El Dorado County Sheriff's Dept:
On 6/28/22 at about 1:40 pm, EDSO received a report of a tent which appeared to have been abandoned and blown over by the wind in the Desolation Wilderness near Lake Aloha. The reporting party was concerned due to the condition of the tent and presence of other personal items. Property located within the tent included a USFS Wilderness Permit, and the driver’s license of 32-year-old Jia Huang of San Francisco.
EDSO contacted Huang's family members, who stated Huang was known to camp alone and planned to return home from his trip on 6/29/22. Based on reports from other hikers in the area, Huang’s tent appeared to be abandoned overnight from 06/27/22 to 06/28/22.
EDSO continued their investigation by pinging and sending emergency texts to Huang’s phone, both with negative results. On 06/28/2022 the EDSO Office of Emergency Services utilized air resources in an attempt to locate Huang in the areas near Lake Aloha. Flight crews also landed and checked the campsite and immediate area with negative results. Based on the abandoned tent and the circumstances, EDSO entered Huang as a missing person and requested the EDSO Search and Rescue Team (SAR) for further assistance.
On the morning of 06/29/22, the EDSO SAR team assembled to conduct a ground search for Huang. Teams located gear close to the shore of Lake Aloha and requested air support. With a further aerial search in that specific area, a person was located beneath the water. The decedent was recovered by the EDSO Dive Team and was transported to the South Lake Tahoe Airport. The decedent was then positively identified as Jia Huang. The cause of death was determined to be drowning and the manner of death is accidental.
EDSO extends our thoughts and prayers to the family, friends, and loved ones of Jia Huang for their loss.