A California man who went missing for 10 days in the Santa Cruz mountains survived by drinking creek water and eating wild berries, according to local news reports. Lukas McClish, 34, from Boulder Creek, set out on what he expected to be a three-hour hike on 11 June but became disoriented after wildfires destroyed familiar landmarks.
McClish, who had not informed anyone of his plans, spent over a week navigating canyons, sleeping on wet leaves, and foraging for food. He told KSBW that he carried only a flashlight and folding scissors, as he had intended a short hike before work. Despite the ordeal, he said he never felt overly imperilled, crediting a sense of being watched over.
His family reported him missing after he failed to appear on Father's Day, 16 June. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office launched a search involving dozens of officers and first responders. McClish was eventually found on 20 June at the bottom of a remote canyon after rescuers heard his cries for help and used drones to locate him in dense woodland.
McClish recounted that a mountain lion followed him at one point but kept its distance. He craved a burrito and taco bowl for the first five days, and though he briefly thought he might be in over his head, he remained calm. Local fire chief Mark Bingham praised McClish's resourcefulness, noting his survival on creek water and berries was impressive.
McClish's mother, Diane, expressed gratitude to the community and first responders, saying she had to trust her son would be okay. McClish described the rescue as 'awesome' and 'humbling', and indicated he would take a break from hiking.
