News release Oct 29:
Searchers Continued to Look for Missing Hiker Larry Conn at Kings Canyon National Park
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, CA – Searchers continued to look for missing hiker Larry Conn at Kings Canyon National Park on Monday, October 29. A total of 45 staff from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, in cooperation with the Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue ("YODOGS"-canine search and rescue team), Kern County Sheriff's Office, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue, and Yosemite National Park, were part of the operation. Thirteen ground search teams, three dogs, and two contract helicopters (AStar B3, Bell 206L4) focused on specific high-probability areas around Pinchot Pass, Taboose Pass, and Split Mountain, including likely travel corridors/camp locations.
Conditions were challenging with melting/refreezing cycles masking potential tracks and creating icy areas, deep snow in drifts, cold temperatures from the mid-40s in the daytime to the low-20s at night (degrees Fahrenheit), and high elevations (8,000-13,000 feet). No clues were connected to this hiker today. The search is expected to continue on Tuesday. Managers continue to evaluate any new information to determine the direction of search efforts over the next days.
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Photo of helicopter coming in for a landing during search operations"
(From the background terrain and vegetation, it appears to be in the Three Rivers area.)
