Inyo County SAR and SEKI SAR are currently conducting an Search & Rescue Operation on Mt. Whitney. SAR teams are searching for 3 male individuals aged in their mid-forties that summited Mt. Whitney late Monday evening. Last contact with the party was at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday via text msg from the summit hut requesting assistance. Clothing and equipment descriptions are unknown at this time. Any hikers who may have seen or come into contact with this party are requested to contact SEKI SAR Incident Command at 559 565-3117, 3118, 3119 or 559 565-3188, 3189.
Any assistance in this incident is greatly appreciated.
I will check back periodically. Whitney Portal Trail. Regular trail route. This was a large party from Nebraska that split into 3 separate groups. 2 groups made it down. I cannot disclose full names at this time, but the missing 3 first names are Phil, Stephan, Dale.
Jim Gould Park Ranger Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, CA.
Bulldog, thanks for the info. A bit of clearing in the weather, but it will be cold tonight. Then snow at night for a few days. Anybody know if anybody went to the hut today? You'd think they would have stayed put. The experience level really scares me.
Seems to be the season for this stuff. Wasn't it about this time last year that Wade Brunette disappeared on Whitney?
Logically, I suppose this transitional period of dry trails to snowy season would hold the greatest likelihood for people getting into trouble up there. By late November and December, the mountain is in deep winter conditions with an absolute certainty, and anyone attempting them would know the equipment, conditions, and skill level score well before getting in trouble up high. October probably sees people with all different skill levels and equipment trying the mountain, many of whom are not ready for a snow dump and a change of trail conditions from a bit snowy in places to almost-winter.
Really hope they're off the summit - the forecast for tonight is mid-teens and more snow.
Must bee careful of the stream of information that forms up under "stress". Before you know it, someone is pointing accusatory fingers at a potentially innocent person....posting names, pictures -- "I know who their boss is!" -- and lives are needlessly affected...*end of lecture*
This is, by far, the most dangerous time of the year. Taking a trip up requires *judgment*. Getting into fresh snow may be a situation in which 1/4 mile an hour is a herculean effort. Snowshoes may not help. It may be colder than mid-winter. There is actual navigation, even on the main trail.
With three feet of fresh snow, I don't know if the switchback area is even climbable at all, right now.
I've advocated, for some time, that the USDA FS should allow guiding on the main trail during this, and spring. I don't know the details of what is going on with this group.
But I know that if a professional guide service were operating high on the mountain, that there would be options that don't exist now.
I could not agree more with Ken when it comes to this time of the year being dangerous. As I have said, the most dangerous thing on the MMWT is you, not the cables, windows or weather. You are the one making all the decisions.
My guess guiding would be ok in the months of May and October. There is not a whole lot of pressure on permits in these months and, God, do we have a lot of hand wringing by noobs going this time of year.
With that said, I don't think many would pop $500 to walk up a benign trail...which is what this is most Octobers. Heck, I don't think many would pop $500, if the trail was full-on winter in October. It's still a stinking trail in most folks' minds.
This came in at 9:42 PM -- News Release from SEKI:
Quote:
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks News Release For Immediate Release: October 20, 2010 Contact: Dana M. Dierkes Phone Number: (559) 565-3131
Search and Rescue in/around Mount Whitney Inyo County and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are currently conducting a search and rescue operation in/around Mount Whitney. Teams are searching for three males that hiked to Mount Whitney late on Monday, October 18, in the evening. See the three attached flyers for specific information and photos of the missing parties. Any hikers who may have seen or come in contact with any of the individuals should call the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Incident Command Post at 559-565-3117.
Approximately 45 people have been assigned to the incident as of October 20. Search operations are being hampered by snowstorms with accumulations between 1-3 feet of new snow. Additional staff and a helicopter have been ordered in the hope that the weather will allow search operations to continue tomorrow.
News release from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Oct 20, 2010
Missing Person Name: Phillip Michael Abraham Height: 5' 6" Weight: 145 lbs. Age: 34 years old Hair: Black hair Eyes: Brown Race: Caucasian
Clothing: Last seen wearing gray and black jacket, khaki pants, headlamp, glasses, black stocking cap Backpack: Black backpack Tent & Sleeping Bag: Unknown if carrying. Relevant Information: Hiking with two other individuals. Intended Itinerary: Phillip Michael Abraham and his party intended to hike to Mount Whitney on 10/18/2010. The group departed the trailhead at 4:00 a.m. and planned to return the same evening.
Have You Seen This Man or Have You Been in the Mount Whitney Area since 10/18/10? If so, please call 559-565-3117 or 760-873-2513
News release from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Oct 20, 2010
Missing Person Name: Stevan James Filips Height: 5' 8" Weight: 150 lbs. Age: 43 years old Hair: Brown hair Eyes: Brown Race: Caucasian Clothing: Last seen wearing black pants, black over blue jacket, gray scarf, black stocking cap, olive green undershirt, uses hiking poles Backpack: Desert Camouflage Camelback Tent/Sleeping Bag: Unknown if carrying Relevant Information: Hiking with two other individuals. Intended Itinerary: Stevan James Filips and his party intended to hike to Mount Whitney on 10/18/2010. The group departed the trailhead at 4:00 a.m. and planned to return the same evening.
Have You Seen This Man or Have You Been in the Mount Whitney Area since 10/18/10? If so, please call 559-565-3117 or 760-873-2513.
News release from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Oct 20, 2010
Missing Person Name: Dale Clymens Height: 5' 8" Weight: 150 lbs. Age: 45 years old Hair: Brown hair, shoulder-length, goatee Eyes: Brown Race: Caucasian Clothing: Last seen wearing green cargo pants, black with gray trim jacket, blue stocking cap, blue undershirt, headlamp, using red hiking poles Backpack: Red Osprey backpack Tent & Sleeping Bag: Unknown if carrying Relevant Information: Hiking with two other individuals. Intended Itinerary: Dale Clymens and his party intended to hike to Mount Whitney on 10/18/2010. The group departed the trailhead at 4:00 a.m. and planned to return the same evening.
Have You Seen This Man or Have You Been in the Mount Whitney Area Since 10/18/10? If so, please call 559-565-3117 or 760-873-2513.
Hi all very new here. I just came back from Whitney 20-oct. I went up on monday and camped at the low site due to a blizzard at 2pm. Tuesday we attempted to summit. My party of four did not summit. After 13000 feet, the trail disappeared, no more tracks, heavy clouds rolling in, visbility about 30 yards, wind picking up, and snow at some points hip deep (I'm 6'). We returned 20-oct. About noon, on the trail down, we met with mountain rescue, they were unable to reach the summit on 19-oct for a rescue. Wednesday, at 10000 ft, the snow was falling heavier then it was on monday. On monday night we saw two parties come down. The first party was six people (all with day packs). It was dark. They came toward our camp and asked if this was the trail. I pointed to where the trail was and they went on without another word. That was about 7pm. The second group came along about 840pm -- a group of four (all with day packs). I asked as they passed if they made it to the top. "YAH". Then I asked how was it. "Blizzard". We all went to bed at 9pm. Only one person came down Tuesday night. When asked if he made it to the top, he replied "nah". That was about 800pm. We all went to bed about 1030pm, and headed out wednesday morning around 10am. I'm a fairly light sleeper and did not hear anyone else on the trail. Three hikers went up 20-oct about 5am, and two more went up about 7am.
Omaha, NE.....I just know one of the hikers for sure. He's the cousin of my best friend, sent a text early Tuesday morning to family here stating he was stuck up there. Asked for someone to send help. His cell phone has since died so no further word from him. They sent him directions to the hut but not sure his phone was still working at that point. He didn't respond.
I also know they went up to try to get them yesterday morning. They got about a mile from where they thought they were and had to turn around due to the white out conditions.
Safe with emergency supplies? Combination? Am I missing something? That's the first I've heard of this. Could this be the other room of the hut with the locked door? Is it secured with a combination lock?
My thoughts and prayers are with these guys. I haven't been able to get them off my mind since I heard the news on the radio this morning. The news about Mt. Whitney arrives in So. Cal later than Central Cal receives it. Has anyone ever read "Off the Wall in Yosemite"? Great book to teach someone what not to do in the wilderness(my opinion). If there are any writers out there, a book about "Off the Trail at Mt. Whitney" might save some lives. I hope and pray these guys get home safely to their families.
i don't know about a safe, but i did see into that room w/the door open once. ranger rob from seki was up there. there were items in the room, but looking from the bright sunlight into the dark room it was difficult to say what was there, and i wasn't that curious at the time.
Originally Posted By: Bulldog34
Combination?
a typical gov't combo lock w/the numbered dials on the 'bottom' - not the sides - of the lock.
Originally Posted By: Bulldog34
Am I missing something? That's the first I've heard of this. Could this be the other room of the hut with the locked door?
yes. to the left of the register box.
Originally Posted By: Bulldog34
Is it secured with a combination lock?
yes. and w/o the combo there's no way to get through that steel door. it is truly industrial strength.
Very good idea. Unfortunately the access to these supplies would seem to depend on the stranded party having communication with the authorities for the combination, and we all know the reliability of cell reception up there. I guess there's no other feasible way, though - if it were easily accessible to anyone, those emergency supplies would get the same conscientious treatment wag bags seem to.
- agreed. i'm sure the supplies, whatever may be in there, are for the use of the rangers. and i'm also certain they'd like it to remain that way. bummer to be relying on having equipment cached at the summit, only to find it missing when truly needed. - what they need is warmth. water wouldn't hurt either.
The three Omahans were among a group of 10 friends who had been training for this trip all summer. The trip took them to both the lowest and highest points in the continental U.S. - bicycling across Death Valley Saturday and Sunday and then ascending the peak of Mt. Whitney on Monday.
Rescuers found three missing Omaha climbers on Mt. Whitney around 2 p.m. CDT today, said Brandy O'Connor, a friend of one of the men.
All three men are alive and talking. Rescue workers are evaluating the situation and planning for their evacuation, said David Clymens, a brother to another of the climbers.
...so it appears that rescuers have reached them at the hut.
Good that they stayed put at the hut, so SAR could locate them. Thanks to Inyo and SEKI SAR teams, and the helo crew.
This looks like another case of the weather not cooperating with the long-range plans of humans. We must ALWAYS be willing to back down in the face of bad weather; the mountain will always be there.
Thanks to Steve for his diligent work at staying up to current information and contact.
Thanks to Inyo SAR, China Lake, SEKI and all other parts involved in making this rescue a success.
As Doug reminds us, the focus now shifts over to the Meysan area - where another group is also still reported missing. They do not have the luxury of a summit hut to keep them from the elements.
The three Omaha hikers who were stranded for nearly three days on the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states had plenty of food to sustain them, but needed to melt snow for water and had no idea if the frantic text messages they sent from a small shelter on the mountain's summit had reached their loved ones.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks News Release
For Immediate Release: October 21, 2010 Contact: Dana M. Dierkes Phone Number: (559) 565-3131
Three Hikers Rescued and Two Additional Hikers Missing in/Around Mount Whitney Area
Inyo County Sheriff's Office and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are still conducting a multi-faceted search and rescue operation in/around the Mount Whitney area. Three people have been rescued from Mount Whitney. However, the search and rescue operation has been expanded to include two additional missing men.
Three men (Phillip Michael Abraham, age 34; Stevan James Filips, age 43; and Dale Clymens, age 45), all from the Omaha, Nebraska area, were rescued from Mount Whitney at approximately 12 noon on Thursday, October 21. The group had originally planned a day hike to Mount Whitney on Monday, October 18, but had been trapped in the Mount Whitney Hut in a snowstorm since then. Three National Park Service (NPS) search and rescue personnel hiked in to the site. Both the NPS staff and a California National Guard helicopter reached the men at approximately the same time. All three men were able to walk and move around during a quick general health assessment by park personnel. Various parties assisted with this search and rescue operation, including California National Guard and Yosemite Search and Rescue.
Two additional hikers, a father and son who were not part of the previously missing group, had planned a three-day, 36-mile cross-country loop in/around the Mount Whitney area starting and ending at the Whitney Portal. The group planned to return on Tuesday, October 19. The missing men include Sinh Baghsohi, who is 27 years old, is approximately 6'5" tall and weighs 287 lbs, as well as his father, Baghsohi, Sr., first name unknown, who is approximately 6' tall and weighs approximately 180 lbs. Both men are originally from Iran, but their current city/state is unknown. No photos of the men are available yet. The two men had hiked in with a friend. The friend became ill and hiked out alone. If you have seen or come in contact with either of the two missing individuals, please call the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Incident Command Post at 559-565-3117.
Approximately 45 people have been assigned to the two search and rescue incidents. Search operations are still being hampered by snow with accumulations between 1-3 feet.
These hikers were connected to Dave Paladino's Landmark Endurance Team, website here. Mr. Paladino was the trip leader for the Mt. Whitney hike, and back in Omaha, during the rescue, gave several lengthy news presentations.
Here's a web page showing a video of the news presentation shortly after the three were rescued from the peak.
Two additional hikers, a father and son who were not part of the previously missing group, had planned a three-day, 36-mile cross-country loop in/around the Mount Whitney area starting and ending at the Whitney Portal. The group planned to return on Tuesday, October 19. The missing men include Sinh Baghsohi, who is 27 years old, is approximately 6'5" tall and weighs 287 lbs, as well as his father, Baghsohi, Sr., first name unknown, who is approximately 6' tall and weighs approximately 180 lbs. Both men are originally from Iran, but their current city/state is unknown. No photos of the men are available yet. The two men had hiked in with a friend. The friend became ill and hiked out alone. If you have seen or come in contact with either of the two missing individuals, please call the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Incident Command Post at 559-565-3117.
Interesting self-video of the party who was rescued via helicopter.
Edit - just read a post on the other BB by Doug. Apparently they're OK.
I do not have the warm-puppy, glassy-eyed, thanks-be-to-the-almighty, feelings that others have exhibited regarding this situation and its outcome.
Granted, I am looking at this incident from the viewpoint of a SAR person, one who has been rescuing people on Mt. Whitney for over forty years. I am asking myself questions about what went wrong and why. Specifically: What could they have done differently, and what in hell were they doing up there in this in-between season given their apparent lack of readiness for it. I am more than a little bit ill over this whole affair.
This board and other boards, and other resources, are there to help prepare and educate people so that these kinds of situations do not occur. Yet people ignore, are oblivious, and we in a certain sense let them off scot free--in terms of pointing fingers of blame--if they get in trouble.
Continuing, this is the first instance I have ever known where some of the party descended to the Portal and then flew home to await the outcome of their friends' fates.
BobR - could not agree more. I was in the area last weekend and talked to one of the Meysan Lake party that ended up coming out Roads End. I know they knew bad weather was coming, Doug invited one of them to look at the NOAA forecast on his netbook. The other group should have known and probably did know.
We only went to Thor on Sunday yet we worried about the weather most of the day. I even commented that I wouldn't want to be shooting for Whitney that day.
I don't want to armchair QB anything and I am glad everyone is ok, but I hope there is a lesson to be learned here.
I know my Whitney Zone season is done, unless we get more equipment and a lot of training. I like to push the envelope sometimes, but I don't mess with Mother Nature...........................................DUG
"Thursday, the Inyo Search and Rescue sent in a helicopter and pulled the three men out of the snow and cold. ... Inyo Sheriff Bill Lutze confirmed that Inyo and the Sequoia Kings rescue team went to work on this case. The three missing men had been part of a group of 8. When the weather turned bad with white-outs and three feet of snow at the start of the week, five of them decided to leave the Sierra. The other three vowed to go on to the top."
"Thursday, the Inyo Search and Rescue sent in a helicopter and pulled the three men out of the snow and cold. ... Inyo Sheriff Bill Lutze confirmed that Inyo and the Sequoia Kings rescue team went to work on this case. The three missing men had been part of a group of 8. When the weather turned bad with white-outs and three feet of snow at the start of the week, five of them decided to leave the Sierra. The other three vowed to go on to the top."
I make a vow every trip. I vow to get EVERYONE on my team back to the trail head safely. If you hike with me as a leader, you stay with the group. One quits, we all quit. Everyone gets back to the trail head. Everything else is a bonus. That's just me, your mileage my vary, to each his own, etc, etc...................................................DUG
I agree completely, Bob. People involved in SAR have seen this level of human stupidity over and over. Long-range plans and ambitions sometimes over-ride caution and common sense.
While involved with a certain national club's SF Bay Area peak climbing section, and then later with Inyo SAR, I saw what an overwhelming drive to "just go for it" can do to human lives. Even so-called "experienced climbers" can make foolish decisions when "making the summit" becomes the number one priority.
This is a copy (from WPSMB) of George Durkee's list of what was required for the recent missing/lost/rescue incidents that took place over the last week. (I hope that George will not mind the copy) I feel that it is important to get this information out to as wide a readership as possible. http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=80858#Post80858
Well, it was an intense week in the Sequoia-Whitney-Inyo co-prosperity sphere. 3 SARs in about 10 days (one on the South Fork of the Kaweah).
To the crediting of prayer as helpful in finding these guys (and who knows...) I'd just like to remind folks it was a little more than prayer:
Field Teams: 1 NPS helicopter out of SEKI HQ 2 pilots, 4 support crew, 1 fuel truck 1 National Guard Chinook and crew out of Stockton 2 pilots; 5 (?) support crew and the entire US Military behind it 8 climbers from YOSAR with full gear YOSAR emergency vehicle 4 Sequoia rangers
Incident Command: Inyo Sheriff's department Incident Command: Unknown number of personnel, but probably around 8+ Volunteer SAR also unknown, but 5+ at least
Sequoia Incident Command: At least 15 people to handle: Plans, logistics, operations, air operations, mapping, safety, timekeeping, dispatch etc... Logistical and mapping support from the Superintendent of Manzanar NHS in Independence.
Two rangers were dropped at Crabtree and got to the summit ridge, where they had to turn back in 2 to 3 foot snow drifts. They tried again the next day (Thursday) and were successful. Both are pretty gnarly guys but found the conditions incredibly challenging.
Of course, everyone's happy these guys are safe and back home, but jeez!! At least 40 people and a zillion lbs and types of equipment. That's a lot of effort, expense and risk for what sure seems like a case of testosterone poisoning... .
Then, the day those guys are pulled off:
Quote:If something HAD happen to them while they were heading to CD, SAR would have never known where to start looking. Did they hit a trail and saw a trail sign that said Ceder Grove 18m and decided that's where they were going? I'm cornfused
Yep, me too. This was a total bungathon. These guys were not even in our search area. As many times as I try to imagine a search perimeter, I wouldn't have extended it north over Forester Pass. Learning curve for all of us. Their mistake (one of a number of them) seems to have been not having a large enough map of the area (reportedly -- not confirmed -- only the Whitney Quad.
Their plan was to keep hiking until they ran into someone who could tell them where they were. One of their guys turned around on Day 1 at Meysan Lake because he was worried about the weather. Two others reportedly didn't even start. They ignored experienced advice to not attempt such a gnarly route and like so many of these things, their apparent testosterone induced stubbornness and inability to imagine conditions and terrain, put a number of SAR people at risk (exact same list as above).
Yes, thanks for copying & posting. I was mulling that over, but wasn't sure about spreading copies of my drivel everywhere... .
Mike: Hey, great idea!! Reader's Digest -- perfect.. . Maybe we could do one of those "write a sentence and pass it on" things, then submit to RD. They do pay a lot.
Most of the time I do not get warm and fuzzy about these things. If you read between the lines of the news reports you get a pretty good idea of how the rescued individuals screwed up.
The great thing about hiking to the summit on the MMWT is getting to Trail Crest and the look to the west and the weather. It is very easy to tell whether or not it is time to go forward or retreat. Over the years, I have had people tell they have gone forward to the summit and come back through lightning, hail and rain...they all laughed about their stupidity. To me, it's never a laughing matter when you put others at risk by your unquenchable desire to reach this summit. My read is that is exactly what these folks did and a lot of people paid the price for it.
There is nothing new here other than the names...unfortunately.
Do you think those guys rescued felt pretty dumb over the whole rescue by Chinook? Especially when the rangers that walked up refused a ride down and walked out? How much did that rescue costs us taxpayers?
Actually Harvey, I think is was Don who asked the rescuee to put his camera away. That section grabbed my attention as well, and I watched it several times to clarify; the rescuee has a camera in his right hand and is switching it to his left (with the trekking poles) as Don approaches him. It's small and red, with a wrist-strap.
"You are correct, Bulldog; Don asked the rescuee to put his camera away."
If I was the rescuer dood, I would be thinking something along the lines of "Does this guy not understand the seriousness of the situation? We had to fly a big ole chinook up here to save their dumb asses, not to mention the ground rescue teams who risked their lives to save them and they can't put their camera down long enough to make the extraction quick and safe?"
I think the issue is not with the camera, per se, but rather, with having a loose "thing" as one approaches a helicopter with blades turning. If a person has not been near one, the wind is unbelievable. On an unstable surface, it would be easy to fall, and to lose the camera, which could end up in the air, and in an engine, disabling the copter.
When I've been involved in air operations, they are careful to orient us to not have loose "things" on our bodies.
On the other hand, it could have to do with stopping the fun filming, and getting into gear and onto the helicoptor. At a thousand dollars a minute or more, 20 seconds of filming is pretty expensive.
Yeah the only fun we got to have on Friday was picking up the SK NPS team from the westside, and bring them back to Lone Pine.
I swear next time I land on top I'm going to sign the book. Too bad the weather was enigmatic on Thursday, I was pretty apprehensive and wanted to get off the top ASAP.
Now back to work in the central valley, wa wa waaaaaahhhhhh.
That makes a lot of sense Ken. I've flown in a Blackhawk and a Chinook in recent years, and the rotor wash is pretty incredible at just a grounded idle. Each time we were cautioned about firmly securing loose items before nearing the aircraft - especially items we might not consider "loose", like hats, sunglasses and cameras.
I'm really enjoying all this video and photo documentation of the operation. Great insight - and just fascinating to watch.
I used to be a LSE (Landing Signalman Enlisted) on an Amphib Transport Dock (LPD) and the is no rotor wash like the H-53E. Almost sent me over the side a few times. The Chinook is a bad mofo though. Saw an old family friend on a Discovery Channel show once use one to move a bridge in Iowa. Army Reserve must be a fun gig........................................DUG
Ken's "loose thing" near a helicopter sounds very on point, esp. when combined with the same resucer's request to the other rescuee to point his hiking poles down. It sounded to me like he was preparing them for boarding the helicopter rather than a reprimand.
