Tragedy: Two Hunters Lost in Hermit Valley Area

  UPDATE:  10 AM October 24, 2012  The two hunters have been located. A press release from the Alpine County Sheriff's Office in Bear Valley indicates that on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 about 3 PM search and rescue personnel
located Devin Andrew Smith, 40 of Douglas Flat, who was suffering from severe hypothermia and was transported by air ambulance for treatment.

 Sadly, about 6 PM, the body of Taylor Brent Dustin, 14 of Angels Camp, a nephew of Smith's was located. The cause of death is under investigation.

    According to Lieutenant Ron Michitarian, both Devin and Taylor were located near the Steve Nott Camp, in the Mokelumne Wilderness, bordering the El Dorado and Stanislaus National Forests..


  UPDATE:   11:20 AM  Per the Alpine County Sheriff's Office, no sign of the two hunters even though 70 search and rescue members have been covering the entire area.

     The two were camped at Hermit Valley.  He stated that there is now a foot and a half of snow at Bear Valley and probably 2 feet in the Hermit Valley area.
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   October 23, 2012 at 8 AM: Two hunters last seen in the Hermit Valley area of Alpine County are still missing this morning. Search and Rescue teams have been trying to locate the two, reportedly a father and son, since early Monday morning.

   We will keep you up to date when we hear anything from Alpine County Sheriff's Office.