Alan and Ivan CamposRodriguez were rescued on Saturday, January 11, 2025, after being stranded for six days in the Mendocino National Forest. According to a press release from the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office, the brothers became lost on Monday, January 6, when their Toyota Rav4 became stuck in a low-water crossing on County Road 311.
The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) received an Apple SOS Emergency alert on Friday, January 10, at approximately 4:30 p.m., reporting that the brothers were stranded. In response, Sgt. Owens confirmed that Alan and Ivan were reported missing and activated the Glenn County Search and Rescue (SAR) team along with California Highway Patrol (CHP) Air Operations to conduct a search of the area.
SAR crews successfully located the vehicle and Alan, but the brothers had become separated in the remote, mountainous terrain. While CHP conducted an aerial search, they were unable to locate Ivan. Search efforts continued on Saturday, January 11, with the SAR deploying ground teams and a drone team to search the area.
At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Ivan was able to find a location with cellular service and called the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office to provide his location, the press release noted. Dispatchers then relayed Ivan’s coordinates to the SAR team, which was able to respond and safely transport him to Willows, where he was reunited with his brother Alan.
The brothers had been traveling in a remote area with limited cellular reception and were relying on Google Maps to navigate non-maintained roads, which the sheriff’s office warns can be dangerous. The press release also emphasizes the importance of being aware of surroundings, road conditions, and vehicle capabilities when traveling in such remote areas, urging residents to turn around if encountering non-maintained roads and seek safer routes.
Google maps!! This is why I tell my kids to get off their phones and look at a map before they travel and even better- look up and take notice of your surroundings!!!
A paper map is better than Google maps. That’s why I have saved every paper map I could get my hand on in my lie. I have a huge box full. Nothing like an old school paper map. As long as you know how to read it. Never throw one away.
Bet they got stuck in “The Basin”, where Black Butte River, Middle Creek, and Estell Creek all meet on 311. 4:30pm is pretty late to be out that far this time of year as a solo vehicle, especially without a winch. If you get stuck and activate SOS on your iPhone, stay close to your vehicle, you’ll be much easier to find.
Critical advice for iPhone users as the SOS system is using a Satellite Radio GPS system, NOT Cellular Radio tech.
Starlink for phone service in Northern California can not come soon enough .meanwhile the Federal Government is wasting hundreds of Millions ripping up our roads installing underground outdated Broad band . This would never have happened if the US had given Starlink the contract instead of black water owned Broadband companies.
iPhone 15 and 16 Pro Max all have satellite SOS now with IOS 18. But I would’ve never gone out there this time of year in a RAV4. They make them in both 2WD and 4WD but even the 4WD ones are not that good. I know because I owned one. They’re lucky they didn’t freeze to death.
The newest version of the RAV4 is much more capable than the older versions, but still, not the type of rig I’d be soloing over Mendo Pass, especially if I am relying on google maps.
And don’t use Google maps. It is the worst. Either get OnX or use Apple Maps because Google will get you lost or send you down a 10 mile dirt road that you don’t need to go down.
Never use Google maps for navigating in wild lands. They will not make corrections to areas when I give them with supporting documentation.