Overview

• Dispatchers activated a multi-agency search Saturday afternoon after the mother and son were reported overdue during a trip from Sacramento to Camp Wolfeboro.
• Searchers discovered two handwritten notes posted at remote road intersections directing them to the pair’s location about a mile ahead.
• With cell service dead, crews used ham radio to relay their discovery of the stranded duo and their vehicle back to the command post.
• The boy’s three whistle bursts and the mother’s hazard lights at night served as international and visual distress signals.
• Pre-trip sharing of their itinerary helped narrow search parameters, enabling volunteers on a nearby training mission to locate and safely reunite the family without injuries.