Overdue Hiker Desert
July 25, 2024
Rancho Mirage
2024-028
Written by: David Bever
At approximately 2050 hours, RMRU received a request from RSO to assist with a search for a missing hiker near the Ritz Carlton in Rancho Mirage. Three RMRU team members along with two DSAR team members responded to the search. The Command Post was established at City Hall just below the Ritz Carlton. The subject was an avid hiker and knew the trails in the area well.
Two search teams were deployed with one searching the roadrunner trail, known to be his typi-cal hiking path, and the second to where his cell phone pinged. After an hour of searching, the DSAR team searching the roadrunner hiking trail discovered the subject deceased about 50 yards from the Ritz Carlton overflow parking lot.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ronald Smith’s family and friends.
RMRU members involved: (David Bever, Geoffrey Marshall, Solan Watts, and Eric Holden (remote as call captain))
Other agencies involved: (Riverside County Desert Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, Riverside Aviation Rescue 9, and STAR 9, and RSO Palm Desert)