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 Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 69 Likes: 2
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 69 Likes: 2 |
"Come and Let Us Climb the Lord's Mountain!" -Isaiah 2:5
Instagram: @jeesparza33
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 319
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 319 |
There is an update on the Inyo Sheriff site. It is not good news. "Early in the evening of June 19th, during an aerial reconnaissance mission above Mirror Lake west of Outpost Camp, search crews located what is believed to be the remains of missing hiker John Likely in an extremely steep chute. The recovery is technical, and requires specialized equipment and search and rescue expertise." Condolences to the family and friends of John Likely.
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,253
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,253 |
I have no personal experience with meet-up hiking - I generally prefer to go solo or with a small group of people I know and trust - but I had an experience a few years ago in Yosemite on Mt. Dana that blew my mind. My family and I were about halfway up and took what was planned to be a short break. A few minutes later a stream of hikers began to go by - literally dozens. Our break went much longer than planned because there was really no way to jump back on the trail without literally merging.
We watched this in growing fascination and finally saw an opportunity to get on the trail after maybe 60 folks had gone by. We discovered they were a meet-up group out of SoCal and were training for - you guessed it - Mt. Whitney. On the descent we were ahead of this main group and were still running into a people on ascent who asked if we had seen a group of meet-up hikers along the way. These folks were easily 3 hours behind that first main group, and clearly struggling. I never did see anyone who I could identify as a sweep.
I remember looking at my wife and we said the same thing simultaneously - "Like herding cats." This is not unusual with the meetup or the Sierra Club in SoCal. They regularly pull multiple day hike permits for San Gorgonio Wilderness day hikes. I see it daily with my meetup notifications, in Sierra Club postings and out on the trails. I've heard all the justifications for it. The bottom line is your group is not supposed to exceed a dozen. Saturday, one group had 2 permits of twelve, the lost hiker incident I pointed out on the Vivian Creek Trail had 3 permits for 36. Hearding Cat? More like trying lose some.
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 82
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 82 |
Very sad news. Thoughts and prayers to his family and his friends.
The Mountains are calling and I must go - John Muir
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,253
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,253 |
People rarely hike together for 30 year if not married, unless they have similar hiking speeds and styles. So this fellow was definitely way behind his friends GOING DOWNHILL. There must be a reason.
We have a semiregular partner who is slow going up but is blazing fast down and does not use safe practices, like stopping a trail junctions for friends to catch up, etc. It has cost him a few times...going down an avy chute of Baden-Powell and a dip in Lone Pine Creek below Lone Pine Lake. Still he hikes with up. We shamed him for the former and he claims to have changed his ways. There does always have to be a reason other than wanting to go fast.
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 7
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 7 |
My condolences to his family, friends, and fellow hikers.
I'm so sorry to hear this sad news.
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 31
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 31 |
I hope his family finds some comfort in knowing he was doing what he loved in a place he loved. Rest in Peace, John Lively.
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 50 Likes: 6
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 50 Likes: 6 |
Very sad news. Definitely was hoping that the past experience would weigh in his favor. My heart goes out to all his friends and family during a very difficult time.
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,256 Likes: 2
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,256 Likes: 2 |
Very sad news. Condolences to John's friends and family. It's always tough when a true backcountry enthusiast doesn't make it home. Rest in peace, John.
If I'm reading the description right, it sounds like the culprit was likely the slabs above Mirror Lake that we've discussed on this thread - eerily close to where Shayam Das went over last year. It may be time for the NFS to consider signage in this area.
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 Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 584 Likes: 13
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 584 Likes: 13 |
Missing hiker remains located.Very sad news. Prayers for his friends and family. Many thanks to the tireless efforts of SAR, and the various police agencies who have been investigating and searching over dangerous terrain. Thanks to all for keeping your ears to the ground for updates. Many of the Eastern Sierra online community have been tracking events with concern and prayer over the past days.
@jjoshuagregory (Instagram) for mainly landscape and mountain pics
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,158
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,158 |
Sad closure. Condolences to the family and friends.
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,037 Likes: 6
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,037 Likes: 6 |
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 55
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 55 |
So very sorry to hear this. I've been following and hoping for rescue - so many caring people out there. It is sad and sobering to hear of his loss. 
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,253
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,253 |
Bulldog,
It's a federal wilderness...what you ask, will take act of God.
I've stood there, looked down those chutes and have taken pictures from that area.
There are a few areas alone this trail that look benign and are not and there are those people think are dangerous and they are not.
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 28
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 28 |
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 172
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 172 |
There is a little area of switchbacks just above the Permit Only sign past Lone Pine Lake that I thought could lead to disaster. It is a spot on the way down where the trail is not completely evident and there is a path right that looks like a trail that goes right off the cliff. In the dark I was leading my father and I took a few steps that way before realizing my mistake. I can realize how this type of mistake could happen.
Separately, I think I understand where the accident happened. I believe we actually saw a couple hikers attempting to make their way down the chute during our hike. Deep condolences to the family and hoping the family can find peace.
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 7
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 7 |
I have been checking back daily in hopes of them finding this man alive. I am saddened to hear of his death. It makes me more aware of the fact to not take this mountain for granted. I will be extra careful on my trip next week and hope everyone will take this as a reminder to be safe out there.
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 632
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 632 |
Wazzu,
Seems odd to say thank you for this very sad news but thank you just the same. Mr. Likely has been heavy on a lot of people's minds, most of all his family. I wish his Mt. Whitney hike would have had a happy ending. My prayers go out to his family and fellow hikers.
Lynnaroo
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 20
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 20 |
My friend and I left Outpost at 9:00 pm Sunday evening heading for a sunrise summit.We stopped at Outpost to add a layer and take a short rest. We did not encounter a sole until Trail Crest Junction at 4:00 am Monday morning. If anyone knows where Mr Likely was found, would you please post it on a map? I don't mean to be disrespectful or morbid, I just need to know. This has been bothering both me and my hike partner all week and we just want to know.
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Re: Missing Whitney Hiker
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 28
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 28 |
I am curious as well..if only to make sure I take extra precautions. Already I am telling myself GO LEFT, GO LEFT at the granite slabs when Mirror Lake comes into view!!! People keep telling me the trail is like a freeway, just follow the trail. You can't go wrong. Well, that is evidently not completely correct.
Last edited by tollermom; 06/20/14 02:35 PM.
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