High Sierra Topix

Our friend Robert Bondurant is overdue returning from a trip to the mountains. His last known location was Wednesday Sept 28th at Golden Trout Lake west of Independence, CA. We believe he went to a hotel in Bishop, CA Wednesday evening (still waiting on confirmation) and then probably went out on the trails/mountains within an hour or two drive of Bishop again the next day and possibly other days after that. Probably still in the same approximate area, maybe Independence Peak/Onion Valley or other places near there. But he could also be anywhere between there and Washington State where he lives and was supposed to be back at work on Monday. It's a huge area that he could possibly be.
Rob is a 5'4" 145-155lbs, stocky/super fit. Runs marathons and ultramarathons multiple times a year and climbs lots of peaks. He has a very distinct walk/run gait, as his feet always turn outwards like he's doing a powerlifting squat. He also is very friendly and quick to smile. He's the nicest guy ever and volunteers a ton.
He was driving a grey 2022 Toyota Camry with Washington plates.
His family has contacted the local police and SAR where he was last known to be as well as his home police in Port Townsend, WA.
If you have any info please contact his friend Rebekah Rogers at 360-731-8649 or
morphconditioning@gmail.com Becky Rogers Thanks!
If you could help by sharing this with any hiking/running/outdoor groups or people anywhere in California, Oregon or Washington that would be a huge help as we're still trying to narrow down where he is. Maybe someone saw him or his car on Thursday or Friday or this weekend? His family and police are working to figure out via electronic/financial records where he might be but it's a process that takes time but if anyone has seen him or his car any where since last Wednesday (Sept 28th) it could be a huge help in locating him. This is urgent. Any info helps. Thanks again!

Update: His car was just found at the Devils Postpile TH. We believe that he was going to Clyde minaret. Search and rescue will be initiated and we’ve been in touch with Madera (559) 675-7770 and mono county (760) 932-7549 sheriffs department

At 1303 hours, the Team was called to assist Madera County Sheriff Search and Rescue in the search for an overdue hiker/scrambler in the area of the Minarets. The subject was traveling solo with the possible objectvie of summiting Clyde Minaret, 12,281’ elevation.

For the first afternoon, the Team was on standby as CHP helicopter H40 conducted an aerial search of the area. The search was postponed as darkness descended.


On October 6 at 0800 hours, Teams from Mono, Madera, Marin, and Fresno staged at Minaret Vista, and an Air National Guard Blackhawk helicopter arrive just after 1000 hours to begin inserting field teams into the search areas. Four field teams were inserted, and shortly thereafter a spontaneous volunteer (a local outdoors professional) located the subject after hiking in and checking various locations that he thought were likely.

Madera was unable to extract the subject before darkness, so arrangements were made to have the National Guard Blackhawk return at 0800 hours the next morning.

Due to mechanical difficulties and other delays, the Blackhawk did not arrive at rescue base until after noon, but were able to insert their own personnel, extract the subject, and transport his remains to rescue base for transfer to the Madera coroner.

IC: Madera Sheriff Search and Rescue Mono Ops Leaders: Thompson, Beck Responders: Brownlee, Burnett, Creager, Endo, Evans, Godshalk, Hartstrom, Haugh, Kaufman, Kelly, Knecht, Knight, Leyen, Lipman, Mayernick, Pavlovsky, Quiring, Wallace.