Missing hikers found unharmed

Uncle, nephew found by rescue team separated from family during outing.

By Janine Marnien
News-Press

January 3 2003

ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST -- A New Year's Day hike in the woods turned into 2 1/2 hours of searching after a 9-year-old Panorama City boy and his 22-year-old uncle wandered away from their family.

Members of the Montrose Search and Rescue Team found Jesus Becerril, 9, and Roberto Borga, 22, after the two became separated from their family on a trail near Mt. Wilson, Operations Leader John McKently said.

"If they had been up there much longer, they might have gone into hypothermia," he said. "It could have had a lot worse ending."

McKently and his crew found Borga and his nephew about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. The two had left arrows for searchers leading to their location, he said.

They were apparently looking for the trail when they were found, he added.

"They were about 100 yards from their cars in the other direction," he said. "They went two miles in the wrong direction."

Family members first reported the two missing about 6 p.m. New Year's Day after looking for Borga and Jesus with no results. The two were cold, wet and hungry when team members found them, but otherwise were unharmed, McKently said.