How missing Oakland father, kids alerted their rescuers

Nick Vlahos and two of his young children were rescued after being stranded in a remote part of Sierra County during a camping trip this week. Nick Vlahos and two of his young children were rescued after being stranded in a remote part of Sierra County during a camping trip this week. Photo: Courtesy / Marianne Vlahos Photo: Courtesy / Marianne Vlahos Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close How missing Oakland father, kids alerted their rescuers 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

An Oakland father who was stranded for more than two days with his two children on a remote and rugged Northern California road was located Thursday evening after he placed an LED flashlight on his stuck pickup truck and waved to a rescue helicopter, his family said Friday.

Nicholas Vlahos, a 41-year-old barber, had gone missing after a camping trip with his 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter at Fiddle Creek Campground on the Yuba River in Sierra County, about 100 miles northeast of Sacramento.

His stepfather, Bob Wehmeyer — who had also gone on the camping trip before splitting off from Vlahos — said Friday that Vlahos had driven off at 11 a.m. Tuesday, taking a route made for off-road vehicles in his Toyota Tundra pickup.

According to Wehmeyer, Vlahos was driving out of Poker Flat, a deserted town in Sierra County, when he noticed that the way out was blocked by a tree. Instead of going back on the road toward the campsite, Vlahos tried to maneuver around the tree, but the trail he used collapsed under the truck, forcing it to slide sideways into a tree.

The car’s battery later died as well, Wehmeyer said. At that point, the family was nearly a mile from Poker Flat.

Vlahos had plenty of food and water, though, and he and the children were said to be in good health Friday, a day after a California National Guard helicopter crew spotted the LED flashlight at about 8 p.m.

“It was such a relief to see them,” said Wehmeyer, who had reported his loved ones missing late Tuesday and had gone back to the area with his wife on Wednesday. “That was great. It was really exciting to see them.”

After the family’s helicopter ride, Vlahos told KGO-TV that he had spent 50 hours trying to get the attention of rescuers.

“We are so grateful to everyone who looked for us, and I’m so sorry that I caused any worry,” he told the television station.

He said the family could hear and see their would-be rescuers, but “they couldn’t see us. ... We had fires going, I had pink blankets up in trees and yellow straps all over and we left bottles by the river. We did everything we could.”

His daughter, Mila, told KGO-TV, “It was really scary.”

Asked by her uncle, “But was it fun?” She replied, “Kinda.”

Reached after the rescue, Vlahos’ wife said, “I think I’m still in shock.” She said waiting for word on her missing family had been “like living in a nightmare. We were preparing for the worst.”

Marianne Vlahos, who was in Kentucky visiting family with the couple’s 2-year-old son, said that the other two children were in good spirits despite their ordeal.

“Nick really held it together for them,” she said. “There is zero trauma.”

She added, “And the kids got to ride in a helicopter. So I’m sure they are over the moon.”

Nicholas Vlahos, a third-generation Greek American barber who lives in Oakland’s Dimond neighborhood, co-owns two popular 1920s-style shops in Alameda County that provide old-style haircuts and straight-razor shaves. Friends said he is also an experienced outdoorsman.

He and the children were set to reunite with family late Friday in Oakland, where a welcoming committee was waiting. His sister flew in from New York, his brother from Hawaii.

“This is the first time in so many years that all three of my mother’s children are together on Mother’s Day,” the sister, Katrina Wehmeyer, said. “I’m so happy that we’re all here together.”

Hamed Aleaziz is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: haleaziz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @haleaziz