CA CA - Rick Raymond Eastep, 32, Canadian hiker, Lost Coast Trail, Humboldt County, 9 Jan 2019

[cybervampira]

Canadian hiker missing on California's Lost Coast Trail - 570 NEWS

California authorities are searching for a possibly injured Canadian hiker on the rugged Lost Coast Trail.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Rick Raymond Eastep of Ontario, Canada, was reported missing on Wednesday.

The person who made the report said Eastep sent a text message indicating he had been injured, possibly near the Miller Flat area.


Redwood News

 

[cybervampira]

https://humboldtgov.org/CivicAlerts/SingleAlertItem?alertID=2036

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a Canadian man reportedly injured while hiking the Lost Coast Trail.

On Jan. 9, 2019, at about 9:30 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the Lost Coast Trail for the report of a missing hiker with possible injuries. The hiker, identified as 32-year-old Rick Raymond Eastep of Ontario, Canada, sent a text to the reporting party indicating that he had been injured while hiking the trail, possibly near the Miller Flat area. The reporting party told dispatchers that though the text appeared to have been sent on Monday, Jan. 7, it was not received until late Wednesday.

Sheriff’s deputies, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Posse, Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue, Shelter Cove Fire, CAL FIRE, Bureau of Land Management and the Coast Guard are currently searching for Eastep. Search and rescue teams have conducted an extensive ground search of the area. A Coast Guard helicopter has also assisted in the search.

Anyone with information regarding Eastep’s whereabouts should contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251.

Humboldt County Sheriff's Office

 

[cybervampira]

Canadian Hiker Missing On Lost Coast Trail In Northern California

The Lost Coast Trail runs along coastal mountains that descend to the ocean along California’s far northern shoreline.

Much of the trail is on the beach and disappears at high tide.

Local, state and federal teams, including the Coast Guard, are conducting the search.

 

[watcher9]

Hope he is found soon.
When is high tide?
I found a link with plenty of pictures of the Lost Coast Trail.

Lost Coast Trail: Spanish Flat to Miller Flat - SoCal Hiker

 

[GraceG]

Hope he is found soon.
When is high tide?
I found a link with plenty of pictures of the Lost Coast Trail.

Lost Coast Trail: Spanish Flat to Miller Flat - SoCal Hiker

If I am reading this chart correctly it looks like high tide is a bit after 3 in the afternoon and again around 4-5ish in the morning. Tide Predictions - NOAA Tides & Currents

 

[cybervampira]

No Stone Being Left Unturned as Search Teams Look for Missing Hiker In Difficult Conditions

Since Wednesday night when authorities learned Canadian hiker, Rick Eastep, had texted for help, teams of experienced searchers have been scouring the area looking for the 33-year-old man who is still missing.

“[W]e have utilized a lot of specialized rescue equipment and specialized search and rescue personnel,” explained Cheryl Antony of Shelter Cove Fire this morning. “Some of the equipment has been helicopters with infrared capabilities, ocean rescue boat, and multiple ATVs. We have had search and rescue dogs available. We have been in contact with the national weather service for updates on tides and weather…We continue to use everything possible to locate this missing person.”

[...]



Yesterday, a dry bag containing his hiking permit was found farther north at Big Flat. Two members of Southern Humboldt County Technical Rescue and a Humboldt County deputy spent the night there and began searching again this morning.

This morning, Aurora and Shawn Studebaker, local business owners, and crew members of Southern Humboldt County Technical Rescue awoke at Big Flat where they spent the night after searching since the first day. They’ll be searching again today. A Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy is with them.



[...]

Totten, Incident Commander in unified command with Shelter Cove Fire and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department. She is also a member of Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue. “We have had high winds, tides, rain and darkness in some of the most rugged coastline in the state,” she pointed out this morning.

Sneaker waves are expected along the coast tomorrow.

 

[watcher9]

Good that they are finding things. Hopefully, they will find him before nightfall.

 

[Elainera]

The reporting party told dispatchers that though the text appeared to have been sent on Monday, Jan. 7, it was not received until late Wednesday.

That's very unfortunate! And I assume meanwhile his phone ran out of battery.

He's been out there for 6 days, I wonder what kind of injury he has. If he's not mobile shouldn't he be close to where the bag was found? I hope he has supplies with him and is hunkering down and will be found soon.

 

[GuyfromCanada]

Search suspended

It is the decision of the command staff of this incident, which includes the Sheriff’s Office, Shelter Cove Fire and Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue, to suspend the intensive search and rescue operations for Eastep as of 3:30 p.m. on January 12. The search area will be periodically patrolled over the next several weeks for any evidence that could lead us to the conclusion of what has been an exhaustive search and rescue operation on a very rugged coastline in very adverse conditions.

County of Humboldt

 

[Luckyzmom]

Prayers for Rick and the searchers. Sounds rough up there

 

[GraceG]

I know the searcher give it their all and that is some seriously rough coastline, especially in weather. They deserve our praise just as we pray for Rick and his family.

 

[GraceG]

That's very unfortunate! And I assume meanwhile his phone ran out of battery.

He's been out there for 6 days, I wonder what kind of injury he has. If he's not mobile shouldn't he be close to where the bag was found? I hope he has supplies with him and is hunkering down and will be found soon.

The bag was identified as his and washed up with the surf. Where he called from is a trail that is essential the beach backed up by steep rocky cliffs. There is no place to shelter. If the tide comes in and if you haven't hiked out, there's really no place to go. Search Suspended for Missing Canadian Hiker

 

[Elainera]

The bag was identified as his and washed up with the surf. Where he called from is a trail that is essential the beach backed up by steep rocky cliffs. There is no place to shelter. If the tide comes in and if you haven't hiked out, there's really no place to go. Search Suspended for Missing Canadian Hiker

 

[Luckyzmom]

What a crazy place for a hiking trail

 

[GraceG]

What a crazy place for a hiking trail

 

[StarEyes]

I hadn’t seen a photo of it. Omg. It just makes me want to burst into tears.

 

[zecats]

I hadn’t seen a photo of it. Omg. It just makes me want to burst into tears.

It's such a sad scenario. Guess since he was injured, he couldn't get out in time.

Check upthread post #4 for lots more photos of the trail. Sounds like a game of dodge ball in some areas.

 

[cybervampira]

California search and rescue to patrol trail where Waterloo hiker went missing | CBC News

California's search and rescue teams plan to patrol the Lost Coast Trail in search for any clues that may lead them to Waterloo hiker Rick Eastep.

[...]

 

[StarEyes]

It's such a sad scenario. Guess since he was injured, he couldn't get out in time.

Check upthread post #4 for lots more photos of the trail. Sounds like a game of dodge ball in some areas.

It’s very scary to think of him injured and the tide coming in. I hope he was able to get somewhere safe for the time being, and they find him today.

 

[zecats]

It’s very scary to think of him injured and the tide coming in. I hope he was able to get somewhere safe for the time being, and they find him today.

Oh good. I didn't know they were still searching. I read earlier that searches had been suspended. Hope is fading, but still hope for him to be found.