Cali Snowboarder Survives Two Nights Lost in Freezing San Gabriel Mountains near Mountain High

In an extraordinary story of survival, Malachi Luis Garcia, 35, was rescued after spending two nights lost in the freezing, snow-covered San Gabriel Mountains outside Mountain High Ski Resort. Without a winter coat, food, or camping supplies, Garcia relied on his determination and resourcefulness to stay alive in conditions that plunged into single digits.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department located Garcia on Tuesday morning after an intensive 48-hour search that involved drones, rescue teams from across California, and aerial efforts.

A Wrong Turn into Danger

Garcia, a season pass-holder at Mountain High Resort, was snowboarding with friends on Sunday afternoon when low visibility from a storm caused him to take a wrong turn. Separated from his group, he ended up miles away from the resort in Bear Gulch — a steep, isolated canyon with no easy way out.

Dressed in just snow pants, snowboard boots, gloves, and a cotton hoodie, Garcia was woefully unprepared for the harsh conditions. To make matters worse, his phone was left behind in his car at the resort, leaving him without any means to call for help.

“He wasn’t really dressed for prolonged exposure,” said Deputy Casey Cheshier, who played a critical role in the rescue. “It was very bad conditions, especially for what he was wearing and what he had on him. He was lucky.”

Survival Against the Odds

Over the two nights, Garcia kept moving to avoid freezing, hunkering down next to large trees for shelter and drinking stream water to stay hydrated. When the storm cleared on Tuesday morning, he began walking again, hoping to leave tracks that could lead rescuers to him.

“It was down in the single digits overnight,” Cheshier said. “He wasn’t panicking, but he was emotional and relieved when we found him.”

Garcia had traveled more than two miles and descended over 1,300 feet in elevation from where he initially got lost. He was finally spotted in a canyon near the snowline after deputies followed footprints in the snow for several miles.

A Coordinated Rescue Effort

The search for Garcia began Sunday afternoon and involved more than 40 search-and-rescue members from across California. Heavy snowfall made the conditions treacherous, grounding helicopters until Tuesday morning. Search teams utilized heat-detecting drones and combed the area on foot in an effort to locate him.

Deputy Orlando Martinez, who coordinated much of the effort, emphasized the urgency of the mission: “We want to make sure we get him while he’s still alive, due to the weather.”

When helicopters were finally able to join the search, the team quickly spotted Garcia’s tracks near Cabin Flat Campground, southwest of Wrightwood.

Deputy Cheshier dropped from the helicopter and reached Garcia in Bear Gulch — an area Martinez described as a “canyon to nowhere.”

Lessons from the Wilderness

Despite the odds, Garcia emerged from the ordeal without any injuries, an outcome rescuers called a miracle. “He didn’t have a proper [waterproof] shell, just a cotton hoodie,” Martinez said. “It’s a miracle … not a scratch on him.”

Rescuers often see cases of frostbite or hypothermia in similar situations, but Garcia’s decision to keep moving and create tracks likely saved his life.

“He was tired, cold, and emotional but happy to be found,” Cheshier said.

This incident highlights the importance of preparation for outdoor activities, even on seemingly routine outings. Proper gear, navigation tools, and emergency supplies can mean the difference between life and death-- even if you don't, like Garcia, plan on going into the backcountry.

For Garcia, his survival story is a testament to resilience and a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictability and power. As Cheshier put it: “He survived — that’s all that matters.”

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stash member Nico Johnson