Yorba Linda Couple Died After Getting Lost While Hiking in Amboy

AMBOY – A nature-loving Yorba Linda couple died after getting lost during a hike in the area of Amboy Crater National Monument in the Mojave Desert on Saturday. At around 1:36 p.m. Kathie Barber, 58, called 911 requesting help. She told dispatchers that her and her husband, Gen Miake, 60, were out of water, lost, and had become separated. She also stated that Miake had a heart condition, but she was unable to locate him.

The Sheriff’s helicopter (40-King) quickly arrived at the location to assist the ground deputy. The deputy had already begun to search the vast, dry area, but requested the assistance of 40-King. The vehicle belonging to the couple was quickly located in the trail head parking lot, but did not produce any clues as to the direction the hikers went. Two hikers matching the description of Barber and Miake were located by 40-king approximately 1-2 miles east of the Amboy trail head and appeared to be unresponsive.

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Both were located around 100 yards apart, Miake at 4:05 p.m. and Barber at 4:22 p.m. Both were located in the open desert with no shade in the approximately 113-degree temperature. A landing zone was set up just outside of the area and a deputy went to make contact with them. The deputy found no signs of life from either of the two the hikers and returned to the helicopter to pick up a San Bernardino County Fire Department Medic to confirm his finding. The medic returned to confirm that both hikers were dead. Air Rescue 307 assisted in recovering both victims. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Coroner’s Division also arrived and assisted with the incident.