Search continues for missing hiker near Gaviota Peak

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif.-The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office set up a command post near the Gaviota Peak trailhead when Tim Sgrignoli, 29, of Ventura, went missing on Sunday afternoon in extreme heat.

They are still searching for him.

Search and Rescue crews said when his girlfriend showed signs of heat exhaustion they called for help and Sgrignoli gave her the phone they were sharing on the trial and pinged her location to another phone they had left in their car at the trailhead.

He had hiked this trail before, and they had already made it to the peak where there is an ocean view.

They were headed down when she let him know she was not feeling well.

He found a place in the shade by a cave and left her some water and headed down the trail for more water.

She was hoisted to safety around 2 p.m. on Sunday, but Sgrignoli has yet to turn up.

His family, including his mother Dianne Sgrignoli-Cullimore from Florida, put out a call on social media for help and dozens of volunteers have joined search, but the trail that includes Trespass Trail is closed to other hikers.

His mother told Local 10 News (ABC) in Florida that he went to University of Florida after graduating as the valedictorian from Pompano High.

He moved to California with his girlfriend and they found a place to live in Ventura.

Sheriff's Cmdr. Erik Raney said, "This is an all out search by our Santa Barbara County Volunteer Search and Rescue Team as well as other jurisdictions that have sent their search and rescue teams."

They are still helpful he can be found alive.

"We have got family and friends of our missing hiker here supporting our search efforts and we are just really hopeful that all of these exhaustive search efforts will lead to positive results."

The trail is considered a difficult but not expert.

It includes steep areas without much shade.

"The full loop trail going up the fire road and down Trespass Trail is definitely not for the faint of heart."

Search crews that including dogs from the Nationals Disaster Search Dog Foundation on the first day have had to take more breaks due to the heat wave.

Cmdr. Raney said the volunteers take time off from their own lives to help and they are committed to finding the missing hikers.

Some of the area's newest Search and Rescue volunteers are taking part in the search.

Those interested in training to be a volunteer can learn more at www.sbcsar.net.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department said they will post updates on the search on social medial.