Mt. Whitney Search & Rescue in Progress

by **JimGould** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:16 pm

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 group was at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday via text msg from the summit hut requesting assistance. Clothing and equipment descriptions are unavailable 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.

Weather during this period has consisted of snow storms with accumulations between 1-3 feet of new snow.

Any assistance with this incident is greatly appreciated.

SEKI SAR

by **fatdad** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:44 pm

What are the names of the hikers? I had a college friend, inexperienced in the mountains, who invited me to go up there late last week. Kind of fits the description.

by **The Chief** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:48 pm

Bigass Bummer!

Hope that SAR gets their asses down asap. Weather forecast is not looking good atall......

Prayers being shot their way.

Hope your buddy is not part of this crew Fatdad.

by **mrchad9** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:19 pm

My guess is JimGould has posted this all over the internet, and will not have time to check here for responses regularly. So if it isn't obvious, if anyone has info just call, rather than post it.

by **JimGould** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:46 pm

To all,

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.

by **fatdad** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:01 pm

Thanks Jim,
Not the guy I know.

by **Imwolf** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:32 am

Hang on guys !!! Keep the faith and help will arrive. My prayers are with you all.

by **SEKIPublicAffairs** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:20 am

UPDATE:

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 or Inyo County at 760-873-2513.

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.

by **SteveC5088** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:22 am

SEKI News releases posted on WhitneyZone.com

Whitney search and rescue in progress

by **WML** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 6:00 pm

the only news I have seen is linked to an Omaha TV station. I hope to God they're ok.

http://www.ketv.com/r/25462570/detail.html?taf=oma

by **Imwolf** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 6:26 pm

Nothing new than what our local TV news 'KETV' is showing. I get updates from a relative that knows all 3 of the men thru the management company they all work for. He's in contact with some of the family members. I met Dale about a year ago...heck of nice guy...I pray they're all ok.

by **The Chief** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:58 pm

Fletch wrote:Omaha article is reporting that they sent a text message from the summit. They are hunkered down in the shelter at the top. Miserable, but appear to be OK (according to the article).

The Smith Hut on the summit is the WORST place on this planet to be in any TS condition. That thing is a lightning rod from hell!

by **avalanch** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:30 pm

http://www.omaha.com/article/20101021/N ... a-climbers[/url

It appears that they might have been found and are ok...

by **Hyadventure** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:46 pm

Great news!!

by **SteveC5088** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:49 pm

Hikers FOUND!!! -- SAR on Whitney

Mt. Whitney Search & Rescue in Progress

Mt. Whitney Search & Rescue in Progress

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