Hiker found safe after disappearing in same Mt. Baldy area where actor Julian Sands went missing

Wednesday, January 25, 2023
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- A 75-year-old hiker who went missing in the same snow-covered mountain where actor Julian Sands is missing has been found.

The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department said Jin Chung of North Hollywood, who went missing at around 6 a.m. on Sunday, was found safe Tuesday afternoon.

He suffered non-life threatening injuries and was able to walk off the mountain with rescuers, authorities said.

Chung carpooled to the mountain with two others and made plans to meet them at the vehicle at 2 p.m., but Chung did not return, authorities said. Ground crews initially had an unsuccessful search for the hiker until he was found on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, crews are still searching for Sands and one other hiker on Mt. Baldy.

"Helicopters and drones continued to use infrared devices during the search however, all were negative for any signs of Sands," the department's statement said.

Sands, 65, was reported missing Jan. 13 while hiking. Search and rescue crews began looking for him on the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Hiker shares details of dangerous Mount Baldy trek: 'It was pretty much just death on both sides'


Storms have coated the mountain with heavy snow and ice, and searches have been thwarted by the threat of avalanches and foul weather, including powerful winds.

Authorities describe mountain conditions as extremely dangerous. Two hikers have died in recent weeks. One fell at least 500 feet down an icy slope.

Sands starred opposite Helena Bonham Carter in the 1985 British romance from director James Ivory, "A Room With a View."
He also had major roles in in 1989s "Warlock," 1990s "Arachnophobia," 1991s "Naked Lunch," 1993s "Boxing Helena," and 1995s "Leaving Las Vegas."

Sands has worked consistently in the decades since with smaller roles in film and television.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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