Intended for a three-hour hike, Lukas McClish spent ten wild days in Santa Cruz Mountains, drinking boot water, eating berries, and dodging mountain lions before rescue teams finally tracked him down.

Lukas McClish, a 34-year-old adventurer from Boulder Creek, embarked on a short hike that turned into a ten-day survival saga in the Santa Cruz Mountains, thanks to a combination of lost landmarks and his own knack for, well, getting lost. After ten days of playing survivalist—complete with boot-water cocktails and mountain lion encounters— rescue teams, equipped with drones and a lot of patience, finally found him in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, thirsty but unbroken and with a solid weight-loss story to boot.

McClish's odyssey began on June 11, 2024, when he set off on what was intended to be a relaxing three-hour hike. Unfortunately, his Father's Day plans took a backseat when he failed to show up for dinner on June 16th, effectively marking his disappearance. His worried family reported him missing, triggering a search operation that would last four more days.

The adventurer's experience was not without its hardships. He survived by drinking a gallon of water per day, sourced from creeks and waterfalls. The catch? He used his own boot as a makeshift water container, a strategy he championed but one that remains conspicuously absent in most survival guides. The menu was rounded out by wild berries, and his bed was a pile of wet leaves, which we assume he did not rate highly on Yelp.

Recent wildfires had obliterated many of the familiar landmarks in the area, making it a challenging timeframe for even the most seasoned hiker. McClish acknowledged that these changes left him bewildered and struggling to navigate. 'It was like someone moved all the furniture in your house and turned off the lights,' he said, describing his ordeal.

Rescue efforts mobilized multiple agencies, including the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, California State Parks, and Cal Fire. Drones proved instrumental in locating McClish, after reports emerged of someone—a very thirsty someone—yelling for help. When the drones finally spotted him on June 20th in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, the rescue team breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Despite the harrowing experience, McClish emerged with only minor injuries. He experienced soreness and temporarily lost his voice—perhaps from all the shouting and lack of hydration. More impressively, he managed to evade major injury while a mountain lion decided to shadow him. Though this feline guardian provided an unwelcome sense of companionship, it fortunately maintained a respectful distance.

Throughout his ordeal, McClish shed over 13 kilograms (30 pounds) and had to have rocks removed from his back after sustaining injuries navigating the rugged terrain. Remarkably, he didn't lose his sense of gratitude—or his dry wit. Describing his experience as humbling, he highlighted the significant efforts made by first responders to locate and rescue him.

In the end, Lukas McClish's ten-day ordeal underscores the importance of preparation and the unpredictable nature of the great outdoors. While his family is undoubtedly pleased to have him back in one piece, they’re probably hoping his next adventure involves safer terrains—like the local park, perhaps.