Hikers who found actor Julian Sands' remains speak out about discovery
The hikers who found actor Julian Sands' remains have broken their silence on the tragic discovery.
The group of local hikers had decided to scale Mount Baldy back in June - the exact place where 65-year-old Sands disappeared just months prior in January.
Just three hours and 10 miles into their ascent on 24 June, one of the hikers stumbled upon a harrowing find that would solve the mystery of the actor's vanishing once and for all.
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Sands, best known for his roles in the 1989 film Warlock, Naked Lunch (1991) and Ocean's 13 (2007) was last seen in the Mount Baldy area on 13 January after hiking in the San Gabriel mountains.
A search and mission was launched but officials were ultimately forced to withdraw their efforts due to risks of avalanche.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said at the time: "Although missing hiker, Julian Sands, was not located during the recent search mission, the case remains active.
"We want to thank all the individuals who assisted in the June 17 search and the previous search missions.
"Despite the recent warmer weather, portions of the mountain remain inaccessible due to extreme alpine conditions. Multiple areas include steep terrain and ravines, which still have 10-plus feet of ice and snow."
Nearly six months after he first went missing, Sands' remains were discovered by a group of hikers.
First, they found a boot, then the matching second boot, trekking poles - and then some bones.
After then stumbling upon a pile of winter clothes, the group found a wallet containing a driver's license with none other than Sand's recognizable face staring right back at them.
Recalling the moment, hiker Bill Dwyer told the Los Angeles Times: "It was surreal."
A second hiker, who wished to stay anonymous, said the group were wary of the weather conditions - what with melting ice and show potentially revealing once-frozen remains.
Remembering her thoughts before the ascent commenced, she said: "I hope we don't find a dead body today."
The hikers didn't end up finding his backpack which would have contained a lot of his gear, but they did note his clothing was dark as opposed to the typical bright colors hikers use so they can be spotted from afar.
“He was dressed like a ninja,” one of the hikers said.
Sands' family previously released a statement thanking rescue teams for their efforts.
They said: "We are deeply grateful to the search teams and coordinators who have worked tirelessly to find Julian.
“We continue to hold Julian in our hearts, with bright memories of him as a wonderful father, husband, explorer, lover of the natural world and the arts, and as an original and collaborative performer.”
Sands had previously spoken about his passion for mountain climbing, telling the Yorkshire Post: "And, you know what? Mountain climbing and filmmaking are very connected.
"There’s always another mountain. And ultimately the point of climbing a mountain is that the mountain is within. And I think that’s true, too, of the acting experience."
Rhiannon Ingle