Overdue Hunter near Big Meadows in the Quartz Valley Area Self-Rescued

Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) team conducted a search for an overdue hunter near Big Meadow in the Quartz Valley area.

The hunter, a local man, was dropped off above Big Meadow by a friend with the intent to rendezvous at a lower point approximately 45 minutes later. When the hunter failed to return 3 hours after the predetermined time, his friend called 9-1-1. Concerningly, as the hike was only supposed to last 45 minutes, the missing man was not prepared for overnight stay in the woods, and had left his jacket and other essential items in the friend’s vehicle.

The SAR team thoroughly searched the point last seen, and could not locate any sign of the hunter on the planned route down to the meeting point. Fortunately, later in the afternoon Sunday, the SAR team was informed that the man had made it back home after spending Saturday night near the Shackleford drainage. According to the hunter, he had gotten lost while attempting to find the rendezvous point, but knew the general direction home. Thus, he changed course, and took the longer route back to his house.