Mother and son rescued in California forest after leaving handwritten notes

July 17, 2025

A 49-year-old mother and her nine-year-old son were rescued from California's Sierra Nevada forest after being stranded for over 24 hours when their GPS failed in a remote area. The Calaveras County Volunteer Search and Rescue Team discovered them on July 12 by following a trail of handwritten notes the mother had left tucked under rocks along a road. The rescue effort involved air assets and specialized off-road vehicles, with the search team already being in the area for monthly training when the call about the missing pair came in.

Who is affected

A 49-year-old mother (identified as Tami) and her nine-year-old son (Stirling)
The family members waiting for their return
Campers in the area who reported seeing the vehicle

What action is being taken

The Calaveras County Volunteer Search and Rescue Team is conducting search operations
Rescuers are deploying "air assets" and "specially equipped" off-road vehicles
Search teams are following handwritten notes left by the mother to locate the pair
Vehicle recovery equipment is being used to free the stranded car

Why it matters

The mother and son were stranded in the wilderness for more than 24 hours
They faced potential dangers from wild animals and had limited resources
The incident demonstrates the effectiveness of leaving physical traces (notes) when lost without cell service
The situation highlights the risks of relying solely on GPS navigation in remote areas
The rescue showcases the value of volunteer search and rescue teams being ready to respond

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC