Local volunteers help search for missing hiker

Seven members of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue Team recently assisted in a successful search for a hiker lost for four days in the rugged national forest area in El Dorado County, California.

The hiker, 26 year-old Matthew Kinney, of Pollock Pines, Calif., was dropped off at Loon Lake on June 4, and was scheduled to hike out to Horsetail Falls, near Mount Tallac, by June 6.

When Kinney did not arrive at the scheduled destination, friends and relatives became concerned and notified law enforcement of Kinney's overdue status.

Members of the El Dorado County Search and Rescue Team deployed and searched the backcountry area where Kinney would likely have been hiking.

On Monday, the El Dorado County Search and Rescue Team requested outside agency teams assist in the search.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue Team, along with SAR teams from Sacramento County, Placer County and Amador County, responded.

Authorities said Kinney was located on Tuesday in the backcountry of El Dorado National Forest, several miles away from his intended destination point.

Although exhausted, Kinney appeared in good health. Kinney explained that he became disoriented on the second day of his trek after losing his compass, according to reports.

Officers said Kinney was extremely thankful to all the SAR team members who assisted in the search.