Kern County

73-Year-Old Hiker Found After He Was Reported Missing in Mountain Snowstorm

Gab Song went missing in Mount Pinos during a freak winter storm on Tuesday. Authorities say he was found Thursday in good condition.

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The children of Gab Song told everyone they knew their father disappeared hiking during Tuesday's sudden snowstorm on Mount Pinos.

Not only is he OK. He required no medical attention.

His family says he's fast asleep and resting at home. They joked he looked refreshed, like he returned from the spa.

But it was a scary situation with an unexpected and wonderful ending.

Song was reunited with his hiking buddies and family Thursday afternoon after surviving two and a half days in snow-covered mountains.

"I asked them, 'I need help,'" the 73-year-old father of three said describing how he flagged down a stranger. "I was not sure that I would make it to this moment.

Daughter and son are thankful to so many for bringing their dad home.

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"I feel like humanity level is just really inspiring," the daughter said. "We felt the love."

It turns out Tuesday's unexpected snowstorm wasn't a curse, but a blessing.

"Luckily because of the snow, he was able to drink water from the snow," she said. "And for the rest of the two days he said he ate the snow.

"That was -- we call it the snow diet."

He also had a lighter to start a fire.

He survived three days in the wilderness in slacks and a belt.

The avid hiker knows not to make the family worry again.

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