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Search Continues For Missing Hikers Near Trabuco Canyon

MISSION VIEJO (CBSLA.com) — The search continues Tuesday for two hikers who went missing over the weekend in the Cleveland National Forest after making brief contact with deputies.

Nicolas Cendoya, 19, and Kyndall Jack, 18, both of Costa Mesa, contacted Orange County Sheriff's deputies by cell phone around 8:30 p.m. Sunday asking for help in finding their way back to their car, but authorities were unable to pinpoint an accurate GPS location before the cell phone died.

After losing contact with the hikers, reserve deputies began searching on the ground, in the air and on horseback for the hikers in the area below Saddleback Peak.

Missing hikers
Nicolas Cendoya, 19, and Kyndall Jack, 18. (credit: OCSD)

A possible break in the investigation Tuesday narrowed down the search to Holy Jim Canyon trailhead near Trabuco Canyon.

"Our blood hound Sadie picked up a scent at one of the trail heads, so we are deploying several mutual aid teams," OC Sheriff's Dept. Lt. Erin Giudice said. "There's a very real possibility they could be injured and aren't able to get out of wherever they are."

Extra volunteers from Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles and Riverside counties came out to help deputies search.

"I've got a good feeling they're going to be found today and they're going to be fine," Russ Jack, Kyndall's father, said. "Even if they're hurt and they've fallen down in the valley or something, the more eyes, the better to look for them."

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these two individuals are requested to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 647-7000.

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