Missing Hiker, Son Safe After Walking Into Search Headquarters

A 36-year-old man and his 5-year-old son got lost hiking in the western Santa Monica Mountains, but walked into the search headquarters just after 9 a.m. Sunday.

Volunteers on horseback from Malibu and Santa Paula were heading out to look for Patrick Gardner, 36, and Matthew Gardner, 5, who went for a day hike to plan a future Cub Scout hike in Sycamore Canyon Saturday.

But the hikers were in good shape when they walked out to the parking lot Sunday, a deputy said.

A worried mother had called deputies late Saturday when her husband and son failed to return, and their car was spotted in the rugged canyon’s mouth west of Malibu.

Two helicopters with infrared cameras did not spot them, but the overnight weather was quite warm.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock