Missing mountain bikers hunkered down overnight before rescue

Four mountain bikers who went missing Sunday said they took a wrong turn off the trail and, after trying unsuccessfully to find their way out of the forest, hunkered down underneath wooden benches and around a fire.

The cyclists, who were missing for about a day, were found “lost but not injured” in the Bear Canyon area by a search helicopter Monday morning, said Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Angela Shepherd.

On Sunday, the four men set out for a trip from Mt. Wilson to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Windsor turnout.

“We just took a wrong turn and we were basically completely lost in the middle of nowhere,” Christopher McCarthy, one of the cyclists, told KABC-TV. “We’ve never mountain biked this trail before.”

The other riders were identified as Caesar Fierro, Paul Montero and Mauricio Busquet. Three of the four are cousins.

McCarthy said that when the group got to campgrounds at Bear Canyon, they decided to build a fire and spend the night. They overturned two wooden benches to help block the cold air and huddled around the flames.

The men were reported missing Sunday after they were hours late returning from their ride.

Authorities were particularly concerned because it did not appear as though the men, who ranged in age from 28 to 38, were well-equipped to handle the elements overnight in the forest, according to NBC Los Angeles.

Search-and-rescue crews worked overnight to find the men and helicopters were used for aerial patrols. After they were rescued, they were reunited with friends and family who had assembled near the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to await news.

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