Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Yosemite Rangers Search For Missing Hiker

Report from KSEE-24.

"Yosemite National Park Rangers are conducting a search for a missing hiker, 73 year old Kenneth Stensby, who set off on a day hike early Sunday morning, May 5, en route to Vernal Fall"

SteveC hiked Panorama on Sunday, starting at 4 Mile.

From the KSEE report:

Sheesh! I probably walked right by that pack! Didn't notice it when I was there, though, since there were dozens of people in the area.

I myself have tried to look over the top of the cliff and take a picture. These days, I'd clamp the camera to my hiking pole and hold it out over the edge.

You can see the pack in the picture lying right by the railing.

As I recall, about three years ago, there were two Sun employees hiking in that same spot, who tried to look over the edge, slipped, and fell. Hopefully not the same outcome for this hiker.

sorry to be morbid, but the last time I was there and with a "railing issue at Vernal Falls" this was the scene and sign:

Very sad; he is probably someone's dad or grampa (this always comes to mind when the legions of "darwin people" crawl out of the slime and take to the keyboard)

I guess they will begin the wider search of the area. *Sigh*

I sure wish there was a "Like" button ...

I believe there has been a great misunderstanding of the picture.

The cross was placed in 2011 even while the search was going on for the missing who were known to have gone over the falls. Other families might have left other symbols or mementos, but the cross was there as a symbol of respect.

It was a powerfully moving and sobering experience to come up the trail and be reminded of the frailty of human life. That cross stopped a lot of us in our tracks. Requiescat in pace

I'm sorry my posting was interpreted it a different way. That was not the intent.

Harvey, Bee's reply was not in response to your picture. It was more a commentary on what we often see in comments following such news reports.

I hiked past that point on Sunday, and earlier in the day, I found the prettiest blooming manzanita I've ever seen. When I heard of this man's fate, I thought how appropriate to see those flowers on the day he passed.

                                Kenneth Stensby, these are for you.  May you rest in peace.

They found him?

They found and recovered the missing hikers remains yesterday:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/parknews/stensbysar513b.htm

Yosemite Nat'l Park just posted the news item on Facebook.

No, no -- Harvey, I was not thinking or responding to your post (if I "replied" to you, it was for convenience of beeing the next poster)

I was just sort of bracing myself for the usual insensitive comments that follow reports/accidents such as these. (other boards/posters are familiar with my wrath towards these types)

My apologies for not clarifying the post.