LOS ANGELES — Officials said Wednesday that actor Julian Sands has been missing for five days after going hiking on Southern California’s Mt. Baldy.
Sands, 65, was reported missing in the Baldy Bowl area around 7:30 p.m. Friday, according to Mara Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities said in a Thursday update that phone pings on Sunday indicated Sands was headed to the Mt. Baldy area. Rescuers searched a trail leading to the summit of Mt. Baldy after a delayed ping from his iPhone provided a possible location for him.
Ground and air searches were conducted, but rescuers “were unable to locate any evidence in this area that would assist in locating Mr. Sands,” according to the department.
Additional phone pings from the cell provider were attempted but were unsuccessful due to a lack of cell service in the area or Sands’ phone not having power.
The search for Sands, who is best known for his role in “A Room with a View,” was halted Saturday evening due to trail conditions and the risk of an avalanche, according to Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said search and rescue crews will continue to scan the area with a helicopter and drones as weather permits, and will schedule another ground search when it is safe to do so.
The sheriff’s department advised people to heed warnings and avoid the area, where high winds and ice have created hazardous conditions.
“The recent storms that brought the snow and ice conditions are not favourable for hikers, even those who believe they have a high level of experience,” the department said in an advisory.
Over the last four weeks, search and rescue teams have launched 14 rescue missions for lost, stranded, and injured hikers on the mountain and in the surrounding area, according to the department, and two hikers have died after falling and injuring themselves.
Mt. Baldy is located in the San Gabriel Mountains, northeast of Los Angeles.
Sands, an English-born actor, appeared in the 1985 film “A Room With a View,” as well as other films such as “Warlock” (1989) and “Arachnophobia” (1993). (1990). He has also appeared in a number of other films and television shows over the years.
