A BIG SUR MAN HAS BEEN REPORTED MISSING. 55 YEAR-OLD ARVIN “CHIEF” NELSON, WHO WORKS AT THE BIG SUR RIVER INN, LEFT AUGUST 6TH ON A LONG SOLO HIKE IN THE LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST. HE ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO GET HOME BY AUGUST 16TH, BUT HAS NOT RETURNED. SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR HIM (ON FOOT AND FROM THE AIR) SINCE SUNDAY. ALTHOUGH NELSON WAS LAST SEEN AT CHINA CAMP, IT IS UNCLEAR IF HE WAS HEADED TO PINE VALLEY, PINE FALLS, OR THE BLACK CONE TRAIL. HE HAD EXPECTED TO EMERGE AT BIG SUR STATION VIA THE SYKES OR PINE RIDGE TRAIL. NELSON IS 6 FEET 3 INCHES TALL, AND WEIGHS ABOUT 200 POUNDS…..AND HE DRIVES A YELLOW WESTPHALIA-STYLE V-W BUS. ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION ON HIS WHEREABOUTS IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THE MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT.
