Dozens of rescuers are scouring Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California amid intense heat for two hikers who were reported missing on Friday.
Rachel Nguyen, 20, of Westminster, California, and Joseph Orbeso, 21, of Lakewood, California, set out for a hike on Thursday, said Joshua Tree National Park spokesman George Land. The mercury there hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit that day.
When the couple hadn't returned by the next day, the owner of the Airbnb where they were staying grew concerned and called police. Rangers found the hikers' car at a parking lot at the head of a popular trail called Maze Loop on Friday. A "ping" of Orbeso's cellphone was recorded from inside the park on Thursday, said Land.
Rescuers thought they spotted tracks near the vehicle heading north into a canyon, and while dogs seemed to pick up on a scent, they were unable to find anything, according to a statement by Joshua Tree National Park Search & Rescue, a volunteer group.
Two airplanes, two helicopters, six canine tracking teams and up to 100 ground searchers are assisting in the search. They have already covered "thousands of miles," said Land.