An interesting story indeed.
I'm curious about the cell phone call from the desert though. I've been to the springs with two different cell phone services over the past few years. It's pretty remote and I always had "NO SERVICE" when I arrived at the ranch. And once you get down in any of those canyons... forget it.
And why would the sherrif's department call a private citizen's residence to inform them about lost hikers? Even if the sherrif knew they were camping at the ranch, I don't see them soliciting the help of private citizens until they had a more clear picture of the situation.
But then again, with all the "goin's on a the ranch" (according to the information provided on this forum site) The San Berd'o County Mounties probably have a direct line to the Bowen Ranch.