Two thirsty hikers who took a dangerous short cut off the Pacific Crest
Trail on the flank of San Jacinto Peak discovered the remains of missing
hiker Robert Budinski early last week, according to a Facebook post from
the Fowler O’ Sullivan Foundation, a nonprofit group that helps the
families of missing hikers. Budinski had entered our local trails from
Black Mountain Road on April 15, and was last seen alive that night,
when other hikers recognized him at his campsite by his trail name,
“Ambassador” Budinski, who had hiked parts of the PCT before, was taking
an alternate route to avoid snow on Fuller Ridge. 

Jon King, founder of the San Jacinto Trail Report, provided some
background for the Crier. He agreed that the hikers who made the
discovery had taken a terrible chance going off trail. “This time of
year, a drainage may not have water, this time it did, the hikers may
have had more luck than judgement. The water agency has a faucet just
above snow creek village, another four miles.” King agreed that it is
easier to get lost than found in the wilderness, even though this area
is relatively open chaparral, and not forest. He noted that the Fowler
O’Sullivan Foundation had contacted the last hikers to see Budinski,
identified the approximate area, and hired Eternity Helicopters to
search, but “even when someone is alive it can be surprisingly difficult
to see them.” 

King called Budinski “genuinely an experienced hiker,” saying he had
done long distance hikes, and had hiked parts of the PCT three times,
including the section through these mountains. He said that section of
the trail was well marked. “No one else got lost there all PCT season.”
King hiked the trail days after Budinski did, describing it as low
elevation foothills, and said “there was no snow at that elevation,
about 3,500 feet. Snow was gone at that time below 6,000 feet. The trail
was relatively easy for someone like him.” He added that “at that time
of year water would not have been a factor. I would not want to
speculate why he would have left the trail in that location.” 

The Fowler O’Sullivan Foundation statement said “Robert will be dearly
missed by his two grandchildren, who meant everything to him, his
family, friends, and the hiker community. We want to thank the PCT
hikers who contacted us during our search efforts, his hiking buddies
who drove many hours to join our search, volunteers, Idyllwild Trail
Angels, Eternity Helicopters, and Riverside County Detective DiYorio. We
at the Fowler-O’Sullivan Foundation send our deepest condolences to his
Family, Friends, and PCT family. You will be missed, Ambassador!” 

Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Media Information Bureau would only
say that no information about the case had yet been released.