Missing friend in Mammoth Lakes /Tuolumne area

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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The Other Tom
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Re: Missing friend in Mammoth Lakes /Tuolumne area

Post by The Other Tom »

Just a thought, but perhaps you could obtain the missing pages from his guidebook (using a new copy). Maybe there are day hike recommendations in those missing pages that might give a clue to where he might have gone.
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maverick
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Re: Missing friend in Mammoth Lakes /Tuolumne area

Post by maverick »

Help locate a missing Sierra climber

Postby Mono County SAR » Thu Aug 08, 2013 12:14 pm
Peak Baggers in the Central Sierra Nevada:
Please help locate a missing climber

Climber Matt Greene has been overdue since 17 July 2013, and you can assist in the search effort.

If you summit any peak located in the general area between Tom's Place and Lee Vining, please carefully examine the summit register for Matt Greene's name on the dates of 15-19 July 2013. Remember that summit registers can be disorganized, and several log books may be present. Note that we want to hear from you whether or not you see his name; the absence of his name on a given peak is useful also.

Please report your results to Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team at MosarOps@gmail.com. If you don't have email access, then please leave a phone message at: 760-566-6727.

Please print this page and take it with you as a reference for the dates and email address.

Note:
Although we are posting this request, SAR volunteers are not permitted to discuss ongoing missions in any public fashion. We are instead required to direct inquiries to the Mono County Sheriffs Office, as we work under their direction:
760-932-7549 x7 (ask for the SAR coordinator or secondarily the Watch Commander)
sar@monosheriff.org

Thank you for your assistance-.

Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team
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I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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Re: Missing friend in Mammoth Lakes /Tuolumne area

Post by oaktown »

I've been reading these posts the last couple days, and I have a few random ideas-- they might seem like less important details, but you never know:
1. I know someone said that the library deletes search history every night, but I think it'd be worth giving someone that knows computers well a little rein to dig it up; its usually possible, and it seems so likely that he might have looked at where he was going the next day.
2. Did the PD actually check the pockets of the pants he might have been wearing the night before? I'm assuming they did, but just in case, his pockets could be holding notes that he wrote down in the library, or receipts of things bought with cash the day before, and ideally, itemized receipts from the grocery store that could be helpful.
3. Regarding receipts, I know I read on one of the forums that his credit card history was looked at: does this include his debit card history too, in particular, cash withdrawals, or cash back? If the shuttle isn't free and you have to pay in cash, it could help.
4. Are there any other books/pages that he may have taken related to plants, or birds, etc? Or binoculars? Just another thing that might help determine location.
5. Do you know how many water bottles/vessels he took in relation to how many he has, and/or did he take his water filter? Could tell you how far he was planning on going, and if he was going somewhere that he planned to be able to refill (filter) water.
6. Does he take any meds? Has someone checked to see how many pills are gone in relation to date picked up from pharmacy? Especially if he takes something more than once a day, it could tell you if he thought he was going to be gone all day, or just part day.
7. I'm assuming the PD talked to the other people that were camping at Shady Rest the night before the day he went missing--seems likely that the night before he might have hung out with the person camping next to him and talked about what he was going to climb the next day.
8. Does he have any other health issues? Sometimes the smallest aspects of behavior related to a health issue can provide clues, e.g., I have Crohn's Disease, and my whereabouts if I went on a day-hike could be pretty narrowed down distance and environ-wise by how much biodegradable TP and medicine I brought with me. If he has any kind of health issue, people with that same health issue might notice things about what he brought or didn't bring with him that others wouldn't.

I know these things seem small and/or immaterial compared to what gear he brought with him, but they really could provide clues.
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Re: Missing friend in Mammoth Lakes /Tuolumne area

Post by maverick »

Hi Oaktown,

Welcome to HST! Thanks for adding on your helpful ideas! :thumbsup:
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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Re: Missing friend in Mammoth Lakes /Tuolumne area

Post by tdavidock »

Thanks Oaktown- I will provide these suggestions to folks heading out this weekend. Thanks for posting the updated release, Maverick.

Tom
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Re: Missing friend in Mammoth Lakes /Tuolumne area

Post by maverick »

PM sent Tom.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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Re: Missing friend in Mammoth Lakes /Tuolumne area

Post by Tom_H »

It saddens me to ask this, but I feel like I have to. Is the PD looking into possibilities of things other than a hiking accident? Were there any observations by others in the campground of any problems with obnoxious other campers? Is there any possibility of altercation with the auto repair mechanic? Has the PD considered the possibility of foul play not related to hiking, like being kidnapped by someone who gave him a ride somewhere, i.e. was Matt given to hitchhike very often, was he trusting of strangers? I really feel bad in asking these things, but also hope the PD is leaving no stone unturned.

My best regards,
Tom H
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kenish
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Re: Missing friend in Mammoth Lakes /Tuolumne area

Post by kenish »

Some thoughts-

1. Oaktown is right...there are other ways to retrieve browsing history. The library may erase the browsing history, but not the cache of images and web pages. A "IT forensics" person knows how to dig deeper...it's difficult to truly erase a hard drive.

2. Was Matt's phone inspected for stored photos, voice memos, internet history, access to the "cloud" for photos and storage, syncing his contacts/calendar, etc? (Maybe I missed that his phone is missing too)

3. If he has an account with Google, Apple, Facebook, etc, they definitely have a history of his account activity while he was logged in. They can also access his email account and look for any sent emails, photo uploads, etc. The ISP for the library should be able to retrieve browsing history and accesses to their routers and servers from the library computer.

4. Owens Gorge is a climbing spot about 15 miles SE of Mammoth Lakes. Any thought he may have gone there instead? Sometimes missing people are right under everyone's nose!

5. The press release asking climbers to check trail and peak logs is a good idea...but should ask climbers to report negative results too. Sometimes it doesn't occur to people that lack of evidence is valuable information.

6. Has anyone contacted hospitals in the region for "John Doe" patients? I don't know if there's a system automatically in place to do that, or if hospitals need to be alerted.

7. This may sound a little whacked but has a reputable psychic been consulted? There's a few out there...one recently led police to a missing child in this area; the police chief said they had pretty much given up.

8. Does the bus have a security cam? Does a store, bank, etc. have a camera that happens to cover the bus stop where he would have waited for the bus? That could verify whether or not he took the bus. He may have met another climber at the campground or in town the evening before and they carpooled to a different place instead.

9. The largest grocery store in ML is Vons, who is part of Safeway. Would Matt be the type to pay cash for groceries, but use a club card for the discount? He may have "stocked up" the evening of the 16th...if he used a club card they will have a record of what he purchased. Safeway uses either the card number or you can enter your phone number.

Hope these help. All the best to the searchers!
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Re: Missing friend in Mammoth Lakes /Tuolumne area

Post by maverick »

Hi Kenish,

Welcome to HST! Thanks for thoughts, and for registering as a member to get involved
in finding Matt. :thumbsup:
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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Re: Missing friend in Mammoth Lakes /Tuolumne area

Post by orbitor »

I read the entire thread here, but unfortunately have nothing to contribute. Wishes go out to Matt, hope he is found soon.

I do want to let you know that we are heading to Mt. Lyell tomorrow and we'll be on the lookout for any signs of him. We are taking the standard route from Tuolumne Meadows, up Lyell canyon, then taking the glacier to the Lyell-Maclure saddle before climbing to the summit. We will check the register at both summits (Maclure is optional target). This will be a single day attempt - the infamous 30-mile hike.
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