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Missing hiker found conscious in Joshua Tree National Park

Published March 16, 2018 6:43 AM

Update: 3/15/18 6:00 PM –

Hanks was found conscious in Joshua Tree National Park Thursday, rescue crews confirmed.

According to George Land, the public information officer for the park, Hanks suffered head injuries but was alert and talking to medics. According to JOSAR, Hanks had fallen approximately 20 feet

Hanks transported to a nearby hospital.

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Search teams were combing Joshua Tree National Park in search of a missing hiker last seen on March 11. 54-year old Paul Hanks’ truck was found in the parking lot area at the head of the Maze Loop Trail, where the 20 to 50 searchers were focusing their efforts, according to George Land of Joshua Tree National Park.

“His family told us he’s in very good physical condition, and he’s a frequent visitor to the park. So that’s one thing in his favor. and comes up here quite regularly,” said Land.

In October the Maze Loop served as the center for another missing hiker investigation. Rachel Nguyen and Joseph Orbeso initially went missing in Joshua Tree National Park in late July of 2017. Nearly 3 months later, their bodies were found north of the Maze Loop Trail.

However, Land pointed out some key differences between the two similarly-situated cases.

“The scenario’s very different than the Orbeso and Nguyen case. Both in the knowledge of the park, in age, and the conditions. There, we were dealing with extreme heat. Now, we’re dealing with not extreme cold, but cold that combined with the rain can be just as dangerous.”