“This is David Sanguinetti (831-227-8950, sangox8@yahoo.com). I tried calling the Station, but can’t seem to get anybody to answer the telephone, only long information. We have been dealing with my lost son (found at Big Creek) and dog (still lost). Thank you for the information on Big Creek. On Friday, 5/17, Deputy Jesse Villasenor failed in locating our dog Bently.”
The map above was an estimate of the path taken before son found in Big Creek and may not be accurate. Tim Bills at Big Sur Stations says: “Based on your description, it sounds like Steven took the following route:
Kirk Creek Trail to Vicente Flat Camp (5 miles)
Stone Ridge Trail toward Gamboa Trail area (6.6 miles)
Ojito Camp Spur Trail (listed as difficult) (3/4 mile)
This is where he was likely off trail leading into the South Fork of Devil’s Canyon to Canoga Falls and downstream ultimately ending in the Big Creek tributaries and drainage.”
As I understand it, the dog was with the lost son, but they became separated somehow. Son found, dog not. The camp hosts at both Kirk Creek and Limekiln are aware and will keep an eye out, as is Rich at the Hermitage.
Just sent by fathe approx 1 pm Saturday:
”Dear Big Sur Kate,
Thank you for the postings. I did not realize they were up, as I have been searching for my Son and our dog Bently. I will try to briefly cover what transpired, so that the information is more detailed for visitors in the area:
-Saturday, 4/11, Steven and Bently hiked into the Los Padres National Forest on the Vincente Flat Trail, across from Kirk Creek Campground on Hwy 1
-Monday, 4/13, they got lost on the Ojito trail going into the closed Ojito Trail Camp, off of the Gamboa Trail, west of Cone Peak.
-They ended up on Devils Canyon Creek, and ultimately on Big Creek. They hiked for 2 days, reaching a point before the first upper falls, where he had to leave Bently because of exhaustion and paw pad injury.
-Steven left Bently on a south side slope of Big Creek, about a hundred yards up, below the base of a couple of trees, on a blue sleeping bag, next to a blue backpack, with what food and water he had left.
-Steven continued down the drainage and water falls, until he came out at the Big Creek Reserve residences at Hwy 1 on Thursday, 5/16
-The Monterey County Sheriff, Search and Rescue, and CHP Helicopter searched the drainage for 10 hours on Friday, 5/17, with no sighting of Bently or Steven’s camping gear. There is no further planned searching to be scheduled.
-We believe they searched farther down the drainage than where Steven actually left his gear and Bently, because the upper half of the drainage had too much tree cover to see from the helicopter to lower rescuers.
-Bently’s last location would not have allowed him to travel down the watershed because of the falls, and there were some formations that would have made it difficult for him to go back up the drainage. It is unknown if he could have continued up the side of the drainage to the south or north onto the drainage ridges.
-The picture of Bently, posted on Tuesday, 5/14, is very accurate. He weighs 55 lbs, is reddish in color, and does not have his collar and identification on. He has been chipped by his veterinarian.
-If found, please contact:
David Sanguinetti
Thank You for any help you an give.”
Hoping Bently is found and home safe soonest!
How is the search for the missing dog?
A last ditch effort with an experienced back country guide and a few experienced hikers and rock climbers takes place today, I hope. Hopefully the light rain will not hold it up.
Heard they had a rescue crew go into backcountry and found the abandoned gear but no sign of the dog.
Super sad story!!!
BSK, plenty of Big Sur stories in the Pine Cone this week 5/24 incl this one..
Yes. Yesterday. We can only hope he makes it out on his own. Has happened before.
bigsurkate
Better hire professional hikers to go back. With tracking dogs. Your son should have never left the dog. What a mess. I feel for you. But muster the troops and get out looking.