LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, California – The San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team ran into American television host and comedian Jay Leno while conducting a search for a missing 78-year-old hiker near Mt. Waterman in La Cañada Flintridge, California. According to a Facebook post from the team, the missing man was found dehydrated, but otherwise in good health.
The 78-year-old hiker, Mr. Ki Soo Yang, was apparently well prepared, very fit, and quite experienced. He was hiking to summit Mt. Waterman with a group on August 17. When his party returned to the parking lot, they realized Yang was nowhere to be found. After reporting the missing man around 3:00pm on Saturday, Montrose, Sierra Madre, and Altadena SAR teams began a search.
“For nearly 12 hours they hiked – practically everywhere – and found nothing. Meanwhile, they called in an assist, asking the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team to be ready at the trailhead early Sunday morning.” – San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team
After completing their first assignment on Sunday morning, the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team was flown to Newcomb’s Ranch, where they ran into Jay Leno as he was about to go for a drive. Leno had not seen the missing man, but the rescue team snapped a quick photo with him and let him go on his way.
Mr. Yang was discovered after about 8 hours of searching with help from local hikers. While he was apparently in good health, he did appear rather dehydrated and was airlifted out of the Angeles National Forest. He had been missing, alone in the woods for around 30 hours.