A mom and her 9-year-old son are safe after getting lost in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. They were stranded for more than 24 hours — with no phone signal and no way to call for help.
But this brave mom didn’t give up. Instead, she started writing notes asking for help and left them under rocks along the trail. One note said, “HELP. Me and my son are stranded with no service and can’t call 911.” That simple idea helped save their lives.
A volunteer search and rescue team from Calaveras County just happened to be nearby. As they walked through the area, they spotted one of the notes. Right away, they started looking — and soon found the mother and son. Both were okay, just tired and shaken.
Speaking to ABC10, the mom called it a “very scary experience.” She also said she was incredibly thankful for the rescuers and their quick response. “They were amazing,” she added.
This story shows how a little creativity and a lot of courage can make a big difference. Even without technology, staying calm and thinking ahead helped this mom protect her child — and get them both home safely.
The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office shared the emotional rescue story in a Facebook post that quickly gained attention. On July 11, someone called the Calaveras County Dispatch Center with growing concern. They explained that a mother and her young son hadn’t returned after heading to Camp Wolfeboro earlier that morning.
Even more worrying, the caller said they couldn’t reach either of them by phone. Because of that, deputies knew they needed to act fast. The search began right away, focusing on the remote forested area around the camp.
Later, the mother—who introduced herself as Tami—spoke with ABC10 about what really happened. She said she and her son, Stirling, had no cell service. As a result, they couldn’t call for help. In a smart move, Stirling started blowing his Cub Scout whistle to get anyone’s attention.
Tami explained they were simply trying to get Stirling to his camping trip when things went wrong. Still, she stayed calm, and Stirling did what he had learned in Scouts. Thanks to their quick thinking and strong bond, they made it through—and rescuers were able to find them in time.
A mother and her teenage son were recently rescued in New Hampshire after getting lost in the woods. Luckily, a volunteer search and rescue team was already nearby for their monthly training.
As soon as the call came in, the team got to work. They quickly set up a command post along the highway that leads to Wolfeboro. From there, they began exploring the area.
The woods had a confusing mix of dirt roads and trails. Still, the team used their knowledge to plan a smart search route. They brought in off-road vehicles and even used aircraft to help scan the area.
Then, a big break came. A group of campers texted an emergency number. They said they saw a car that matched the one driven by the missing pair. That message confirmed the team was in the right place.
Soon after, searchers found a handwritten note left on the side of the road. It said, “We are ahead, up the road to the right. Please call 911 to get help for us. Thank you!”
With new hope, the team followed the direction in the message. Not long after, they discovered a second note. This one had the names of the missing mother and son, along with a phone number.
About a mile down the road, the search team found them — safe but stranded. The mother, Tami, later told ABC10 that she heard a truck honk and turned around. “It was the best feeling ever,” she said.
She and her son, Stirling, had spent the night inside their car. They stayed there to keep safe from wild animals. Thankfully, they had food and water with them.
The car had gotten stuck, so the rescue team used special equipment to pull it free. After that, they helped Tami and Stirling return to their waiting family.
Officials later explained what went wrong. Their GPS stopped working after they reached a remote area. Without it, they couldn’t find their way back.
This rescue was a reminder of how quickly things can go wrong in the woods. But it also showed how fast action, teamwork, and technology can help save lives.
