19-Year-Old Hiker Rescued After Garmin SOS Activation in Bald Hills Area Near Orick
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On Jan. 3, 2026, at approximately 2:30 a.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received notification from the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) regarding a Garmin SOS Activation from a 19-year-old male hiker last known to be in the Bald Hills area near the Redwood Creek Trail in Orick.
Photo of HCSO SAR team
HCSO patrol deputies, the Sheriff’s Office Special Services Unit, California State Parks and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) team, including a search K-9 responded to the scene and conducted a coordinated ground search with the assistance of a drone. The hiker was located at 9:28 a.m. and exhibited signs consistent with Hypothermia.
Emergency medical responded to the scene and transported the hiker to a local hospital, where he was treated.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere gratitude to its volunteer SAR team. Their quick response, coordination, professionalism and dedication were instrumental in the successful outcome of this rescue.
HCSO also wants to thank our partner agencies for their response and support in this rescue operation, including California State Parks, Orick Volunteer Fire Department, Cal Fire, Cal OES and the Arcata Mad River Ambulance.
When a Garmin SOS is activated, the device transmits an emergency alert and GPS location via satellite to the Garmin International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC), which coordinates with local and state emergency agencies to initiate a response. The hiker’s possession and activation of this device was a critical component in aiding in his rescue.
If you are interested in joining the Sheriff’s Volunteer Search and Rescue Team, please visit HumboldtSAR.org
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You all are So Awesome!!! Thank you, thank you!
Important rule: always hike with someone. Redwood Creek is a fun walk.
Excellent comment farfromputin. Redwood Creek is a beautiful place to walk. I am just glad the 19-year-old man had a Garmin SOS unit. They are not too expensive and can save your life in an emergency. A wonderful picture of some of our HSCO SAR Team members.
Verizon says I can connect with SOS on my smartphone while in areas of limited coverage during an emergency. Redwood National and State Parks Headquarters confirms this. What are your thoughts, Martin?
I also have Version, but I was unaware that you can connect with SOS from your smartphone. Glad to hear the Redwood National and State Parks Headquarters confirm it. I think my smartphone is smarter than me! Thanks for the info.
If you have a Starlink Mini You can make satellite calls from any phone that can connect to wifi. Don’t leave home without it.
One trick that worked for me in the RNSP was to find the largest opening to the sky. This strategy also worked on the beach at Gold Bluffs and Osagon Rocks. Trees are the biggest impediment to calling. I found that just testing various areas for a connection as I hiked the trail was a good approach.
Finding a big opening will give you the best service possible. I like your idea of testing different spots along the trail to find the ones the work best.
The baseband of the phone must support the satellite message system and the phone must be aligned with an azimuth to the bird.
Did they not dress for the rainy and windy conditions?
Did they somehow get lost on that city-slicker-friendly trail?
Just curious. Of course, I’m grateful to our SAR folks for the work they do!
Friday, I don’t think the hiker was dressed for rain, wind or cold conditions considering he was Hypothermic when the SAR Team located him. Without his Garmin SOS unit he could have very well perished. Some folks that get outside only now and then I think have a poor understanding of what could happen to them in situations like this one.
“19-year-old male hiker.” There’s your answer. Says he was alone. First big mistake. Still at that immortal stage of life. I was there once and somehow survived. Inadequate everything but the SOS device.
This is the type of future technology we need.
She looks kinda old for 19?
I think you’re looking at a member of the rescue team.
It was a 19-year-old man they rescued.
Caption boldly states that the picture is the HCSO SAR team. No pic of the young hiker. Nobody reads anything anymore.
Hiker was a young male; it’s in the text.