Caught between a rock and a hard place

A climber stuck on a ledge 70 feet above U.S. Highway 50 east of Echo Summit screamed for help early Monday morning.

Help arrived, but probably not in the form Joshua K. Chance, a 19-year-old from Walnut Creek, Calif., wanted.

A ladder from the Lake Valley Fire Department took Chance safely into the arms of El Dorado County Sheriff's Department. After finding stolen guns in his Ford Explorer, they arrested Chance on suspicion of public intoxication, possession of a sawed-off shotgun and possession of stolen property.

Chance's friend, a 17-year-old from Burlingame, Calif., was arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale, possession of a handgun and possession of stolen property.

The 17-year-old, also stuck on the ledge, came down before any help arrived. He cut his hand during the descent.

Chance and his friend were both judged to be intoxicated by deputies who said the two had difficulty talking and walking and had a "green substance" coating their mouths and tongues.

Chance reportedly told a deputy that he last smoked marijuana "just before we went rock climbing, about 6 a.m."

Deputies searched the Explorer and found a shotgun, butterfly knife and five bags of marijuana allegedly "packaged for sale." A backpack in the car contained $323 in cash, 18 empty plastic baggies, two scales and a handgun.

After running a check on the weapons, the sheriff's deputies said they discovered the shotgun and handgun had been reported stolen.