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 Found: Missing 13 y.o. Hiker in SeKi
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105 |
From Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks: News Releases July 28, 2014 MISSING HIKER Austin Shedd HEIGHT: 5'3" WEIGHT: 110 lbs. AGE: 13-years-old HAIR: Light brown EYES: Blue RACE: White INTENDED ITINERARY: Kings Canyon National Park, separated from party while hiking from Arrow Peak to Bench Lake, plans to exit Taboose Pass on July 28, 2014 IDENTIFYING FEATURES: Green hat, braces HAVE YOU SEEN HIM? Call Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks at 888-677-2746. Here's the associated map: (Click here for Interactive Gmap4) 
Last edited by Steve C; 07/29/14 01:24 PM.
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 148
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 148 |
Aw, crud.
Arrow Peak doesn't look like any picnic for a 13 y.o. The terrain looks a lot like it might funnel someone lost south down Arrow Creek -- away from Bench Lake.
HJ
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 742
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 742 |
That is a remote area.
he knew they were descending to Bench Lake. Perhaps he caught a glimpse of ANOTHER lake, and went there. I'd look there first.
He's been out over 24 hours. Odds are this was a day hike from a base camp (probably Bench). If so, he doesn't have his camping gear.
His best bet is to light a fire during daytime....always abnormal. Don't know if he has the means, or the knowledge to do so.
Does he know enough to go to water, then stop, stop, stop?
I am often amazed at how close they find these people to their last known position. If he heads east, he hits the JMT/PCT, and a ton of people. Does he know which way is east?
You just hope for the best, and feel for the Dad.
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105 |
Latest News Release:July 28, 2014 Search for Missing Hiker in Kings Canyon National Park Started Today News Release ( PDF, JPEG) Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks News Release
For Immediate Release: July 28, 2014
Contact: Dana M. Dierkes
Phone: (559) 565-3131 (office) and (559) 679-2866 (cell)
Search for Missing Hiker in Kings Canyon National Park Started Today
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, CA -- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks' staff is searching for missing hiker Austin Shedd, a 13-year-old male from Carlsbad, CA, and Mammoth Lakes, CA, who became separated from his hiking party while in the Arrow Peak (elevation 12,959 feet) area of Kings Canyon National Park on Sunday, July 27, 2014. Efforts today include 25 people searching by ground and helicopter, conducting interviews, and planning for the next days' operation. If anyone has information about the missing hiker, please contact Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks at 888-677-2746.
Background:
* Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Dispatch was notified of the missing hiker at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Monday, July 28, 2014.
* Shedd originally departed from Taboose Pass in the Inyo National Forest enroute to Bench Lake and Arrow Peak in Kings Canyon National Park. The hiking party planned to exit via the same route.
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,261
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,261 |
The body betrays and the weather conspires, hopefully, not on the same day. 
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105 |
Thanks, Bee. Missing 13-year-old Hiker Found in Kings Canyon National Park
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, CA -- Missing hiker Austin Shedd, a 13-year-old male from Carlsbad, CA, and Mammoth Lakes, CA, has been found on Monday, July 28, 2014, at 9:30 p.m. by the trail crew in Kings Canyon National Park. Shedd will stay overnight in the wilderness with the trail crew until a rescue flight can take place on Tuesday, July 29. Additional details will follow when available.
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 69
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 69 |
Glad this ended well. Being a dad, it made my heart sink when I saw the thread. I'm very interested to hear more details about how it happened, and the choices the young man made when he was separated.
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 148
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 148 |
Yeah, super happy to hear he's been found.
HJ
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,572
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,572 |
Yeah, as a dad, me too.
But. Now that he's found:
Am I the only one that thinks that something is not quite right about this story? He walks off during lunch, and is that quickly out of earshot while several other party members are searching and presumably calling for him?
Hmmmmmmmmmm . . .
Wherever you go, there you are. SPOTMe!
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Re: Found: Missing 13 y.o. Hiker in SeKi
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105 |
I believe I recall a story where a fellow got lost (and maybe died) around Glacier Point, when he walked off to do a cat hole.
Anything can happen.
Last edited by Steve C; 07/29/14 01:24 PM.
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Re: Found: Missing 13 y.o. Hiker in SeKi
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,261
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,261 |
When I was about 9 years old, we were at a crowded beach. I left the group to walk *straight up* to the very visible bathroom, but on the way back, I became very disoriented. I was lost for an hour in the scrum, & my parents thought that I had wandered into the sea and drowned. It happens very quickly.
(eventually, a couple of nice teen girls helped me find my folks)
The body betrays and the weather conspires, hopefully, not on the same day.
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 69
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 69 |
Yeah, as a dad, me too.
But. Now that he's found:
Am I the only one that thinks that something is not quite right about this story? He walks off during lunch, and is that quickly out of earshot while several other party members are searching and presumably calling for him?
Hmmmmmmmmmm . . .
I thought that odd too. Interested to get more details!
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,572
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,572 |
Yeah, as a dad, me too.
But. Now that he's found:
Am I the only one that thinks that something is not quite right about this story? He walks off during lunch, and is that quickly out of earshot while several other party members are searching and presumably calling for him?
Hmmmmmmmmmm . . .
I thought that odd too. Interested to get more details! I thought some follow-up would be interesting and instructive, too. I also can't remember another SAR story with absolutley no follow-up, no interview with the family or victim. Lots of things about this don't fit. The boy disappears in the time it takes to make a sandwich, out of earshot. Lost and alone overnight at elevation, gets back on trail and finds the trail crew, evac by chopper and not a single quote anywhere from the kid, the rescuers, family. Odd.
Wherever you go, there you are. SPOTMe!
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 17
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 17 |
It's a coverup! Sheddgate!
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 225
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 225 |
http://www.nps.gov/seki/parknews/upload/...WITH-FAMILY.pdfSo my question is, if the family was in Independence waiting for word, and the child was found in the same area that he "disappeared", why would park officials helicopter him to the complete other side of the park and drop him off on the West Side? That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Is it a jurisdictional thing about where the helicopter can put down? Can someone provide some insight maybe?
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105 |
The Ash Mountain site near Three Rivers is the Seki headquarters, and I think most of their flights leave and land there. To take him to Independence or Mammoth would be flying even farther and higher away from home base. Not sure how much fuel a helo carries, but I don't think they carry much reserve.
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 225
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 225 |
Ok. That makes sense. It just seemed odd to take him in the complete opposite direction of 1- his trailhead and 2- where his family was reported to have been waiting.
Thanks Steve!
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Re: SeKi Hiker missing: 13 y.o.
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 584 Likes: 13
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 584 Likes: 13 |
It's a coverup! Sheddgate! Hey man, you never know, Shedd happens...
@jjoshuagregory (Instagram) for mainly landscape and mountain pics
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Re: Found: Missing 13 y.o. Hiker in SeKi
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 32
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 32 |
Yep it happens. Last time I was at aspen grove I was fishing just a few yards away from my family and trail. We got separated and they said they were calling my name. They went to the parking area and I followed the trail up their too and everything was fine. This was all in the matter of 5 minutes or so, but it shows how easy it is to become separated and not to be able to hear those calling you.
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Re: Found: Missing 13 y.o. Hiker in SeKi
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105 |
This may be old news, but Sierra Wave provided a little more information about the hiker and the situation: The 13-year-old son of a Mammoth Lakes Emergency Room doctor remained missing in the Sierra mountains at last word - the subject of a two-day search.
Last night, Mammoth Lakes friends of Dr. Rick Shedd prepared to pack up and go help look for his son, Austin Shedd. At last word, they were on stand-by. Dr. Shedd had reportedly hiked down to Independence from the Baxter Pass area Monday where other relatives awaited word.
According to friends of the doctor, he had stopped to make a sandwich for his son during their hike, and when he finished his son was gone. The doctor and a hiking partner searched for the boy. Dr. Shedd finally hiked down to the Owens Valley to get help. The hike itself involved high elevations in the backcountry above Big Pine and Independence.
Inyo Search and Rescue is not working the boy's disappearance at last report. The Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park was reportedly conducting the search.
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