The search for a 73-year-old father who went out for a hike in Kern County and didn’t return was suspended for the night Wednesday due to deteriorating conditions, officials said.
Gab Song’s family in Torrance is asking for anyone who was at the popular hiking spot called the Mount Pinos Nordic Base Camp who may have seen their father on Tuesday to please come forward.
This is not only his first time hiking that trail, but he was also met with severe weather on Tuesday.
“It’s quite unfortunate that a snowstorm happened on that day, so random,” said his son Mike Song.
The father of three and avid hiker was up before sunrise.
“He loves the outdoors.”
He headed from his home in Torrance to Mount Pinos with plans to be home before dark.
“My mom told me he was not,” his son said. “He didn’t bring a lot of gear.”
A sudden snowstorm struck, and he hasn’t been heard from since. Searchers arrived to find up to 8 inches of snow on the ground.
Gab Song’s car was located on Cuddy Valley Road. It was locked.
Kern County search and rescue teams and units from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, plus two helicopters and multiple snow rescue vehicles will be back searching first thing Thursday morning.
Juggling calls of concern, Mike Song, a founder of the Kinjas, an award-winning dance troupe featured on NBC and MTV, said he was leaving from Torrance to be there as well.
He hopes to bring his father home safely.
“We can laugh about a crazy, random snowstorm that caught him by surprise and how he weathered it through.”
Source: NBC Los Angeles
Be First to Comment