A man was found stranded and rescued with the help of a camper near Johnson Valley
A tip from the camper was used to help sheriff’s deputies rescue a 70-year-old man who was lost in the desert near Johnson Valley.
At approximately 4 p.m. Monday, the Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call from a man, later identified as Stan Eisman, who said he was lost and stranded somewhere in the Landers area. Eisman, a Landers resident, told sheriff’s officials he was driving on a dirt road when his car got stuck in soft sand.
Because he was unfamiliar with the area, he became concerned when he was unable to free his car.
Deputies working the San Bernardino County area of the Morongo Basin responded and began an extensive search with the limited information provided.
Deputies requested assistance from sheriff’s aviation personnel, who responded and scanned the desert area for signs of Eisman.
Around 9 p.m., a camper near the bottom of Johnson Valley Dry Lake reported seeing a man stranded near Giant Rock Road and Mikeska Road, about 6 miles east of Interstate 247.
Deputies responded to the scene and found Eisman and his stuck vehicle. Authorities returned Iceman to his home, where sheriff’s officials said he was reunited with family and friends.
Giant rock
Located just north of the giant, mysterious boulder, Eiseman stands nearly seven stories tall and has an area of about 6,000 square feet. Some say it is the largest free-standing rock in the world.
The rock has attracted UFO conferences, Hopi spiritualists, and “regeneration machine” engineers, according to Atlas Obscura.
The Native Americans who resided in the Joshua Tree area believed that the giant rock and the surrounding area were sacred.
In the 1930s, German immigrant and miner Frank Kritzer met a pilot named George Van Tassel. The pair became fast friends, and Van Tassel lent Critzer $30 to purchase mining equipment. Kritzer then excavated a 400-square-foot house directly under the rock.
Desert survival tips
- Before heading out on a road trip, tell someone where you’re going. They should know who to call if you don’t reach out to them by a certain time.
- Charge your devices. Keep your cell phone charged with an in-car charging cable or take a spare battery
- Checking the car’s fluids – water and coolant.
- Inflate your tires to the correct pressure and don’t forget the spare tire.
- Take a tarp to cover your car, create shade, or sit on it.
- Take essential repair items and tools. A knife, a bottle of sealant, rubber gloves, rags, oil, and other items for minor emergencies.
- Take a first aid kit.
- Take plenty of water to drink and for your car.
- Eat enough food to last a few days.
- Wear appropriate clothing.
- Bring blankets.
- Fuel plan discontinued. Fill up often.
- Park in the shade.
- Never leave children or pets alone inside the car as the temperature may rise.
- Stop and wait for the dust storms to pass. Motorcyclists should seek shelter if possible. Driving in a dust storm pulls dust-laden air through the engine.
- Be aware of flash floods that may occur.
- Do not camp in dry riverbeds.
- If you encounter a raging torrent, assess whether you need to cross, as a vehicle can be swept into shallow, fast-flowing water.
- Collapse. Stop on the side of the road and use your cell phone to call for help.
- Wait with the car unless you can see a house nearby.
- If you leave your car on foot, leave signals indicating that you are in distress. You can prop the cover open to indicate a malfunction.
- If an airplane flies overhead, leave a mark on the ground. This can be built from brightly colored elements of the car, or dark stones that contrast with the ground.
- Before leaving your car, leave a written note inside indicating details rescuers may need, such as your name, circumstances of the crash, emergency contact information, and the direction you are headed.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz can be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
