Services.

During the same time, sworn personnel and aviation support totaled 2,548 hours in service and $1.4 million in cost for Mt. Baldy rescue missions.

Although sworn personnel and civilian SAR volunteers search tirelessly, the area of Mt. Baldy lies within the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture, United States Forest Service.

Search and Rescue volunteer death

The Sheriff’s Department is committed to assisting with these search missions due to USFS staffing, resources, and funding deficits.

Due to extreme weather conditions, the closure of national parks and forestry is common in similar California terrains.

Following 2019 in-the-line-of-duty death of SAR member Tim Staples, former Sheriff John McMahon met with representatives from congress in Washington D.C. and collaborative departments to implement temporary closures of remote and dangerous areas during severe weather conditions.

A Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team member, the 32-year-old Staples, died in Dec. 2019 while searching for missing hiker Sree Mokkapati on Mt.Baldy.

During the search, Staples was separated from his partner and found unresponsive after an air search.

"He was an extremely dedicated volunteer, loved the opportunity to participate in search and rescue, and really loved what he did," said Sgt. Jeff Allison with the Sheriff's Department.

Staples was a teacher at Damien High School in La Verne.

Closing mountain trails

Sheriff Shannon Dicus said he supports the closure of trails as necessary due to extreme weather conditions.

The sheriff’s current focus is on working with legislators to secure additional funding for the USFS, to implement a permit process for hikers visiting local mountains and rangers on the trails.

Additionally, to enforce permits, educate hikers, and ensure they have proper equipment and training.

With public safety a priority, Sheriff Dicus will continue working with department counterparts at USFS and Federal Legislators to find solutions for managing the vast wilderness.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: One hiker found alive, actor Julian Sands still missing on Mt. Baldy