A hunter who went missing in a California national forest has been found alive after spending 20 days navigating the highlands, hoping for a miracle as his legs grew weaker.
Ron Dailey, 65, was reported missing on October 13 while deer hunting near Shaver Lake, located in the Sierra National Forest. He didn’t return, prompting concern.
For weeks, there was silence, almost as if he had become a stranger. The Fresno County Search and Rescue team undertook a systematic search for him.
His wife, Glenda, shared a flier about his disappearance, expressing that the family was continuously praying for his safe return each day he was gone.
Then, on November 1, over two weeks later, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office announced that Dailey had been found safe—albeit malnourished and in rough shape—along the Swamp Lake Trail, roughly 20 miles from where he initially went hunting.
Glenda later mentioned that he was in the hospital receiving fluids to help restore his complexion but reassured everyone that he planned to share his story once he was more recuperated.
Dailey recounted that he drove his 2002 silver Dodge Dakota up the Swamp Lake trail and stopped for a snack before the adventure took an unexpected turn. He was on a “jeep road” when he reportedly got hit by another truck. He attempted to turn back but found he couldn’t, so he simply continued forward instead.
“I don’t know why, but I did it,” he remarked about that decision.
After finding a “rocky plateau,” he set up a camp and remained there for several days. Although he followed trail signs, the rough terrain eventually led him to abandon his truck, which he had even dismantled to make it somewhat more comfortable for resting.
However, the path back was challenging. The elevation was over 10,000 feet, and he had to stop often to regain his breath. Yet, Dailey persevered, telling himself, “This is it, Ron, you’re either going to leave or you’re going to sit here and die.”
As fatigue set in, he lost his cell phone, stumbled more frequently, but continued to stop and pray for help. “Somebody needs to get me here. I can barely walk anymore,” he expressed, fighting back tears.
Eventually, he spotted headlights in the woods and panicked, trying to signal the driver. He collapsed into the arms of rescuers, overwhelmed with emotion. When he disclosed that he hadn’t eaten in six days, the hunters who discovered him quickly provided food and water.
Glenda shared her intention to meet the men who helped rescue Dailey but was also quick to express gratitude to everyone involved in the search. “So many family members, friends, and even strangers were looking for us, and we are so grateful! God still performs miracles, and we just witnessed one,” she wrote.
