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Rescue crews have resumed their search Tuesday for a pair of hikers who went missing in the Mt. Baldy area over the weekend.
Officials began the day with 21 search and rescue members, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department stated in a news release. Sixteen crew members were airlifted to the top of the mountain so they wouldn’t need to spend hours hiking through areas that have already been searched, the news release stated.
During search efforts over the last two days, crews found a beanie, instructions for cramp-ons and a trekking pole, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Investigators said they did not know if any of these items belong to missing hikers Eric Desplinter and Gabrielle Wallace.
Desplinter, 33, and Wallace, 31, were last seen by their friends at about 10 a.m. Saturday. Desplinter and Wallace told their friends they were going to hike to Cucamonga Peak on their own and would be back about 7 p.m. When the two were still not back by 8 p.m., their friends called for help and a search began. “We’ve had helicopters going up and down the mountain … We also have multiple search and rescue teams out there,” San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Rene Garcia said on Monday. Desplinter and Wallace were believed to have only a small amount of food and water with them. Desplinter, of Chino Hills, is an experienced hiker and was last seen wearing a yellow jacket and green pants. Wallace, from Rancho Cucamonga, was wearing a gray sweater and jeans. Multiple calls to their cell phones have gone unanswered, the Sheriff’s Department previously stated. Anyone who may have seen Desplinter or Wallace since they left for their hike can call authorities at 909-387-8313.Some photos from our Search & Rescue operation that continues in Mt. Baldy. Multiple agencies are assisting West Valley Search & Rescue & the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. If anyone has seen Eric or Gabrielle please contact Dispatch immediately at (909)387-8313. pic.twitter.com/Svc4uGA9IB
— West Valley SAR (@WestValleySAR) April 10, 2019