Rescuers Find Missing Hiker, 16

A 16-year-old hiker reported missing Saturday in the Angeles National Forest was found Sunday morning by rescuers, who sent the uninjured boy home with his family.

Peter Knickerbocker of Torrance had no serious injuries, said Los Angeles County sheriff’s authorities, who had worried that he might have suffered from cold conditions in the forest.

“We were concerned about the exposure on him physically,” said Lt. Daniel Castillo of the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station. “But as [one rescuer] said, he was as strong as a bull and came through well.”

Knickerbocker was reported missing about 2:40 p.m. Saturday by his three hiking companions, who said he lagged behind them as they trekked from a campsite about three miles south of Pyramid Lake to a nearby creek, Castillo said.

About 65 rescuers from the Los Angeles County and Ventura County sheriffs’ departments began their search about 3 p.m. and stopped when it became too dark, said Castillo. Some rescuers stayed in the forest overnight and started their search again at first light.

About 8:15 a.m., a sheriff’s helicopter crew saw the boy walking about two miles southwest of Pyramid Lake. He was moving away from the rescuers’ command post, Castillo said.

The helicopter retrieved Knickerbocker. He was checked by paramedics and treated for a minor cut on his foot from sliding down a hillside, said Castillo. He was then released to his family.