Missing Hiker Found, Condition Unknown

[Hikin_Jim]

http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_314152620.html

[Jim Bakos]

Jim and the List:

The last two paragraphs of the CBS2 story are patently false (except about billing the county of residence). We DO NOT make subjects pay for rescues. We do this FOR FREE!

We, RMRU, were the lead on this rescue, we found him, and we transported him.

I ran communications for base for the entire search; we had 55 searchers and four helicopters on this mission (see the website. www.rmru.org). I talked with a lot of Sheriff personnel Friday and today, I didn’t run into any “Jerry Franchville” at basecamp (lower Tram parking lots).

This kind of talk about “charging for rescues” worries all of us in the SAR community. We’ve had instances of folks HIDING from searchers out of fear of getting billed for the search.

As you can imagine, that only drives UP the cost of a search, and puts the subject at even greater risk. I will say this loud and proud: Riverside county Sheriff’s / Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit does NOT charge subjects for rescues.

We’re activally working to get CBS2 to add a retraction, or pull the story altogether.

--Jim

[Hikin_Jim]

Hi, Jim,

Thanks for the update and for your service to humanity and the hiking/climbin community via RMRU.

As both a hiker and former military officer, I've seen no end of gross journalistic errors. The time that the press (doesn't) take to get it right is apalling.

Of course, now that San Jacinto is only 8400' high and has a tram all the way to the top, it'll make it much easier for me to get to the top.