Missing Hiker near Lake Hemet Dam
January 17-18, 2026
Lake Hemet Dam, Mountain Center
2026-001
Written by: Alex Cochran and Richard Yocum
The callout came in at 9:40 pm on Saturday, initially for “three fishermen who fell off Lake Hemet Dam.” Like so many missions, the initial information was inaccurate and incomplete – it was actually 4 hikers who were reported lost and overdue on their day-hike up Bautista Canyon to join family members at a campsite at Lake Hemet. They found themselves off trail, in the dark, and exhausted, in need of food, water, and light sources. En route to the scene, we learned that RSO Rescue9 helicopter had hoisted 3 hikers and we wondered if the mission was concluded, but then learned that a 4th hiker had not been hoisted and that his father had left the family’s campsite on his own with flashlights and supplies to try to find the hikers.
The 4th hiker found his way back to Lake Hemet but now the missing father, last seen near Lake Hemet Dam, became the subject of our search. After resolving with the son references to the “first dam” and “second dam,” indicating the spillway vs. dam in reference to their direction of travel, we had a good idea of where to begin our search. This was corroborated by a Rescue9 report of a motionless light down a steep slope aside the dam.
As RMRU members began to arrive at the Lake Hemet Mountain Station, we requested additional resources, namely Cal Fire and Star9 with FLIR. FLIR was able to image a motionless human form further downslope from where the light was observed.
Alex and Vinay built an anchor on a sturdy fence at the top of the approximate fall line of the figure who had been seen using FLIR and light that was visible from the ground team at dam. Alex passed the light while being lowered, and when she had descended approximately 130 feet, she made visual contact with the subject who had landed from a fall directly below her. She was lowered further to a safe location, verified that the subject was deceased, and communicated that information to CP. It was assessed that a helicopter hoist extraction was not recommended due to the dense tree canopy and vegetation.
Alex was instructed to document the scene and wait for two more members to assist with extricating the subject. Solan and Matt were lowered with the litter and the three of them packaged the subject for a raise. Alex ascended her rope and assisted the rope teams up top who had built a twin tension rope system using a truck as an anchor.
The overhung terrain and dense debris on the steep angle slope made the 195-foot raise strenuous and challenging for all members of the team. The rope teams were able to raise the subject, Solan and Matt using a high redirect to assist in passing the litter over the fence on the way back up.
Three individuals from the coroner’s office met the team at the top of the raise and the subject was transferred into their care at approximately 6 am. The mission was successfully completed using solid teamwork, in spite of the considerable physical and emotional challenges it entailed. The team extends its sincere condolences to the family, who endured the tragic loss of their loved one on their family outing.
RMRU Members Involved: (David Altenburg, David Bever, Alex Cochran, Nathaniel Desforges, Matt Frenken, William Pendleton, Guillaume Plateau, Vinay Rao, Solan Watts, and Richard Yocum)
Other Agencies Involved: (RSO Aviation Rescue9 and Star9 FLIR, CalFire E53, and Patrol 29, RSO personnel, Medical Examiner’s Office)