SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — Search teams rescued a Southern California man who was reported missing after failing to return from a 40-mile (64-kilometer) hike in Los Padres National Forest.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office says 46-year-old Wesley Welch of Santa Barbara was located Tuesday in the remote Fish Camp area and flown to a hospital, showing signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion.
His dog, Davie, was in good condition and was able to walk out with the searchers.
Welch began hiking Sisquoc Canyon Friday morning and was due back Sunday evening. He had given his family a route plane and he signed trail registers along the way, allowing searchers to narrow their focus.
The Sheriff’s Office says Welch had covered 38 miles (61 kilometers) and may have been affected by excessive heat.