Update 7/15 - 11:30am- searchers have located a dog matching the description of the dog that was with missing camper Sheryl Powell. The dog is alive, and was located 2.5 miles from Mrs. Powell’s last known location. Updates to follow.

Missing Camper, Day Four

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GRANDVIEW CAMPGROUND, CA. July 15, 2019 – Today is day four of a massive multiagency search for missing camper, Sheryl Powell. Powell and her small 5-pound dog were reported missing by her husband on July 12 from the Grandview Campground in the Bristlecone Pine Forest area. After selecting a remote campsite, Sheryl Powell (a 60 year old woman from Huntington Beach) exited the vehicle to take the dog out for a bathroom break while Mr. Powell re-positioned their Jeep. Mr. Powell could not locate Mrs. Powell or their dog once he parked the Jeep. After searching for almost an hour, Mr. Powell alerted law enforcement through his satellite device.
Mrs. Powell is described as an experienced hiker – she is 5’3”, 120 pounds, brown hair, and brown eyes. The small dog has a red leash and is black/white.
Inyo Search and Rescue and Inyo Sheriff began searching immediately after receiving the notification on July 12. Searching continued on July 13 and 14 with trained search and rescue teams assisting from throughout California*. In addition to ground search teams, dog teams have also been deployed to the area, and aerial reconnaissance has been provided Naval Air out of Lemoore, CHP-Inland Division Air Operations (equipped with a FLIR device in order to detect thermal imaging), CHP-Central Division Air Operations, and California National Guard.
Challenges include multiple gullies, shale slopes, low shade, direct sun, and rattlesnakes. Grandview Campground is located at 8,600 feet and is the closest campground to the ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.
The investigations portion of the Powell search continues; Sheriff’s Investigations have determined that Mr. Powell is not connected to Mrs. Powell’s disappearance. The family has been, and continues to be, extremely cooperative.
Please contact the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office at (760) 878-0383, option 4 if you have any information that can assist in locating missing camper, Sheryl Powell.

*List of assisting search groups: Inyo SAR, Mono SAR, China Lake Mountain Rescue Group, Fresno SAR, Riverside SAR, Tulare SAR, El Dorado SAR, Mariposa SAR, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Office/Antelope Valley SAR, San Diego Mountain Rescue Team, Southern-Kern County SAR, Sierra Madre SAR, Placer County SAR, CA Rescue Dog Association.