Bootprints lead searchers to hiker and dog missing 2 days, California sheriff says

Bootprints led searchers to an experienced 60-year-old hiker and his dog missing for two days in the wilderness, California sheriff’s officials reported.

The man called his wife Saturday, July 19, to say that he’d become disoriented while on a day hike with his dog in the Caribou Wilderness, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

He then turned off his phone to conserve low battery power and planned to find his way back to his camp on Sunday, sheriff’s officials said.

Searchers were unable to find the man and his dog Saturday, deputies said. On Sunday, they found his deserted base camp and discovered boot- and paw prints, but it was too late in the day to keep searching effectively.

A helicopter found the missing pair about 2 miles from their base camp at about 10 a.m. Monday, deputies said.

The man did not require medical care but told rescuers he was tired, deputies say. He was escorted back to his base camp.

Lassen County is about a 235-mile drive northeast from Sacramento.

This story was originally published July 24, 2025 at 2:27 PM with the headline "Bootprints lead searchers to hiker and dog missing 2 days, California sheriff says."