Handwritten Notes and Simple Preparedness Save California Family Lost in Wilderness

In a world increasingly dependent on technology, the recent rescue of a mother and her young son lost in the remote forests of California serves as a stark reminder: sometimes, old-fashioned preparedness is what saves lives. When their vehicle became stuck amid labyrinthine forest roads devoid of cellphone service or GPS signals, this family found themselves isolated—yet not helpless. The Calaveras County Sheriff's Department credits the mother's quick thinking and simple handwritten notes for enabling rescuers to locate them after more than a day missing. Far from relying solely on modern technology that failed them in this rugged terrain, the...