Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Update: Missing Hiker for 36+ Hours

Edit May 30, 2013:   This occurred last summer. See below for current updates.

---

MISSING HIKER
LAST SEEN SUNDAY EVENING, AUGUST 5th, HIKING MOUNT WHITNEY




NAME: SHYAM DAS
AGE: 68
HEIGHT: 5'5"
BUILD: SMALL-MEDIUM
WEARING: NAVY BLUE TRACK PANTS, GREEN DAY BACK, WHIT TOWEL ON HEAD


IF SEEN OR ANY OTHER INFO, PLEASE CALL 408.446.4985

I just called this number and was astonished to be told that the family had NOT reported this to Inyo Sherrif or anyone else. I did that and urged the family to call the number I gave them for ICSO, which is posted at the site.

Voicemail only at that number however.

If someone knows a faster way to get the word to SAR, please get on it.

The family needs help

Thank you so much for the call. We're indeed acting on it. We're very unfamiliar with how to handle this type of situation, so any additional advice is welcome.

Again, thank you for your help.

I just spoke with Inyo Sherriff's office, and was assured that they are working it. My very best wishes to the Shyam Das family for a good outcome.

It's in the Sierra Wave.

http://www.sierrawave.net/13573/search-for-missing-hiker/

Shyam Das has been found. He's alive and breathing but has sustained a head injury and is being taken the local hospital immediately.

Thank you all so much for your help and warmth, our best wishes to you all and please hope for a good recovery. Thank you.

The Das Family

Sharing the family's joy in the rescue, and prayers for a full recovery.

I am sure glad he will be ok! I hope more details of the situation will be available.

Saltydog found more details at   YubaNet.com

The details are very interesting...

He was located "below Mirror Lake"

Some more details on Shyam Das, but also a report on three other rescues. These blokes do this unpaid, on their own time, and we only really hear about it when the consequences are dire. Magnificent!

Also, we have read in other places that the rescue organizations are not always thanked by the families involved. This was an exception.

The slabs above Mirror Lake may have struck again (along with a case of summit fever). That's the only section of the MMWT where the trail disappears for a bit and you have to find your way along if you've not done it before. Walking down at night, possibly without a headlamp and likely exhausted, I can easily see someone missing that turn to the left and walking right into trouble - and off the slabs.

Hope Mr. Das's injuries are not too severe and wishing him a speedy recovery.

Wagga is right on in this observation. I have been backchannel with this family, and they have been incredibly generous in their appreciation of the least effort in support.

As with all such situations, there will be many insights to be gained, but the value of community will not be the least of these. Many people may approach these situations with no sense of accountability, but the Das family is somehow beyond exceptional in their appreciation, in every sense ( look it up!).

This has my attention and I hope it has yours.

Bulldog,

The first three times down this trail I walked off the trail in this area. Since then, every time I go down it I really pay attention to where I go.

It is not unusual to see people wandering around here in search of a trail.

SaltyDog:

"I just called this number and was astonished to be told that the family had NOT reported this to Inyo Sherrif or anyone else. I did that and urged the family to call the number I gave them for ICSO, which is posted at the site."

If you had not contacted the family there may have been a significantly worse outcome.

But that is what this forum is all about.

Anybody have any pictures showing the right & wrong way through this area? (love the red markers that everyone uses) I only have a very vague recollection about this part of the trail.

I don't want to take too much credit here: the hiker's friends on the Inyo side had initiated SAR, but the family were not completely informed, apparently. I was just makin' sure.

No photos, Bee, but it's a matter of remembering to pay attention during the descent. Ascent doesn't seem as bad. Once you've climbed the switchbacks above Mirror Lake you hit a relatively short slabby area. As you're climbing, the inclination to bear right and continue upward is normal and will lead you back onto the identifiable trail after you've crested the slabs.

Down is where it can get tricky. You're walking the trail downhill and you transition to unmarked granite. After a bit you need to swing left on the slabs and you'll soon pick up the trail again, heading down the switchbacks to the lake. Inertia and the lack of a clearly marked trail can cause hikers to just continue down the slabs in a straight line, missing that left turn, and the terrain gets progressively steeper. I would imagine that descending this area in the dark can be sketchy.

Like wbtravis, I've learned to pay attention here. I've also found myself scratching my head and wondering what the hell happened.

And kudos to Salty for his proactive approach to this situation. That could easily have been the difference between life and death.

Bee,

I believe ascending through is not an issue because you are moving at a slower pace, you are performing at top level and, as a day hiker, you are with the bunch. During the descent, you are traveling at a much faster pace, you are on cruise control, tired and the bunch that you had going up is dispersed going down...at least that is how I have found it to be. I've been the only going through there a few times.

A good way to remedy this, beyond paying particular attention, is to stop at Trailside Meadow for an extended break. Take your shoes off, soak your feet, dunk your head and have something eat. This way you go through this section rip roaring and raring to go.

Update: Remember this from last summer? Its even more remarkable. Turns out this incident played out over two days before Das fell off the trail. The party left the Portal on Saturday, not Sunday as originally reported Here , Das dropped out and descended to the portal that night and set out again the next morning, alone. Reading the two stories together, he spent 7 hours on the trail from Portal to Trail Camp where he met up with his party on their descent, but would not go down with them. He then spent 3 hours getting to about 12,650 ft, then another hour descending back to TC at about 6. Some time later, he fell off the trail above Mirror Lake and lay unconscious until he was found Tuesday.

As of March this year, he was still recovering from coma, head trauma and the two days exposure before he was found. Amazing he survived.

New Story here

This is good reminder to not push yourself. The mountain will always be there.