I was climbing Arrow Peak on Thursday, July 26, Fell, broke both arms, and required helicopter evacuation to Fresno. All of my gear was left in the Bench Lake area. Looking for someone to please help retrieve my gear.

I am willing to meet you at any trail head.

Help a hiker out. CASH REWARD!
Call me at 516-250-3436 and ask for Lou

Abandoned gear left by an injured hiker - please help retrieve

I was climbing Arrow Peak on Thursday, July 26, Fell, broke both arms, and required helicopter evacuation to Fresno. All of my gear was left in the Bench Lake area.  Looking for someone to please help retrieve my gear.

I am willing to meet you at any trail head.

Help a hiker out.  CASH REWARD!
Call me at 516-250-3436 and ask for Lou

Wow! I saw this post, checked out the IP address. It was posted from "Comm Hosp Of Central Calif" -- Community Hospital in Fresno.

I called Lou, who is from New York, and in Fresno with Kenny, the injured hiker. Kenny was hiking the JMT when this happened, and ... used his SPOT tracker to call for help. Spot DOES work! Kenny was alone, and one arm felt more like a sprain, so was still able to activate the Spot.

Lou and Mishie caught a flight immediately out to California, so they could help Kenny.

After the injury and pressing the 911 button on SPOT, Kenny says Sequoia SAR people arrived in about 4 hours, and then summoned a helicopter for the evacuation. They got him out, but his gear was at his camp site.

I gave Kenny the number of the Sequoia Public Affairs person, but being it is Friday afternoon, that may not help. I'll try to get them the SeKi ranger dispatch number later. -- they want to call the rangers and maybe Sequoia can get in touch with the ranger at the Bench Lake / JMT junction (there is a ranger station there.)

Kenny wants to retrieve his gear, but most importantly his Trail Journal. If anyone can help, please contact them.

Oh Man! Wait so forgive my ignorance, where is Arrow Peak? I am in New York now...

Mishie, glad you're safe, there have been too many bad things happening in the mountains this year...

About 5 miles west of Pinchot, which is on the crest west of Independence. In Google Earth, search for "arrow peak california" and look for some pictures.

Here's a map with Arrow Peak at the center: Arrow Peak

Drag the map to the left and down to see Bench Lake. There is a backcountry ranger station about where the Bench Lake trail meets the JMT.


Edit: It appears that Davey McCoy and Tracy will go after the gear: Link