(UPDATE: 11:30 a.m.) – The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team has located a missing hiker near an area called Fish Camp in the Los Padres National Forest.
Officials say 46-year-old Wesley Wech is in an area that requires rescue teams to use a helicopter to hoist him out.
Wech reportedly left for a 40-mile hike in the Sisquoc Canyon area of the Los Padres National Forest early Friday morning. A family member says Wech was expected to return Sunday evening.
The condition of Wech is unknown at this time.
(UPDATE: 10:45 a.m. Tuesday) – The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team have narrowed down their search for a missing hiker near the Sisquoc Canyon.
Search and rescue team members say the 40-mile hike 46-year-old Wesley Wech began Friday morning has signing markers for hikers to sign on their way through the trail. Officials say the last signing mark Wech signed was 2/3 of the way into the hike.
Rescue teams have narrowed their search to that area in the Sisquoc Canyon area of the Los Padres National Forest and San Rafael Wilderness.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team responded to the area and found Welch’s vehicle at the Manzana Trailhead just after midnight Sunday.
Officials say Wech also went on the hike with his dog, a Jack Russel terrier. Neither have been located.
As of Tuesday morning, 40 people are searching for Wech, along with two helicopters.
The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team is looking for an overdue hiker that was reported Sunday night near the Sisquoc Canyon.
46-year-old Wesley Wech of Santa Barbara went for a 40-mile hike in the Sisquoc Canyon area of the Los Padres National Forest and San Rafael Wilderness early Friday morning. His family member was expecting him to return Sunday night, but they didn’t hear from him.
<figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-207399">46-year-old Wesley Wech of Santa Barbara went for a 40-mile hike in the Sisquoc Canyon area of the Los Padres National Forest and San Rafael Wilderness early Friday morning.The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team responded to the area and found Welch’s vehicle at the Manzana Trailhead just after midnight Sunday.
Teams started searching for the overdue hiker Monday at 5 a.m. Several patrol deputies, some ATV’s and a helicopter searched the route, but they haven’t been able to locate Welch.
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The search was suspended until dawn, but a request was made for a helicopter or plane, equipped with night vision, to conduct a search in the dark.
A request has also been made for 40 additional search members and additional helicopters to continuing searching Tuesday.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
