He’s Alive! Missing 63-Year-Old Hiker Reappears Not Far From Bigfoot Trail Where He Began

David Ura and his wife.

David Ura and his wife. [Photo provided by the family]

A 63-year-old missing hiker was found alive after being missing for half a month.

Two weeks ago yesterday, Ashley Ura and a family member arrived in the Hayfork area to resupply her father, 63-year-old David Ura, who was hiking the new Bigfoot Trail with Ashley’s dog Kingsley. He never arrived.

Since then Ashley and her family have been trying to locate him.  They’ve reached out via social media and news media to make sure that fellow hikers knew to look for him. A helicopter flew the area. And they worked with friends of David to coordinate searches.

Today, David Ura was found alive in Mendocino National Forest in Tehama County. [County]. Miles from his intended hiking area. We’ll update when we learn more.

Ashley posted on her Facebook page, “EVERYONE!!! MY FAMILY AND I FOUND MY DAD AND DOG!!! With everyone’s hope and prayers! We were able to find my dad!! Thank you so much to everyone that participated in spreading the word, donated, helped with the search to look for my dad!”

Kingsley and David Ura as they prepared to head out on the Bigfoot Trail.

Kingsley and David Ura as they prepared to head out on the Bigfoot Trail. [Photo provided by Ashley Ura]

Earlier Chapter: Family Asks Public’s Help After 63-Year-Old Hiker Disappears on New Bigfoot Trail

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

50 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Steve Sandeen
Guest
Steve Sandeen
5 years ago

That’s great news!

SourTangant
Guest
SourTangant
5 years ago

Omg that is amazing news!!!! So happy to hear a positive out come!! Thank you for updating us Kym!!

Capitalist pig
Guest
Capitalist pig
5 years ago

About to more details where was he found what took him so long

Alto
Guest
Alto
5 years ago

Great news, was looking this morning for any updates, bet he has a good story too.

I like stars too!
Guest
I like stars too!
5 years ago

Reputed to be great parties involving Seniors, who have MUCH more fun than everyone else, in that part of Mendocino County!

Hey, glad you made it out alive, many returns!

SoHum.born
Guest
SoHum.born
5 years ago

The town of Mendocino or somewhere in Mendocino county?

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago
Reply to  SoHum.born

Mendocino national forest.

Mark
Guest
Mark
5 years ago
Reply to  Ice

In Tehema County

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
5 years ago

SO Happy to hear some positive results, from a case such as this for a change!!! Congats on finding your Dad & your pup alive & well!!!

Rosie Glasses
Guest
Rosie Glasses
5 years ago

I’m glad David is OK and especially glad Kingsley-the-dog was fine.
I like humans well enough but have always had a soft spot for dogs!
Hope Kingsley finds something a little extra special in his dog bowl tonight.

Carol
Guest
Carol
5 years ago

It says on the trail’s website that the trail is a concept rather than a trail and is a series of existing trails and roads. One possibly might have walked by Hayfork ending up in Mendocino. I am glad that Mr. Ura and his canine companion Kingsley have been found and are safe. What an adventure!

Trevor Trehearne
Guest
Trevor Trehearne
5 years ago
Reply to  Carol

I was in the yolla bolly wilderness 2 weeks ago on a section of the trail he would of crossed. I will tell you with out my gps tracker I wouldn’t have found my way. Less than 10% of the trails are decent enough to follow without gps. The rest are over grown and washed out. Most likely he didn’t make it a 1/2 way through the wilderness and turned around. Once you get to north yolla bolly the “trail” becomes combination of forest service roads and is fairly easy to follow. I hope he gets a good gps and gives it another attempt.

Trevor
Guest
Trevor
5 years ago
Reply to  Carol

Walked passed hayfork to Mendo? He was going from mendo to hayfork.

Carol
Guest
Carol
5 years ago
Reply to  Trevor

Ha! I guess I need GPS for reading comprehension.

guest
Guest
guest
5 years ago

You can’t get from anywhere near Hayfork to Mendocino without crossing 36. Why wouldn’t the lost hiker ask a passerby “where in the fuck am I?”

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago
Reply to  guest

He started in the Yolly Billy Wilderness area in Mendocino National Forest way down near Covelo. I don’t think he even got close to Hwy 36. He probably got lost in the umarked trail portions or the fire scars from the last 5 years…

guest
Guest
guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Ice

Thank you. Now that I’ve looked at the map I can see he was coming north towards 36 through some wild country

other guest
Guest
other guest
5 years ago

Great news!

Sally
Guest
Sally
5 years ago

Not positive, but I think he was located in Mendocino National Forest in Tehama County, not in County or town of Mendocino.
Many happy hearts here in Hayfork that this family is reunited!

Janice
Guest
Janice
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Any chance of interviewing the guy? This would be a great series!

C. Goodqin
Guest
C. Goodqin
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

It’s the same for me and I live here. Lol

Lily
Guest
Lily
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

For the last 45 years I have always said Mendocino, meaning the town. Mendocino County or ‘Mendo’ when referring to the county. Clear to me!…

Michael Edward Kauffmann
Guest
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Please take down the link to our map set.

Hmmmmm!
Guest
Hmmmmm!
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Yeah, “Mendocino” means the county to me, too. Doesn’t the “Village of Mendocino” want to be called by that… pretentious-sounding “Village of Mendocino “ name, anyway? That was my impression.

Sam
Guest
Sam
5 years ago

It is the second coming. Hallelujah!

Poster formerly known as Matt
Guest
Poster formerly known as Matt
5 years ago

Yay!! Best news all day.

I bet he & Kingsley are very hungry.

I don’t know him but I am so very glad he was found

Eel River
Guest
Eel River
5 years ago

Great news! Missing for 2 weeks and didn’t get his supplies?? They must have been very hungry when they were found. After reading these comments I am reminded how risky it can be to take off on what are supposed to trails. I wonder who could have advised him of the condition of the trail?

Jeepr
Guest
Jeepr
5 years ago

Much joy for all! Happy, Happy, Happy outcome!!!

Just maybe
Guest
Just maybe
5 years ago

That’s wonderful and we would love to know the story, as a cautionary tale at least!

IcedCoffee
Guest
IcedCoffee
5 years ago

I was out backpacking in the Yolla Bolly’s a couple weeks ago… the trails are non exisistant at a certain point, lots of that area burned several years ago and now is covered in thick thorny brush, snags, etc. I was with an experienced guide from the area and we still lost the trail for a whole day. It’s really sad that the trails are not being maintained in this beautiful area. I am so glad this hiker was found safe and sound!!! Bet he was ready for a good meal 🙂

LTL
Guest
LTL
5 years ago

Glad to hear he is ok!!

What scary adventure he had … gonna be a good story.

Keahi
Guest
Keahi
5 years ago

Oh what wonderful news!!! We prayed hard, and kept hoping for the best, but there are so many things that could have gone wrong. Being that he is from Oregon, we wondered if he was even aware of the danger of running into a guerilla grow and becoming a victim of the cartel, aside from all the natural disasters and misadventures that are part of such a journey. So very
thankful for the happy outcome, and eager to hear his story. Thank you, Kym, for keeping us all up to date.

Tall Trees
Guest
Tall Trees
5 years ago

Amazing.

Craig
Guest
Craig
5 years ago

I personally think that this man will be a little more cautious and even more prepared on his next outing in the wilderness, and back in the day, it was almost a sin for having a rescue team come out and search for you, making one know where they were at all times.

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
5 years ago

Interview needed. How frickn cool!

Proud Deplorable Grandma
Guest
Proud Deplorable Grandma
5 years ago

So great to hear good news! I’m sure there was a wonderful reunion with all. Thanks for the update Kym!

Mary
Guest
Mary
5 years ago

Glad they found him! Interesting that he prepared for a year, and still got so turned around. Also interesting that his daughter just drove out there and there he was along the road…It isn’t very traveled up there however and the trails are very faint. Also, Out family was recently on that trailhead and had cell reception up there on the mountain… they reported he had his cell phone and that he hadn’t turned it on…I texted in and out when we were there. The final interesting comment on the report was that he had ran out of food 3 days ago and water a day ago. Backpackers don’t carry their water🤔they carry a filter, and a back-up if going that far off civilization’s path…we also caught and ate fresh trout up there so a lightweight fishing pole might have fed him and his dog for many more days…just my observations… so happy the family had a good outcome!!

Bozo
Guest
Bozo
5 years ago

>” I was with an experienced guide from the area and we still lost the trail for a whole day. It’s really sad that the trails are not being maintained in this beautiful area. ”

National Forests don’t have any ‘Rangers’ left. (Rangers worked and took care of the forests/trails etc).
Now everything NF is ‘Law Enforcement’ and ‘Fires’.

(Sighs)

Craig
Guest
Craig
5 years ago
Reply to  Bozo

Losing the trail is bad enough, but not knowing were you really are is far worse. Judging that you and your guide only lost the trail for one day, shows to me that one or both of you had enough experience and information to approximate your true current location.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Bozo

I used to belong to a group that went to clear and repair the trails each year that the various government entities could not. Work parties followed by party parties. I haven’t heard much about such remote activities in a few years.

Mark
Guest
Mark
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Could really be beneficial. I saw the CCC doing some work years ago but nothing since the fires

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago
Reply to  Bozo

Shasta Trinity and Mendocino NF’s both still have small trail crews, but the Calif Conservation Corps crews do more trail maintenance than anyone else due to budget cuts at the USFS. Even then they can barely make a dent in the huge backlog of trails out there..Remember when you vote to ” reduce the government ” the first people to go are trail crews, road maintenence crews, wildlife biologists, recreation techs, fisheries biologists, and Firefighters, not Bureau heads in DC..

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Ice

Maybe but that is a clue as to the priorities of government. It’s not like we are actually ever taxed less when that happens but that politicians have their priorities and it does not include much for rural peoples anyway. Never have so many been taxed so much to benefit so few.

Jane doe
Guest
Jane doe
5 years ago

Yes!! Best news ever! Am glad human and dog are alive and OK🐕😋

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
5 years ago
Reply to  Jane doe

I second that.

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
5 years ago

Beats poison oak leaves!

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

Good news indeed. I have been “lost’ (lost the trail anyway) a couple of times in my life but was lucky enough to pick it up again by heading in the direction I thought it would eventually reach. A panicky moment until a plan forms. Having a good dog with me was also a big help at least once- she reversed tracked like a trooper.

It is refreshing to hear about what come out right in the end.