On a recent Sunday morning, a team of San Dimas Mountain Rescue crew members were preparing to continue their search for an elderly hiker who had been missing for over 24 hours when they encountered TV legend Jay Leno at Newcomb’s Ranch in Los Angeles County. Ki Soo Yang, a highly experienced and physically fit 78-year-old, was reported missing on Saturday after getting separated from his group while climbing Mount Waterman.
Although Leno and his friends had not seen the missing hiker during their time at Newcomb’s Ranch, they were grateful for the efforts of the rescue team, who posed for a picture with the former “Tonight Show” host in front of a bright yellow sports car before continuing their search.
The San Dimas Mountain Rescue crew hiked for an additional eight hours after meeting Leno and eventually found Ki Soo Yang safe but dehydrated. They had received a call from a good Samaritan who encountered the missing hiker between Mount Waterman and Twin Peaks. The good Samaritan then contacted the Crescenta Valley Station, prompting the rescue team to change their search direction and ultimately find Ki Soo Yang.
Ki Soo Yang was airlifted to a local hospital where he was reunited with his family after spending a total of 30 hours in the Angeles National Forest. The Montrose Search and Rescue team expressed immense gratitude to everyone involved in the search, particularly the good Samaritan whose quick thinking played a critical role in the successful rescue of the elderly hiker.
