Overdue Hiker - Do You Have Any Info?

Use this forum to stay informed on missing persons alerts, active SAR's and unfortunate hiker accidents we can all hopefully learn from. Any information you may have on a missing person, including first hand weather related information or any other insight (however little) may prove to be critical information to Law Enforcement / SAR in locating the person in question.
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copeg
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Re: Alternate (maverick's) search thread.

Post by copeg »

Thank you Shawn, for your effort and for reporting back so quickly
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canukyea
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Re: Alternate (maverick's) search thread.

Post by canukyea »

Hi folks,

Here's a summary of my search:

I rolled into Bishop at about 3am Saturday morning, napped an hour off a road, got to Sawmill TH at just before 5am, no other cars in the lot. After some fumbling, hit the trail at 5:30.

I got the initial slog done at right around 7-ish. This view of the canyon is really impressive, but I have to say, if he went down there, it would be pretty hairy to search that area...
canyon.JPG
Sawmill meadow around 9:30, an indication that snow level starts at 9000 ft with patches here and there.
sawmillmeadow.JPG
After that, I noticed that someone has been here before me! I could see footprints and hiking pole markings from what I initially thought was one person and one really small person going both directions, but the small person turned out to be a deer :rolleyes: . I didn't think the footprints were Larry's though since they were bi-directional.

Reached the pass at about 2pm, since a patch of trail invited me to nap there and I napped over an hour! Here's the view towards Mt Baxter and some indication of snow conditions up there:
passeast.JPG
Got back to the trailhead at around 7pm without seeing other signs of people being on the trail.

Sunday, I drove up to the 2wd trailhead for Armstrong Canyon and hit the trail at 7am (yes that is considering DST time change). Got to the top around 10 and while the upper reaches of the canyon might look delicious to someone experienced, it intimidated me out since it was patchy snow on loose talus. I had promised mission control that I would do no serious crosscountry so I had to turn around:
armstrong.JPG
But not before checking this cave or something, which had no signs of anyone being there:
cave.JPG
Back down the trail, I noticed a white towel but I had no reason to suspect it belonged to Larry. Back to the car at noonish.

Since I'm not pro, I can't say if I searched with enough scrutiny, I carried a whistle and blew it as regularly as I could and shouted as much as possible, but no reply and no other clues. I admit that few things make me sad, but this was something that made me shed a tear or two. I hope that maverick and sparky return safely as well, and maybe find some clues.
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Re: Alternate (maverick's) search thread.

Post by Paco »

Just some points of clarification-

The map put out buy SEKI only displays GPS data and some digitized data for searches that SEKI was responsible for, thus only stuff west of the crest. It does not include Inyo SAR gps or agencies coordinating for eastside searches with Inyo SAR. SEKI has lots of GIS help available for SAR and the Inyo County Sheriff does not. (if anyone living in Inyo county wants to be a volunteer mapper, they should show up to an Inyo County SAR meeting and let them know!).

Be aware, Inyo National Forest essentially does not participate in Search and Rescue. All of the eastside SAR is coordinated by The Inyo County Sherrif, with help from other volunteer agencies if they call for mutual aid. the NPS has exclusive jurisdiction in parks, the national forest does not, so there is a big difference in the way SAR is managed.
Last edited by Paco on Mon Nov 05, 2012 12:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Alternate (maverick's) search thread.

Post by Hobbes »

canukyea wrote:Hi folks, Here's a summary of my search:
Your photos really show how rugged that area is. That fact that you went up-down and then up-down again on those major passes is a testament to your own skill & experience.

Hopefully, Mav will reconsider some of his remarks upon his return. Larry was in some of the most extreme parts of the Sierra - not an easy area to search for an overdue hiker.
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Re: Alternate (maverick's) search thread.

Post by bkpkr »

Hobbes wrote:Hopefully, Mav will reconsider some of his remarks upon his return.
Leave Mav alone. Stop judging him. Be grateful he organized and went for the search along with other volunteers.
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Re: Alternate (maverick's) search thread.

Post by whrdafamI? »

bkpkr wrote:
Hobbes wrote:Hopefully, Mav will reconsider some of his remarks upon his return.
Leave Mav alone. Stop judging him. Be grateful he organized and went for the search along with other volunteers.
I don't think any of us are judging him. We just want him back on here. I think that this whole deal should be a lesson to all of us. Leaving a a trail plan with someone should be mandatory and then stick to it. I don't care how good you are off trail ANYTHING can happen.
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Re: Alternate (maverick's) search thread.

Post by ERIC »

This will be my last warning.
ERIC wrote:To clarify...

I think the array of opinions for and against all aspects of this mission, including how participation was solicited, have been well documented already within this thread and elsewhere. The reason why this thread was reopened was to provide a place to discuss the logistics of the mission itself in hopes of improving efficiencies and safety. Let's please leave it at that.

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Re: Alternate (maverick's) search thread.

Post by SweetSierra »

Canukyea,

Thanks for checking in and your report. To climb up Sawmill (I've only been down it) is no small feat, not to mention on only an hour's sleep.
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Re: Alternate (maverick's) search thread.

Post by Shawn »

Canukyea -

Nicely done; thanks very much for the time and effort to cover all of that ground. You really gave it a good push over two days.

Shawn
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Re: Alternate (maverick's) search thread.

Post by Gator »

Thank you Canuk.
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