Deputy Says Pacific Crest Hiker From Texas Considered Missing is Located

A 75-year-old Pacific Crest Trail hiker from Texas who was considered missing was located Sunday, a Riverside County sheriff's deputy said.

Before he was located, John Hurgner of Fredericksburg, Texas, was believed to be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in the San Bernardino Mountains near Mission Springs, headed north from Interstate 10, Sgt. R. Duckett of the sheriff's Cabazon Station said in a statement Sunday afternoon.

The Mission Springs PCT Trail Camp is about 3,000 feet elevation south of Highway 38 on the northeast edge of the San Gorgonio Wilderness.

When Hurgner failed to reach a pre-arranged checkpoint at a Motel 6 in San Bernardino, someone notified law enforcement. Hurgner was "reported missing since March 22," Duckett said.

At 7 a.m. Sunday, members of the Riverside County Sheriff's Emergency Response Team responded to the area of the in Whitewater Canyon to assist San Bernardino County sheriff's personnel with the search for Hurgner, Duckett said.

Volunteers with the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit, Desert Sheriff Search and Rescue, and a Riverside County Search Dog team searched a portion of Whitewater Canyon in Riverside County for signs of Hurgner, Duckett said.

By Sunday evening, Hurgner had been located, Riverside County sheriff's Deputy Alberto Martinez said in a phone interview. Further details were not available, Martinez said.