Camp Connell, CA…On January 03, 2017 at about 0400hrs, Calaveras County Sheriff dispatch received a cellular 911 call from a person stating he had become lost while hiking in the snow. The conversation was brief, and subsequent attempts to call back were unsuccessful. The caller was later identified as Eric Vanwambeke of San Francisco, California. During the 911 call dispatchers learned that Vanwambeke had started hiking at noon on the previous day in a snowy area east of Camp Connell. Sheriff Dispatchers were also able to triangulate the caller’s approximate location using cell tower information. The location of Vanwambeke was believed to be approximately 3 miles north-west of Highway 4 on a forest road which was covered by snow.

Deputies were dispatched to the area and reported that they were unable to drive on the forest road due to deep snow. The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team was dispatched to the area with specialized equipment, and accessed the area utilizing snowmobiles.

At approximately 0915hrs, a search and rescue team consisting of one Calaveras County Deputy Sheriff and one volunteer member of Search and Rescue located Vanwambeke near the location where the 911 call was believed to have been made. Once located, Vanwambeke was assessed for injuries and found to be in good health.

Vanwambeke reported that he had parked his vehicle on a logging road the previous day at approximately noon and had become disoriented while hiking in the snow. He had adequate clothing for the snow conditions as well as food and water. Vanwambeke did not have a compass or GPS and had lost a flint for fire-starting in the snow. Vanwambeke sheltered underneath trees throughout the night and walked when he became cold, while staying on what he believed to be ATV trails or roads. Additionally Vanwambeke stated his cell phone stopped working shortly after he made the call to 911.

Vanwambeke was safely returned to his vehicle by a Calaveras County Deputy Sheriff.

The Search effort consisted of four Calaveras County Deputy Sheriffs, two Alpine County Deputy Sheriffs, and ten volunteer members of the Calaveras County Search and Rescue team.

From Left- Search and Rescue member Steve Shields, Found hiker Eric Vanwambeke, and Deputy Sheriff Kyle Johnson.