Copter Crew Spots Her : Mother of Five Lost in Mountains Found Safe

A Garden Grove mother of five who lost her way over the weekend while hiking in a rugged area of the Angeles National Forest with her husband was found Monday when the crew of a search helicopter spotted her waving, authorities said.

Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Becker said Angelina Hoffman, 58, was discovered east of California 39 highway in the Angeles National Forest. A paramedic was lowered from the helicopter and Hoffman was transported to Methodist Hospital of Southern California in Arcadia after her condition had been checked.

Authorities did not immediately know if she had been injured.

Hoffman had been missing since 12:30 p.m. Saturday when she became separated from her husband, Harold, at the 6,650-foot level of Islip Saddle Trail off California 2 above Crystal Lake. Harold Hoffman told deputies he searched in vain for his wife for three hours after he turned around and saw she was no longer behind him.

There was no immediate report Monday on how she became separated from her husband.

Family Aided in Search

More than two dozen members of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s search and rescue team--aided by a helicopter--scoured the steep mountain terrain Saturday and Sunday, suspending their search only when night fell.

Rescue teams, including family members, resumed the search at daybreak Monday. Authorities said it was about 3:30 p.m. when the helicopter crew noticed Hoffman waving at the aircraft.

In Garden Grove, family members were relieved to hear that Hoffman had been found and the grueling wait was over.

“I feel great now,” said an emotional Victor Hoffman, the woman’s 23-year-old son. “I still can’t believe it. It’s been hell.”

Victor Hoffman said his mother was a novice hiker who went hiking with his father every three or four months.

Couldn’t Believe It

“I couldn’t believe when I heard she was missing,” he said in a telephone interview. “I kept thinking they would find her right away.”

Angelina Hoffman was wearing pants and a lightweight jacket and was carrying a day pack when she disappeared. Temperatures were in the 30s under overcast skies at the 6,600-foot level on the trail Saturday night. High winds of up to 50 m.p.h. were also reported over the weekend.

“She’s just a homebody,” Victor Hoffman said. “She gets cooped up in the house and likes to get out, but nothing ever happened like this before. It’s really hard to talk about it. She’s a great woman. I’m just glad she’s all right.”