Mt Whitney Zone
Posted By: SEKI News Missing Hiker Bob Woodie - Recovered - 10/19/16 01:06 AM
Robert “Bob” Woodie, a 74-year-old man from Manhattan Beach, CA, has not returned from a four-day backpack to Dusy Basin and possibly Barrett Lakes in the backcountry of KIngs Canyon National Park. He reportedly began hiking Thursday, October 13 from the eastside out of South Lake toward the park via Bishop Pass. He was supposed to return Sunday, October 16. Have you seen him or have any information? Please call dispatch for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks at 559-565-3195.

A photo of Mr. Woodie can be seen here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BLuVsKGBHFT/?taken-by=sequoiakingsnps

Thank you!
Here's the picture:


Have been working on setting up an Outdoor Forums Alert and Info Collection System which will contact several outdoor forums in case of a missing person in the Sierra.

The intention of this is to reach outdoor communities of various activities (hiking, climbing,and backpacking) that could have information relevant to an on-going case. Many of us in these communities have in-depth knowledge of the areas where a missing person in question disappeared and could also have educated theories on where the person could be located. Photo's of the area in question, at the time of the incident could also be useful, this would point to the conditions the missing person was dealing with at the time.

This system can only be successful if there is an open line of communication developed with the authorities of the several County Sheriff Departments PIO, including Yosemite and SEKI, which is what we have been working on. Just as important is everyone's willingness to help the authorities by getting the word out on social media, someone out there may have useful information, no matter how insignificant it may seem.

We will send out a basic alert to all the forums, linking them back to HST, so all the information related to a case can be in one central thread, rather than scattered over several forums, therefore making the agencies involved jobs easier, so they can extract any useful information and dispatch it to incident commanders in the field.

Thanks

http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=15177&p=113381#p113381
Here's our latest press release with info. We really would like to speak to hikers who were in the areas mentioned below since last Thursday, regardless if they think they saw him or not. Information where he was not is also very useful, too. Thank you!
____

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Calif. -- Park officials are requesting the public’s help with information regarding a missing hiker. On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, park dispatch was notified of an overdue hiker visiting the wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park. Robert “Bob” Woodie, a 74-year-old from Manhattan Beach, CA, was supposed to return from a backpacking trip on Sunday, October 16, 2016.

Mr. Woodie’s intended route of travel may have been from South Lake, outside Bishop, CA, into the park via Bishop Pass starting on Thursday, October 13, 2016. He was possibly at Barrett Lakes, southeast of Dusy Basin, on the evening of Saturday, October 15, 2016, based on an electronic check-in message received from his satellite message device. The area experienced some inclement weather during this timeframe, with some areas above about 10,500 ft receiving snow. Overnight temperatures continue to be below freezing.

Mr. Woodie is an experienced hiker who is familiar with the area. He is caucasian with brown hair and brown eyes and is 5’5” and around 150 pounds. He was possibly carrying a blue shell type jacket, baseball cap or floppy hat, and boots. He is reported to have an internal frame backpack, possibly blue in color, and no hiking poles.

Two helicopters and 20 field personnel participated in park search operations today, with operations planned for Thursday, October, 20, 2016. The area is a high sierra alpine environment, between approximately 8,000 and 12,000 feet elevation. The rugged terrain includes areas of forest, alpine lakes, and areas above tree line with talus slopes and rocky mountain passes.

This search and rescue incident is being coordinated with the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, which is simultaneously performing search operations adjacent to the park boundary within Inyo National Forest.

Anyone who may have come across Mr. Woodie or have any other information is encouraged to contact Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks at 559-565-3117 with their name, contact information. Please contact the park if you were in this area since Thursday, October 13, 2016, even if you do not believe you saw Mr. Woodie.
Posted By: Maverick SEKI Update 10/21 - 10/21/16 07:59 PM

SEKI NP:

Quote:
CONTACT: Zach Behrens, 559-565-3131 (o) or 559-679-2866 (c)

Search Continues for Missing Hiker Robert “Bob” Woodie

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Calif. -- As the search for Robert “Bob” Woodie continues, park officials are requesting that any hiker who was in the search area since Thursday, October 13, 2016, to reach out with information.

“Even if they do not think they saw Mr. Woodie, information about where he wasn't seen is also very important in directing our search efforts,” explained Rich Browne, Incident Commander for the search and rescue operation. “All information is helpful to our investigation. We currently have over 60 personnel and 2 helicopters assigned to the search incident.”

The search area consists of Bishop Pass, Dusy Basin, Barrett Lakes, and the John Muir Trail/Pacific Crest Trail for the length of Le Conte Canyon. The area is a high sierra alpine environment, between approximately 8,000 and 12,000 feet elevation. The rugged terrain includes areas of forest, alpine lakes, and areas above tree line with talus slopes and rocky mountain passes.

Mr. Woodie was reported missing after not returning from a four-day backpacking trip into the wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park. His intended route of travel may have been from South Lake, outside Bishop, CA, into the park via Bishop Pass starting on Thursday, October 13, 2016. He was possibly at Barrett Lakes, southeast of Dusy Basin, on the evening of Saturday, October 15, 2016, based on an electronic check-in message received from his satellite message device. The area experienced some inclement weather during this timeframe, with some areas above about 10,500 ft receiving snow. Overnight temperatures continue to be below freezing.

Mr. Woodie, a 74-year-old from Manhattan Beach, CA, is an experienced hiker who is familiar with the area. He is caucasian with brown hair and brown eyes and is 5’5” and around 150 pounds. He was possibly carrying a blue shell type jacket, baseball cap or floppy hat, and boots. He is reported to have an internal frame backpack, possibly blue in color.

This search and rescue incident is being coordinated with the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, which is simultaneously performing search operations adjacent to the park boundary within Inyo National Forest. Yosemite Search and Rescue and Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team are assisting in the operation within Kings Canyon National Park.
Posted By: Maverick Re: SEKI Update 10/22 - 10/23/16 06:50 PM

SEKI NP:
Quote:

We are continuing the search and rescue for 74-year-old Robert "Bob" Woodie of Manhattan Beach, CA, in the wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park. Four dog teams from Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR) are currently assisting our field teams.

Photos and b-roll of the dogs can be found here, along with some new photos from the field to give you a sense of some of the terrain the teams are searching: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nps_seki/tags/robertwoodie/

Our priority messaging for the public at this time is to get hikers who were in the search area since Thursday, October 13 to call us at 559-565-3117. Even someone who did not see Mr. Woodie is a helpful clue for our investigation. That helps us understand where he may have not been at a certain time. The search area includes Bishop Pass, Dusy Basin, Barrett Lakes, and the John Muir Trail/Pacific Crest Trail in LeConte Canyon.

Thank you for your help getting the word out!
Posted By: Maverick SEKI Update 10/25 - 10/25/16 08:08 PM
From High Sierra Topix post INYO-SEKI SAR / Overdue Hiker Search in Progress
Quote:
Hi All. I appreciate everyone's weather & condition observations. From weather data and a few JMT hikers going through on the west side, it confirms conditions on Saturday (very high winds and, in the search area, some prcip though not major) and Sunday (serous prcip/snow and extreme winds) west of the crest. Mammoth Mountain anemometer (11,000') showed sustained gusts of over 100mph after 1PM (maxed at 116mph). Because of incoming weather, searchers came out Saturday night but teams will return if conditions allow today or tomorrow. Weather, though, is again going to limit both ground and air search later this week.

I'm unable to post the search maps right now but this has been an incredibly extensive search with very good ground coverage on both the east side and west side of Bishop Pass. Sunday we (NPS) went over each section looking for holes in our search pattern. Areas were identified for follow up. I'll try to get permission to post a coverage map (tracklogs of searchers). It gives a really good visual of what goes into a search. Most of the ground teams are volunteers from a number of California county search and rescue teams who spend countless hours in training in addition to being available to show up with incidents like this occur. Also involved are Yosemite SAR and their helicopter as well as a National Guard Chinook. Darned impressive effort & people involved!

Anyway, thanks to everyone for your continued observations and first-hand accounts. I'll update here as I can.

George Durkee
NPS Sequoia Kings SAR
Posted By: Maverick Re: SEKI Update 10/25 - 10/26/16 07:22 PM

Here is the attached search area map requested from SEKI SAR.
http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=15177&p=113666#p113666
Posted By: Maverick Re: SEKI Update 10/27 - 10/27/16 07:15 PM

Here is an updated map of the search area (10/27).
http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=15177&p=113697#p113697
Posted By: Maverick SEKI Update 10/28 - 10/28/16 11:44 PM


SEKI NPS:

Quote:

Search for Missing Hiker Robert “Bob” Woodie Scaled Back

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Calif. -- After more than a week of searching for hiker Robert “Bob” Woodie, the mission has been put on hold due to a series of incoming winter storms forecasted for over the next week. All search teams were taken out of the field Wednesday afternoon in anticipation of the significant weather event, which is forecasted to bring two to three feet of snow at elevations above 8,000 feet and high winds, with gusts up to 75 mph.

“We’ve completed very thorough ground and aerial searches in very difficult terrain over the last nine days, but the storms would put our search teams at risk and decrease our ability to find clues,” explained Rich Browne, incident commander for the search. “When it clears, we’ll reassess, but it does look like weather and snow coverage will end our ability to continue active ground and aerial search operations.”

The suspension of an active field search moves the operation into what is called “limited continuous,” which may include air searches, backcountry patrols, and outreach to hikers heading into the area. The operation will be upgraded to an active search if any leads about or whereabouts of Mr. Woodie are discovered. Additionally, the Incident Management Team continues to evaluate data collected by field teams while investigators continue to follow up on leads.

The itinerary for Mr. Woodie, a 74-year-old resident of Manhattan Beach, CA, was a four-day backpacking and fishing trip between Thursday, October 13 and Sunday, October 16. An experienced hiker who knew the area, he parked his vehicle at the South Lake trailhead in Inyo National Forest and hiked over Bishop Pass into Kings Canyon National Park. An “OK” check-in message was sent from his satellite GPS device on Saturday evening from the Barrett Lakes area. A winter storm that night and next day brought very high winds, overnight temperatures to below freezing, and snow to some areas above 10,500 feet. When Mr. Woodie did not return from his trip, his family notified authorities.

The National Park Service continues to ask the public to contact officials at 559-565-3195 if they were in the search area between Thursday, October 13 and Thursday, October 20. The 26-square-mile search area within Kings Canyon National Park consists of Bishop Pass, Dusy Basin, Barrett Lakes, and the John Muir Trail/Pacific Crest Trail between Muir Pass and Mather Pass. The area is a high sierra alpine environment, between approximately 8,000 and 12,000 feet elevation. The rugged terrain includes areas of forest, alpine lakes, and areas above tree line with talus slopes and rocky mountain passes.

Over 130 personnel have worked on this multi-agency operation within Kings Canyon National Park. They include Yosemite National Park (YOSAR, including YODOGS, and Helicopter 551), L.A. County Sheriff’s Department (with Sierra Madre Search and Rescue), and Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department, California Office of Emergency Services, China Lake Search and Rescue, National Weather Service’s Hanford field office, USGS, and U.S. Forest Service.
Posted By: Steve C Re: SEKI Update 10/27 - 10/28/16 11:49 PM
Unfortunately the search is essentially ended...
Rest in peace, Bob Woodie. We're sending deepest condolences to his family.

Received this afternoon from Seki  (News Release):

Quote:
Media Assets: Photos | B-roll | Maps | Photos of Mr. Woodie

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Zach Behrens, 559-565-3131 (o) or 559-679-2866 (c)

Search for Missing Hiker Robert "Bob" Woodie Scaled Back

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Calif. -- After more than a week of searching for hiker Robert "Bob" Woodie, the mission has been put on hold due to a series of incoming winter storms forecasted for over the next week. All search teams were taken out of the field Wednesday afternoon in anticipation of the significant weather event, which is forecasted to bring two to three feet of snow at elevations above 8,000 feet and high winds, with gusts up to 75 mph.

"We've completed very thorough ground and aerial searches in very difficult terrain over the last nine days, but the storms would put our search teams at risk and decrease our ability to find clues," explained Rich Browne, incident commander for the search. "When it clears, we'll reassess, but it does look like weather and snow coverage will end our ability to continue active ground and aerial search operations."

The suspension of an active field search moves the operation into what is called "limited continuous," which may include air searches, backcountry patrols, and outreach to hikers heading into the area. The operation will be upgraded to an active search if any leads about or whereabouts of Mr. Woodie are discovered. Additionally, the Incident Management Team continues to evaluate data collected by field teams while investigators continue to follow up on leads.

The itinerary for Mr. Woodie, a 74-year-old resident of Manhattan Beach, CA, was a four-day backpacking and fishing trip between Thursday, October 13 and Sunday, October 16. An experienced hiker who knew the area, he parked his vehicle at the South Lake trailhead in Inyo National Forest and hiked over Bishop Pass into Kings Canyon National Park. An "OK" check-in message was sent from his satellite GPS device on Saturday evening from the Barrett Lakes area. A winter storm that night and next day brought very high winds, overnight temperatures to below freezing, and snow to some areas above 10,500 feet. When Mr. Woodie did not return from his trip, his family notified authorities.

The National Park Service continues to ask the public to contact officials at 559-565-3195 if they were in the search area between Thursday, October 13 and Thursday, October 20. The 26-square-mile search area within Kings Canyon National Park consists of Bishop Pass, Dusy Basin, Barrett Lakes, and the John Muir Trail/Pacific Crest Trail between Muir Pass and Mather Pass. The area is a high sierra alpine environment, between approximately 8,000 and 12,000 feet elevation. The rugged terrain includes areas of forest, alpine lakes, and areas above tree line with talus slopes and rocky mountain passes.

Over 130 personnel have worked on this multi-agency operation within Kings Canyon National Park. They include Yosemite National Park (YOSAR, including YODOGS, and Helicopter 551), L.A. County Sheriff's Department (with Sierra Madre Search and Rescue), and Fresno County Sheriff's Department, San Mateo County Sheriff's Department, California Office of Emergency Services, China Lake Search and Rescue, National Weather Service's Hanford field office, USGS, and U.S. Forest Service.


Best picture ever... from pictures of Bob released during the search:
Posted By: Maverick Re: Bob Woodie - 12/12/16 09:22 PM

Searching for Pops: http://www.easyreadernews.com/141190/bob-woodie-searching-for-pops/
Posted By: Bob West Hiker's body found - 07/10/17 04:52 PM
The body of Bob Woodie has been found. He went missing last October.

http://www.sierrawave.net/body-missing-hiker-located-near-bishop-pass/
Posted By: Steve C Re: Hiker's body found - 07/10/17 05:00 PM
Thank you, Bob, for posting that. I am sure Bob Woodie's family and friends are glad his remains have been found.

Rest in peace, Bob Woodie.
As a life-long friend of the Woodie family and Bob himself, I want to thank all of those who helped in the search. I was there throughout the initial week-long effort in October and know how much personal energy and emotion the SAR folks put into the search. It was a hard week for everyone.

All of us had accepted Bob's passing, however, locating the remains provides a foundation for complete closure for his family.

Thank you again to all the amazing people who came together.

Rest in Peace Pops!


Posted By: Steve C Re: Missing Hiker Bob Woodie - Recovered - 07/17/17 04:51 PM
Article From the Manhattan Beach Reporter:

Manhattan Beach hiker remembered as avid outdoorsman, 'gentle spirit'


Quote:
Three months after Robert "Bob" Woodie set out on a four-day hiking and fishing trip through Sequoia in October 2016 and never returned, his family—seeking a sense of closure—gave him a memorial service back home.

Their wounds were reopened last week, when 7 feet of snow melted in Bishop Pass to reveal a body that was airlifted and later identified as belonging to Woodie, 74, of Manhattan Beach.

The beloved grandfather is believed to have succumbed to below-freezing temperatures while crossing the final pass of his journey, his son, Robert Woodie, said in a message to friends this week.

Click on the link to read more...
Posted By: terraelise Re: Missing Hiker Bob Woodie - Recovered - 07/17/17 09:58 PM
Thank you for the link, very sad story. Warps my mind that I was there just 2 days before he was found.
Posted By: GandC Re: Missing Hiker Bob Woodie - Recovered - 07/18/17 03:15 AM
Very nice article. Sounds like a heck of a guy.
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