High Sierra Topix

kpeter wrote:As we all carry our hopes for Larry forward, we also should keep compassion for Maverick, whose own emotions have been stirred by the very best of motives. People react to danger, grief, and frustration in different ways, and we should respect him during this time.

Well said. +1

+2.

Re Critter's post: I PMed SEKI Public Affairs with caveman's link to Larry's posts yesterday in case they missed it.

I just wanted to do a quick comment..I have been following Larry's story from the beginning..checking for new updates during the day and hoping for good news.

After reading a few of Larry's past postings that Critter posted..I have to wonder if Larry maybe could be outside the search area SAR have been looking for him..and where he is at has not even been searched yet...I am sure all of you and those involved in the search have thought of this..but still makes it very concerning to me. I am wondering if any summit registers have been checked..I do not know if Larry signs registers..some people choose not to.
I will continue to think good thoughts of finding Larry.

Well, it's certainly not fair to put so much on folks here. I understand Maverick's disappointment, but it's entirely misplaced.

From the above quotes, Larry certainly liked to go with the flow and wanted to strip everything away when he headed into the wild. I completely understand this and admire it greatly. I have done it long ago, but my head is in a very different place right now than it was then. We all make our choices and we all have to live with them, and so do others around us.

I'd have been up for a search out of Cedar Grove to check the drainages in case he tried to come down that way. But my wife being 7 months pregnant with twins, well she kind of needs me around here. I won't be made to feel badly about my choice in this matter.

Thanks for starting this thread as I didn’t want to add non-useful information to the other. However, I would like to chime in that I too thought hard about joining the search but succumbed to reason as I’ve never camped in snow and even in the summer, my routes have mainly been on trail. I don’t know Larry, Maverick, Shawn nor Sparky but hope for their safe return. I also wanted to add that I see a lot of caring, compassion and willingness to help fellow members from the “words” of the HST community and their inability to directly contribute to the ground search efforts shouldn’t take away from that.

I just wanted to add my sincerest hopes that there will be a positive outcome to this. I've been keeping track of developments so much, but for whatever reason, have waited to post. I just wanted to say that the sheer joy, sense of community, and fantastic stories and information that I've utilized (and I've directly benefited from Larry's trip reports) have made me a better outdoor enthusiast, and I wanted to say thanks for that first and foremost. As not an avid contributor I felt a little awkward jumping in and making judgments about recent developments. I can say however that the wandering spirit and sheer independence of being a Westerner compels me to admire those willing to risk their lives for others. Yet on the flip side having experienced high sierra snow (although nothing like that of Taboose pass area) in October before, I know how difficult the conditions can be.

I hope and pray that Larry is found and everybody headed to the high country involved in the search efforts considers their strength and limitations and makes smart decisions.

gary c.

I think you are right in that the main thread may have gotten off topic a bit, but I wouldn't call it "hijacking" and I don't believe it was truly necessary to start a new thread. A lot of folks were (and still are) following the main thread, and at some point someone will contribute useful information for the search, if anything by reading up on what another person had to say. Additionally, it's necessary to have a debate on what this situation means to people and how the community reacted. Personally, I feel like I learned so much about the HST and its individuals - even though we're all behind computer screens or posting from mobile devices, the support for Larry has been overwhelming. I've only been a member since earlier this year, but it's obvious to me that people do care about one another and would do anything in their power to help out, given their own circumstances.

windknot echoed many of my own feelings in his post below. I am younger and definitely much less experienced than most of this board, yet I would not hesitate to join a search party if I knew I wasn't more a liability than help. I hiked over Taboose Pass and climbed Split over Labor Day weekend; the conditions were ideal at the time however and our group was fairly large. The information I could contribute in current conditions would be of little help and I have no experience with winter travel in the High Sierra. But this doesn't mean I care less than any other HST member who has followed the developments every day and prayed hard for Larry's rescue.

Hoping that these discussions lead to positive takeaways for people and do not alienate valuable members like maverick, who can react hastily under distress.

Thank you to SEKI SAR, Inyo County rescuers and maverick & crew for all their efforts!

The thread is fine and will stay where it is.

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Re: Alternate search thread.
by FISHPOLE on Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:27 am

...Talk is cheap. Boots on the ground no matter who they are is what is needed and info from a SPOC SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT.

I’m not even sure of the reasons so many people write all these excuses of not being able to participate in the search. It sounds pathetic (no offence). But even worse some, especially those who excused themselves, try to judge the individuals who volunteered to do the search on their own for such an “irresponsible” decision.

SSSdave wrote:...At any time an unexpected loose boulder in talus, or invisible slippery spot on a log crossing over a large deep fast stream, or falling down into labyrinths between large talus, or a single ice hard spot during a traverse across steep firm snow, or unexpected pack weight shift while climbing move on an exposed face of steeps, or electrocution by lightning, are possible despite however careful one might be...

Yes, going to the mountains, especially for multiple days, at this time of the year is very risky and dangerous for majority of hikers/backpackers and even mountaineers but many still take the challenge for whatever the reason. And then among those in trouble requiring SAR efforts, some were lucky to be found quickly, some were found accidently in the next spring/summer or even years later, and some others never. That is the reality. Mountains have no mercy and may painfully punish anyone, regardless of the expertise, for ignorance or disrespect, for even the slightest mistake.

In case of Larry nothing is known. We don’t really know if the storm contributed to Larry’s initial factor of his disappearance but for sure made the search very difficult. And these few people who decided to continue the search on their own may obviously get in trouble as well. There is no guarantee they would find any clue but at least would be able to live in peace. They try; perhaps Larry would do the same for them.

"There is something money cannot buy..."

There are too many recriminations flying around, Everyone needs to live with their decisions and move ahead. There is no doubt that had this happened in summer or early fall there would have been a large turnout for a search effort. Right now it is essentially winter and that limits the field, and the viability of a search. Maverick obviously felt he had to try and more power to him, but not everyone can help. Now that the ground search is over Mav and his crew can search without interfering with the official search.
One of the first rules of SAR is to not become a victim yourself