Missing Hiker Found After 10-Minute Search in Sierra Alta National Park

Daniel Kerrigan
Oct 30, 2024
2 min read

October 30, 2024

By Daniel Kerrigan, Public Safety Correspondent

Sierra Alta, Arcandias – Horizon Healthcare Systems' (HHS) VitalGuard Response unit confirmed the safe recovery of a missing hiker, 32-year-old Caleb Marlow, who had been reported lost in the rugged terrains of Sierra Alta National Park. The search, which involved local VitalGuard Medivac team came to a successful conclusion early this morning when Marlow was found in good health near a remote mountain ridge.

The search for Marlow, began when he failed to return from a solo trek on the Cascadia Trail, a popular yet challenging route known for its steep cliffs and unpredictable weather. The alarm was raised by his family after Marlow missed multiple check-ins and his GPS device lost signal. Horizon Healthcare Systems, quickly mobilized its VitalGuard Medivac unit, usually just reserved for its premium members, provided aerial drones and thermal imaging technology to aid in the effort. The drones, capable of scanning vast areas of dense forest in minutes, proved instrumental in locating Marlow after just 10 Minutes of searching. “We are proud of the role we played in this successful rescue,” said Veronica De La Cruz, the Horizon Healthcare Systems spokesperson said. “We want to thank his family for changing his plan to premium so quickly... that made it easier to find him.”

VitalGuard Medivac unit searched the rugged Sierra Alta terrain for 15 minutes

before locating the missing hiker. (Photo by Horizon Healthcare Systems)

Upon being located, Marlow was evaluated by medical personnel on-site and found to be in surprisingly good condition, despite spending three nights in the wilderness. He was airlifted to Sierra Alta Medical Center for further observation, though early reports suggest he suffered only mild dehydration and fatigue.

“I can’t thank the rescue teams enough,” Marlow said in a brief statement. “The terrain was much more difficult than I anticipated, and after I got off-trail, I realized how quickly things could go wrong. I’m just grateful to be alive.”

The rescue has drawn attention to the increasing number of inexperienced hikers attempting challenging trails without proper preparation. Sierra Alta National Park officials have reported a 20% rise in search-and-rescue operations compared to last year.

Local residents and park regulars have expressed concerns about trail safety, urging park authorities and corporations involved in the park’s management to implement stricter regulations or offer additional safety resources to prevent future incidents. However, the park owned by Horizon Healthcare Systems, said it does not plan to introduce any further safety mesures