Lukas McClish had been misplaced, wandering the Santa Cruz Mountains of California for 10 days earlier than he was rescued on June 20. When the 34-year-old hiker lastly got here out of the woods, he was shirtless, scruffy, and on the verge of malnutrition. He’d been surviving on berries and creek water, sleeping on moist beds of leaves, and screaming for assist as he looked for a approach out.
McClish had set out on June 11, anticipating the hike to take simply 3 hours. He informed native information station KSBW that he’d been on his technique to work. He was aware of the world and had hiked the path earlier than earlier than, so he didn’t inform anybody the place he was headed. When he set out, he had nothing greater than his boots, pants, a folding multitool, and a flashlight.
On June 16, when he didn’t present up for a Father’s Day dinner, his dad and mom reported him lacking, and the search formally started. By then, McClish stated he had been craving a burrito bowl for five days.
He stated, “I began to type of notice that I could be in over my head.”
Misplaced within the Mountains: Surviving Off Berries, Boot Water
The realm the place McClish was misplaced is on the north finish of the San Lorenzo Valley. The panorama is dominated by thick pine forests, winding networks of human and recreation trails, canyons, creeks, and waterfalls. Lately, it’s been ravaged by a number of wildfires. ABC7 Los Angeles reported that McClish stated landmarks he knew of had been worn out, making it laborious for him to navigate.
Finally, he deviated considerably from his path and have become misplaced. He continued wandering as the times handed, prioritizing water and meals.
“So I type of simply hiked every day. I’m going up a canyon, down a canyon to the following waterfall, sit down by the waterfall, and drink water out of my boot,” McClish stated. He drank a few gallon of water a day and ate wild berries wherever he may discover them.
At one level, McClish informed reporters {that a} mountain lion had stalked him for some time. However he stated that the lion made no strikes to hurt him, and he by no means felt threatened by it.
“It was cool,” he informed KSBW. “It saved its distance. I believe it was simply any person watching over me.”
McClish’s dad and mom stated they hiked so much searching for their son. Each night time after they’d declared him lacking, Diane McClish stated she’d fall asleep worrying for her son.
“Some nights, I simply needed to belief God that he was going to be OK,” she informed KSBW. “And that was laborious to do some nights after we would go to mattress at night time. As a result of I might fear about the place he was, the place he was sleeping and the way chilly he was, and the place he was if he was alive.”
Hiker Rescued After 10 Days: A ‘Humbling’ Expertise
On Thursday, June 20, witnesses reported somebody screaming for assist. First responders from Boulder Creek Fireplace Division put drones as much as search the world. They noticed McClish, and its Ok-9 unit tracked him down, main rescuers straight to the stranded hiker. His voice was hoarse, and he was sore. However he got here out of the mountains unhurt.
“It was simply actually humbling and I don’t know, it was an superior expertise,” McClish informed ABC7.
Native regulation enforcement officers, Boulder Creek Volunteer Fireplace Division, the sheriff’s workplace, state parks, and CAL FIRE all contributed to the search efforts. The McClish household expressed gratitude to all of them, and Lukas’ dad and mom are completely happy to have their son residence.
Though, all three of them stated they’d had their fill of climbing for the 12 months.
“We’ve all hiked so much,” his mother informed ABC7.
