New avalanche fears prevent ground search for Brit actor Julian Sands in the San Gabriel mountains

As the search for missing British actor Julian Sands continues, stars including Matthew Modine and Jon Cryer have posted messages hoping he is found alive.

Sands, 65, was reported missing on a hiking trip in the Baldy Bowl area of ​​the San Gabriel Mountains around 7:30 p.m. local time on January 13, as local authorities continue searches in ” helicopters and drones when the weather permits.

On Friday, January 21, ground crews were still unable to continue their search for Sands due to the risk of avalanches in the area.

The search has intensified of late as officials use mobile phone forensics to help determine the location of the actor.

Pictures sent from the Sands to his grandson Billy in September show the father-of-three wearing climbing gear that includes ropes, wearing a helmet and with a backpack strapped securely to his back. Sands, 65, was reported missing during a hiking trip in the Baldy Bowl area of ​​the San Gabriel Mountains around 7:30 p.m. local time on January 13.

Jon Cryer posted a message on January 19

Matthew Modine also tweeted a message of hope on January 19.

“There have been no new updates or witness information on his whereabouts since then,” Gloria Huerta, public information officer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, told the BBC on Friday.

“The aerial search is resuming, but we have not yet been able to resume a ground search due to icing conditions and the threat of avalanches,” Huerta said.

Cryer tweeted: ‘I hope against hope this turns out to be just another one of his adventures. I am so sorry that his family and friends are going through this.

Modine also took to Twitter to post: ‘#JulianSands is a wonderful man, husband, father and friend to so many.

‘A gentle and kind soul. Keep the candles lit for your safe return from the mountain you love.’

Mountain climber Sarah Crosby shared a tribute yesterday.

“Praying for Julian Sands who we met on Mount Kilimanjaro,” he wrote on Twitter.

“He treated us to Shakespeare and Keats and was the first person to capture us as an engaged couple. He even came down a piece of the mountain to introduce it to us. He is such a beautiful soul.

The weather is currently around 3°C (38°F) in Mount Baldy. There is a high wind warning for southwestern California, with official guidance stating: ‘Damaging winds could down trees and power lines. Power outages are possible. Traveling will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.

On Friday A spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said: “On January 15, 2023, phone pings showed Sands heading to the Mount Baldy area.

‘Additional phone pings from the cell phone provider were attempted but were unsuccessful, due to lack of cell service and most likely cell phone power failure.

‘A delayed ping via the Apple iPhone operating system of the Sands, dated January 14, 2023, provided a possible location on one of the trails leading to the top of Mount Baldy. This area was checked by ground searchers and by helicopter.

They added: ‘Ground and air searchers were unable to locate any evidence in this area that would help locate Mr Sands. Due to avalanche risks and trail conditions, ground crews were removed from the mountain Saturday night.

“However, the search continues by helicopter and drones when weather permits. Additional ground searches will be scheduled when the weather improves and it is safe for our rescue teams.

Sands is known for his roles in popular movies and television shows, including A Room With A View, 24, and Smallville.

He has three children and lives in the North Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles with his wife, the writer Evgenia Citkowitz.

Police had previously said they planned to continue searching for Sands and that there is “no hard deadline” to finish their search mission.

They initially said phone pings appeared to show she was on the move two days after she was reported missing.

Sands, 65, was reported missing by his family after going missing in the dangerous mountain range. He appears in a recent image given by his family to police to help with the search.

The region is home to some of the most popular trails in Los Angeles, California

They later clarified that these alerts were delayed and showed his movements the day he disappeared.

Police recovered important phone data, showing the West Yorkshire-born actor was still on the move on Sunday, January 15, but have been unable to pick up any signals since because his battery is dying.

Last Thursday, Julian’s family towed their car from a parking lot where it was discovered during the search.

Adverse weather conditions also caused the ground crews to withdraw from the mountain last Saturday night.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Friday that the current search is being conducted by helicopter only due to the avalanche risk in the region.

The authorities have given “no set time” for when land searches resume.

But Huerta added that there was also no timetable for ending the search at this time.

The incident is still classified as a search and rescue operation.

As California has been battered by winter storms, weather conditions on the mountain have inhibited attempts to help missing and injured hikers, including Sands.

Rescue teams searching for Sands on the ground had to be pulled off the mountain Saturday night due to dangerous weather.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department previously warned hikers to “think twice and heed warnings” as weather conditions worsen in the area.

The department reported that its search and rescue teams responded to 14 calls in and around Mount Baldy over the past four weeks.

Actor Julian Sands was reported missing on January 13 after failing to return from a hiking trip.

Sands and Helena Bonham Carter on the set of the award-winning 1985 film A Room With A View

Sands’ first major production was 1984’s The Killing Fields, the acclaimed historical drama about the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia (pictured with John Malkovich)

Julian’s son Henry, an experienced hiker, flew into California last weekend and is assisting in the search for Mount Baldy.

The 37-year-old Henry is believed to have retraced the route his father took, some 40 miles from Los Angeles, but was also forced to abandon his efforts due to bad weather.

A relative told MailOnline on Friday: ‘Henry has been in the US since the weekend and is helping with the search. The problem is that the weather is hampering the rescue efforts.

We are extremely concerned, but hope that Julian is found safe and sound. We will be attentive to see how things evolve in the coming days.

Sands disappeared after California was battered for weeks by treacherous storms, prompting an emergency declaration by US President Joe Biden.

Police said they had responded to 14 calls from Mount San Antonio, known to locals as Mount Baldy, in the past four weeks and warned hikers to “stay away” from that area.

“It is extremely dangerous and even experienced hikers are getting into trouble,” police said.

The phone belonging to Sands appears to show that he was on the move and was heading to a mountainous area in southern California the day he was reported missing.

Federal and state agencies in the United States said Friday they would join the search amid worsening weather conditions and avalanche risks that have halted the work of ground crews.

Phone signs two days after the 65-year-old Room with a View star was reported missing showed Sands around one of the trails leading to the top of Mount Baldy in the southern San Gabriel Mountains. of California, police revealed.

Police said they had found her car near where she was reported missing.

Sands has previously spoken about her love of hiking and mountaineering, saying that in 2020 she was happiest “near the top of a mountain on a glorious cold morning.”