High Sierra Topix

On Saturday, November 11th, 2023 about 2053 hours, Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call for an overdue mountaineer. Marc Rockwell-Pate was reported overdue by his family after he did not return from a climb of Mt. Agassiz. Mt. Agassiz is a 13,899-foot peak near Bishop Pass.

Mr. Rockwell-Pate called his father-in-law from the summit at 1230 hours and said he was going to be descending and returning to the trailhead. Mr. Rockwell-Pate planned on meeting his wife at the trailhead. Mr. Rockwell-Pate was described as an experienced hiker and climber, fit, with extensive survival training from his time with the United States Navy.

A search of the area was planned for first light Sunday morning (11/12). CHP Central Division Air Operations Helicopter H-40 from Fresno was requested to assist with the search. H-40 conducted several aerial searches between the summit of Mt. Agassiz and the trailhead. H-40 was unable to locate Mr. Rockwell-Pate or any clues. Concurrently, Inyo County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) team was dispatched to the trail and performed a ground search for several hours. This search was conducted between the trailhead and Mt. Agassiz. SAR was unable to locate Mr. Rockwell-Pate or any clues. Ground search efforts were suspended until the following day because of nightfall. A high-altitude infrared and thermal imaging plane was requested from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and provided over two hours of aerial searching during the night. The plane was unable to locate any clues.

Additional resources were requested through Cal OES including a Chinook Helicopter from the California Army National Guard in Sacramento. The Chinook was requested for the morning of Monday 11/13. Extensive ground and aerial searches were planned for first light.

Sunday, 11/12 about 2300 hours, a hiker reported finding a deceased person on the west face of Mt. Agassiz at about 12,800-feet. SAR and CHP Inland Air Operations Division Helicopter H-82 were dispatched to the area in the morning of 11/13. Ground teams began hiking the trail towards Mt. Agassiz. China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station Rescue Helicopter VX-31 was also in the area assisting with another rescue on Mt. Whitney with Inyo SAR. Once completed with that mission, VX-31 responded and assisted by inserting SAR members above Bishop Pass.

Inyo SAR climbed up the west slope of Mt. Agassiz and arrived at the deceased person whose identity was later confirmed as Marc Rockwell-Pate. H-82 assisted Inyo SAR by hoisting the decedent and transporting them to the Inyo County Coroner’s Office.

We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the Rockwell-Pate family and his friends. We would like to thank the California Highway Patrol, China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, California Army National Guard, and Cal OES for their assistance with this mission.

Inyo SAR is an all-volunteer and unpaid, professional non-profit 501(c)3 organization in cooperation with and under the authority of the Inyo County Sheriff's Office. Providing search and rescue services to Inyo County and its visitors is only possible thanks to donations. Inyosar.com/donate