Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Augusti Obitum

Admittedly I have not been following news in the Sierra for years as some of you have, but it seems that there have been a lot of hikers whom have died tragically this month.

1. Yukio Kato. Age: 60. Died: 9/1/13. Cause: Falling 200 feet of trail-crest on the Mount Whitney Trail. Experience: Unknown.

2. Pat Hadley. Age: 54. Died: 8/22/13. Cause: Falling 150-200 feet off of the E Ridge of Diamond North above Baxter Pass. Experience: High.

3. Matthew Mooney. Age: 47. Died: 8/20/13. Cause: Fell off trail above Tamarac Lake in the Rock Creek Area. Experience: High (SAR Member).

4. Daniel Greenlaw. Age: 37. Died: 8/10/13. Cause: Went over a waterfall in Yosemite NP after losing his footing in a creek. Experience: Unknown.

5. Johnnie Jean Daniel. Age: 65. Died: 8/10/13. Cause: Fell off of a portion of the Sawtooth Pass Trail above Monarch Lakes in the high Mineral-King Valley. Experience: High.

6. Unknown Male Hiker. Age: 54. Died: 8/9/13. Cause: suffered a fatal heart-attack near New Army Pass. Experience: Unknown.

7. ??? Matthew Greene. Age: 39. Missing since 7/29/13. Cause: Missing. Experience: Moderate.

Isn't this a large number of people for such a short period of time?

When you identify all of them in a list, yes, it does seem like a large number.

But then again, we do have people passing in the mountains fairly frequently. Until the above, I've not seen a list. I do think, though, if someone were keeping track over time, it would be fairly even.

On the other Whitney board, Doug was always deleting any threads that discussed a death, saying he was protecting the family. There was even a fellow who drove up/hiked up in winter, and committed suicide in his tent. He was discovered after several months by XC skiers coming off Whitney. With such news and discussions hidden away, we often don't realize just how many deaths there really are.

it was quite easy to realize that the price of life is death.

Bentley Beetham, Chapter VIII in
EF Norton, The Fight for Everest 1924, page 159

Here, here, Harvey! Death Lists? Perhaps it indicates that the per capita remains the same as the number of people enjoying the outdoors rises.

I'm with Doug on the death threads. If you really want to know what happened study the SAR reports and learn from the mistakes & ask the experts what the circumstances were. The rest is all speculation.

Imagine what it would be like if we published daily lists of traffic deaths.

People would drive faster in order to get out of the traffic. Which would work.

I think it is instructive to discuss these deaths, other accidents and mistakes in our mountains. How else are we suppose learn not to make mistakes ourselves?

Michelle Yu walked off Mt. Baldy a few years ago in a white out, my friends and I were on Ontario Peak, Iron Mtn. and Baden-Powell on separate trips at the same time in the same conditions and are all alive and kicking. Why? What did she do wrong and what did we do right? If we know what went wrong for the former and what other did to keep themselves safe we can keep ourselves safer in the mountains.

<If you really want to know what happened study the SAR reports and learn from the mistakes & ask the experts what the circumstances were. The rest is all speculation.>

Yes, I agree.

Unfortunately, SAR reports are few and far between. The Inyo County Sheriff's department and their SAR outfit is particularly tight with information.

Accidents in North America (Alpine Club) just came out with its annual booklet.

Always fascinating reading. Most of the deaths are not crazy 5.13 climbers, but much more mundane stuff like pulling a rock loose anywhere. Rappelling or being lowered is especially dangerous - something like half of all deaths, and much of it bad technique. Simple stuff like slipping off a Class 1 trail, or a Class 2-3 route, only occasionally makes it into their files, or at least the ones they print.

One of the annoying factors that showed up several times in this years edition was the nuisance factor of electronic devices. Unnecessary calls, wrong SPOT message sent, etc. One guy called for help on a cell, then used up his battery while updating his Facebook live while waiting on the rescuers. SARs could not recontact him for information.

*sighs* Facebook

I've read SAR reports along with news reports. I save people from themselves in the mountains on semi-regular basis in winter though I am not a SAR volunteer.

You can make some assumptions off of knowns. Mr. Kato was observed on the summit with a severe case of AMS. Having had a severe case of AMS on a 14,000' mountain and knowing its effects, I can speculate he took some of these symptoms higher, he had problems on a difficult section of trail returning and they contributed to his death. What you can't do is say you know for sure.

hmmmm