• A mother and her 9-year-old son were rescued in a remote California forest after becoming stranded.
• The rescue was aided by handwritten notes left by the mother seeking help.
• Search teams utilized 4-wheel-drive vehicles and ham radio to communicate due to poor cell service.
• Both mother and son utilized international distress signals to attract attention.

A mother and her 9-year-old son were rescued after becoming stranded in the Stanislaus National Forest while traveling from Sacramento to Camp Wolfeboro. The family lost GPS signal and became disoriented while trying to retrace their route on a remote, labyrinth-like road network, leading to their vehicle becoming stuck in the dense forestry, according to the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office and ABC News.

The pair's ordeal began when their family reported them overdue on July 12, prompting a search from authorities. Importantly, the mother left a series of handwritten notes along the path, one stating "HELP. Me and my son are stranded with no service and can't call 911," which provided critical information to the rescuers, according to reports from Los Angeles Times and SFGATE.

Search and rescue efforts were significantly enhanced by the notes and additional signals made by the mother and son, including using the car’s hazard lights at night and blowing a whistle in bursts—an international distress signal. These actions helped lead rescuers closer to their location, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office noted, as well as reports from nearby campers about a vehicle matching that of the missing family's, according to the ABC News and Los Angeles Times.

Authorities utilized a combination of four-wheeled vehicles and ham radio communication to navigate the remote terrain, especially as conventional communication was hindered by dense forest cover. This allowed them to coordinate the search effectively, ultimately leading to the discovery of the mother and son about a mile from where the notes were found, according to SFGATE and ABC News.

The successful rescue underscores the importance of pre-trip planning and communication, as the mother had shared their planned route with family, which facilitated the search when they were reported missing. Officials emphasized that staying with their vehicle was also a key strategy, as the car is more easily spotted from the air, affirmed by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, Los Angeles Times, and SFGATE.