Oakland Father, Young Kids Missing From Sierra Camping Trip
ALAMEDA COUNTY (CBS SF) -- An Oakland barber and his two young children have gone missing while taking a drive through a remote area of Sierra and Plumas counties, Sierra County sheriff's officials said Thursday.
Nicholas Vlahos, 41, had been camping in western Sierra County with his 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter, according to the sheriff's office.
They left their campsite in a black 2015 Toyota Tundra 4X4 pickup truck and planned to take a drive through a remote and rugged area of Sierra and Plumas counties as they went home. They were in good health and had plenty of supplies, according to the sheriff's office.
Vlahos' friend and business partner Bradley Roberts said Vlahos is an experienced outdoorsman. "He's used to being in the woods ... and driving on jeep trails," said Bradley. "He's ridden a motorcycle from Alaska to the tip of South America."
On Tuesday evening, Vlahos and his kids were reported overdue returning home from the trip. Deputies searched the area that evening but found no sign of them.
The next day, deputies conducted a more extensive search of the planned route and surrounding areas with the assistance of Cal Fire and a California Highway Patrol helicopter but still have been unable to locate the family.
Authorities planned to resume the search this morning, but reports of snowfall in the region could complicate the efforts.
Bradley said despite the expected snow, he believed his friend and the kids will be found safe. "They're going to find him stuck somewhere and we're going to laugh about it in a couple of days ... and everything's going to be fine - I hope."
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