On 07/11/2021, the Ventura County Lockwood Deputy responded to an overdue off-road motorcycle rider in the Los Padres National Forest. At approximately 5:50 PM, the Lockwood Valley Substation received a call of a motorcycle rider, Jeffrey Skinner, who had ridden down the Miller Jeep Trail on 07/10/2021, and spent the night at the Sunset Campground. Mr. Skinner’s plan was to ride out of the area the next morning. The concerned caller had not heard from Mr. Skinner since 6:30 PM, on 07/10/2021. Mr. Skinner was not familiar with the trail, the challenging terrain and the extreme heat the area was experiencing.
With twilight quickly approaching, a Ventura County Sheriff’s helicopter began an aerial search of the Piru Creek Trail, while 2 Utility Terrain Vehicles were deployed from the Lockwood Valley Substation to assist with the search. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Fillmore Search and Rescue team was also activated and responded to the area to conduct a ground search.
At approximately 7:45PM, the Sheriff’s helicopter located a motorcycle on Piru Creek trail without a rider. The helicopter later located Mr. Skinner at the Gold Hill campground. Mr. Skinner stated he began suffering from heat related issues and spent the day trying to cool himself in a nearby creek bed and utilizing the shrubbery for shade. When the temperature finally began to drop on the trail, he hiked out on foot to the Gold Hill Campground area where the helicopter spotted him. Mr. Skinner was evaluated by medical personnel and transported to the Lockwood Valley Substation.
The Lockwood Valley Substation would like to commend the Mr. Skinner for remaining calm, staying on the trail and having a plan to deal with the extreme conditions in the forest. His actions assisted in locating him quickly and surviving the heat and difficult trail he found himself on.
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