Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Lockwood Valley Deputies worked with the Sheriff’s Aviation Unit and Fillmore Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Sunday evening to locate a missing hiker in the Los Padres National Forest.

A friend of one of the missing hikers contacted the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Lockwood Valley substation and reported Adam Ramsey was lost while hiking in the area of Mt. Pinos. Ramsey had hiked to the Mt. Pinos lookout with a group of friends. On the return trip Ramsey became separated from the group and became disoriented. As night fell, he attempted to find his way back to the trail but was unsuccessful. Ramsey made the right choice and found a clearing in which to signal aerial search crews. Ramsey’s friends returned to the trailhead parking lot and notified the Sheriff’s Office.

Ramsey was unfamiliar with the area and was not prepared to spend the night in the forest. Two deputies from the Lockwood Valley substation, the Sheriff’s Aviation unit and members of the Fillmore Search and Rescue team responded. The Sheriff’s Aviation unit conducted an aerial search and was able to quickly locate Ramsey because of his efforts to signal the helicopter. The Fillmore Search and Rescue team had responded and established a command post in the parking lot of the Mt. Pinos Nordic Base. A sheriff’s helicopter coordinated the rescue effort with ground units and completed the operation just before dark as temperatures fell.

The Lockwood Valley substation, Sheriff’s Aviation Unit and the Fillmore Search and Rescue team would like to commend Ramsey for getting to an area that would make him more visible to the helicopter and his efforts to signal the helicopter once it was on scene. Ramsey’s actions helped rescue crews locate him quickly. Otherwise, the situation could have resulted in a difficult and extended search and rescue effort.

Prepared by: Deputy Robert Steele
Approved by: Captain James Fryhoff