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Recovered: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
#39249 07/30/14 07:16 PM
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News Releases - Sequoia and Kings Canyon N.P.

Please help us get the word out--a hiker is missing in Sequoia National Park.

For printable flyer: http://www.nps.gov/seki/parknews/upload/MISSING-HIKER-Dawson-Johnson-July-30-2014.pdf



Edit:  Dawson Johnson hiked to the Mt Whitney summit, Tuesday, July 29, but failed to return to his campsite at Crabtree Meadow. His wife reported him missing, and late Wednesday, his body was spotted on the north side of Mt Whitney where he apparently had fallen and died. His remains were recovered, and on Friday, Sequoia National Park published the news.

Rest in Peace, Dawson Johnson. We all grieve when a hiker dies.

Last edited by Steve C; 08/02/14 11:52 PM.
Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
SEKI News #39253 07/30/14 07:58 PM
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second night out. No pack, which likely means little/no water.

You wouldn't think it was possible for someone to go missing in this section, although that happened with the older fellow a couple years back. At 3pm, though, he is up there later than most people will be on that section of trail.

Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
SEKI News #39272 07/31/14 10:00 AM
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Thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.


@jjoshuagregory (Instagram) for mainly landscape and mountain pics
Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
Snacking Bear #39306 07/31/14 09:16 PM
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Incredibly little follow-up to this story. Are missing hikers becoming so commonplace that the press is not interested? The original story says his itinerary was Crabtree to Guitar to Whitney. How do they know that? Did he leave a party at Crabtree? Word at the trailhead? Did he talk to someone on the way up? Is his family involved? Where was his camp? Is it still there? How do they know he is missing? Who reported that? WHy so little information?


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Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
saltydog #39308 07/31/14 09:47 PM
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Your question prompted me to ask the Seki P.I. officer. The latest news is no news: "No new information is available at this time."

Young guys and old guys...... shouldn't hike alone!

Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
Steve C #39309 07/31/14 10:03 PM
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Originally Posted By: Steve C


Young guys and old guys...... shouldn't hike alone!


SHHHHHHH....they will hear you and make a law!


The body betrays and the weather conspires, hopefully, not on the same day.
Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
saltydog #39313 08/01/14 12:11 AM
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Originally Posted By: saltydog
Incredibly little follow-up to this story. Are missing hikers becoming so commonplace that the press is not interested? The original story says his itinerary was Crabtree to Guitar to Whitney. How do they know that? Did he leave a party at Crabtree? Word at the trailhead? Did he talk to someone on the way up? Is his family involved? Where was his camp? Is it still there? How do they know he is missing? Who reported that? WHy so little information?


There was some info posted on the "California Peaks" FB group. One hiker talked with the gentleman & his wife when they were all at Horseshoe Meadow a few days previously, and they told her of their plans. They were doing the PCT (not sure if just a section, or thru-hiking). Then one female hiker (the one who posted on CA Peaks) spoke with the gentleman when he was on his way down (solo) from the Whitney summit - he asked her if she was headed to Guitar & could she pass on a message to his wife that he was moving more slowly than anticipated, but was ok. The hiker was headed to the Portal, so she was unable to pass on the message. It seems that she may have been the last person to see the gentleman. frown

Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
Steve C #39314 08/01/14 01:59 AM
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Originally Posted By: Steve C


Young guys and old guys...... shouldn't hike alone!


Yeah: good thing we're neither, huh?


Wherever you go, there you are.
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Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
saltydog #39351 08/01/14 01:08 PM
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I completely understand your frustration.
The process has been this: every hiker they could reach (team leader on the permit) received a phone call from Forestry Services informing us that a hiker had gone missing on the day of our hike and requesting any info that might be useful. I received such a call.

I talked to Dawson on his way to summit. His wife was waiting down at guitar lake. So, between the info they received from his wife and what they can compile from hikers who had any info, they have pieced together the little bit of information known.
I can't begin to tell you how my heart aches for that family. Last word I heard from calling to forestry services again and again is that they are still looking.

That is all that's known publicly. I just hope the family has more info than we have frown

Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
Spice4Life #39352 08/01/14 01:37 PM
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Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
Maverick #39354 08/01/14 02:00 PM
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Link was met with a "you are not authorized to view this document" result.


The body betrays and the weather conspires, hopefully, not on the same day.
Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
Bee #39355 08/01/14 02:26 PM
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Here's picture:

Dawson Johnson, missing on Mt Whitney, July 29, 2014



Sure is strange that he seems to have disappeared.

Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
Steve C #39357 08/01/14 03:09 PM
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Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
Steve C #39361 08/01/14 05:31 PM
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@jjoshuagregory (Instagram) for mainly landscape and mountain pics
Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
Snacking Bear #39362 08/01/14 05:37 PM
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I am sorry for the loss to the family & friends.

Can someone talk about this area of the "North slope of Whitney" -- would this be the approach area of the Mountaineer's Route (easy walk-off summit arrival area?)


The body betrays and the weather conspires, hopefully, not on the same day.
Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
Bee #39363 08/01/14 05:51 PM
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That's what they make it sound like...


@jjoshuagregory (Instagram) for mainly landscape and mountain pics
Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
SEKI News #39364 08/01/14 06:48 PM
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Dear Steve C,

Hello My name is Jason Johnson..Dawson was my father. I came across this forum googling articles and trying to find out information about what happened. He and I grew apart over the years and this is the first picture I have seen of him in some time. I wanted to thank you for posting it. It means a great deal, it is something I am going to print out and hold on to dearly. I cant thank you enough.

I called the Investigator at Sequoia and he was helpful enough, but I guess I just didn't know enough about Whitney to ask the right questions. He was trying to tell me the spot where he fell off, but I just couldn't follow him. He said it was close to the summit hut. When I google pictures of the hut, I see a huge area of strewn rocks. Is there a dropoff nearby. Could altitude sickness force you to walk off the edge. Im very confused. If you could shed some light on where you think this area is that he fell, and any other information, I would greatly appreciate it. What are some of the reasons others have died. I asked the Investigator if anyone has every fell of this area before and he said never.

P.S. Like I said, we had grown apart over the last 10 years. If anyone has unsettled business with a family member, I beg you to make amends immediately.





Last edited by JJ5000; 08/01/14 06:49 PM.
Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
Bee #39366 08/01/14 07:01 PM
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The north slope is very broadly the area from the summit down to the Arctic Lake drainage, west of the ridge between Whitney and Russell. SO, yes, generally beneath the walk-off and perhaps a half mile west of there.

Its a pretty wide area, as you can see



Wherever you go, there you are.
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Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
JJ5000 #39367 08/01/14 07:01 PM
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Dear Jason,

I am sorry for your loss. I lost my father 4 mos ago, so I feel your pain.

There are many individuals on this board who are familiar with the area (Steve C was just in the area a couple of weeks ago) so like yourself, I would appreciate a primer on the area.


The body betrays and the weather conspires, hopefully, not on the same day.
Re: Missing Hiker in Sequoia National Park
SEKI News #39368 08/01/14 07:19 PM
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thanks saltydog. I will fwd that pic to the investigator and see if he will mark where they think he fell..for closure I reckon. Anyone that is familiar with Whitney and the dangers of climbing it, please chime in on something that you THINK could have happened. Could he have gone to edge for a better look and slipped? Im lookin for any remote ideas...or maybe something that has happened to someone else in the past. Im not finding much on the net about past fatalities other than most are due to lack of preparation.

Last edited by JJ5000; 08/01/14 07:21 PM.
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