Calaveras County rescuers tracked down a lost mom and son in the forest thanks to the parent leaving notes explaining where they went.
According to a news release by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, the dispatch center received a call about two individuals on July 12 at around 1:20 PM. They were reportedly traveling in the area, but were overdue. Concerningly, they weren’t responding to cellphone calls either.
The release explains that a 49-year-old mother and her nine-year-old son headed to Camp Wolfeboro near Upper Highway 4 the day before, around 1:30 PM. Authorities deployed a search and rescue team to establish a timeline of what happened. The person who notified the sheriff’s office provided data from a location-sharing app they previously used with the missing mom. Rescuers used that information and knowledge of the terrain to sweep the area with 4WDs and Utility Vehicles. The release explains that the team knew they were in the correct location as a vehicle matching their description was spotted nearby.
Rescuers Found A Handwritten Note
The search and rescue team found a handwritten note on July 11 at 5:40 PM. It read, “Help. Me and my son are stranded with no service and can’t dial 911. We are ahead, up the road to the right. Please call 911 to get help for us. Thank you!”
The team found another note up the road, revealing phone numbers and identities. Rescuers eventually found the missing duo and their vehicle a mile away.
The Sheriff’s Office describes that the dense forest canopy makes it difficult to communicate via cellphone or conventional radio frequencies. Rescuers aren’t immune to this problem either, and relied on an “amateur radio frequency” to sound the alarm. A retired El Dorado County Communications Supervisor picked up the emergency signal at home and notified authorities.
Once the mom and son were safe, the Sheriff’s Office pieced together what happened. The mom was driving and was reportedly using her GPS. The device gave her a route consisting of regular and remote roads. By the time the GPS lost signal in the forest, the car was already deep in a secluded area, and the pair was hopelessly lost.
The mom and son aided rescuers by leaving the car lights on while the 9-year-old used a whistle to call for help periodically. The news release concludes that the most vital thing the mom did beforehand was notify someone where they were and when they expected to return.