Father and Daughter Lost on Father's Day

June 19th, 2005
Seven Pines Trail
2005-020

by Grace Manues

"We have voice contact." What a thrill to hear a response after five hours of calling and whistling for a missing father and his 5-year-old daughter. It was the first time Jim and I located a missing subject.

Nick and Jacqueline went hiking with several friends the day before. After carrying Jacqueline up much of Seven Pines Trail, the party separated at the PCT Junction. Nick was to return to his vehicle via the same route while his friends continued to San Jacinto Peak. However, upon their return at 1930, his friends found Nick's truck still parked at the trailhead.

Responding RMRU members included Jim Fairchild (ops leader), Lee Arnson (a one-man hasty team given his proximity to the area and the urgency of a missing 5-yr-old), Kirk Cloyd, Jim & Grace Manues, Bill Delo, and Rick Maschek. Two Riverside dog teams also responded.

The team searched the trail and nearby drainage areas from the wee hours of the morning until 0700 when Jim and I located the pair east of the San Jacinto River.

Upon nightfall, Nick had hunkered down with Jacqueline, building a fire to keep them warm. Little Jacqueline was a little dirty and a little cold, but otherwise no worse for the wear from her big adventure. Dad did a good job of keeping her calm (hope he had as much luck with Jacqueline's mother...).