Search And Rescue Finds Missing Man

Sonora, CA– After being lost for hours yesterday, a 22-year-old autistic man was rescued in the hills above Lyons Bald Mountain Road.

According to the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, Galen Alpers had left his residence at around 11:30 a.m. to go hiking. By 5:00 p.m. he called home on his cell phone to report that he was lost. A search and rescue operation was soon conducted by the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue.

Using a signal from Alpers’ cell phone, searchers were able to narrow his location to a 1.4 mile radius of East Bald Moutain. Working with AT&T, Search and Rescue Coordinator Rob Lyons, was able to obtain a latitude and longitude within 164 meters of Alper’s cell phone location at around 7:00 p.m.

By 8:30 p.m. the search was narrowed to 98 meters of Alpers. Efforts were hampered by extremely thick brush and steep terrain. Search and Rescue Team members had to break their way into the brush causing multiple lacerations from sharp Manzanita limbs.

Once close enough, searchers were able hear Alpers voice calling from inside a heavily brushed area and located him safely at around 10:15 p.m.

Written by tina.falco@mlode.com