Heinous Hike

A panicked father was reunited with his son after the young man became lost approximately one mile from the eastern end of Palo Verde Lake in Alpine, according to a press release by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

On February 19 at around 6:00 p.m., Royal Magnus called sheriff's deputies to report that Zane Magnus, 19, had left home at 10:00 a.m. to kayak and possibly do some hiking. At 4:00 p.m., he called to say he'd be home in about an hour but failed to show. Calls to his cell phone went unanswered.

Deputies conducted a preliminary search but, due to weather in the low 40s, were unable to find Zane. A search-and-rescue team and a Coast Guard helicopter were then called to the scene. After a 15-minute search, the helicopter located him and airlifted him to Gillespie Field, where his father was waiting. Paramedics found the teenager disoriented and cold but in good condition.