Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Missing Hiker on Whitney/Mountaineer's Route

From the Inyo County Sheriff's Office:






For more info:
https://www.facebook.com/InyoCountySheriffsOffice

On Tuesday, 7/19, in the afternoon, I along with 3 friends, while headed up to Mt. Russell met 3 people from the missing hiker's group. Two men and a woman. We first saw the three 3 hikers descending the steep terrain below the notch north of Whitney-Russell Pass. They approached us near the south side of Iceberg Lake and asked for directions to the "Parking Lot".

My first impression as we saw them descend the steep slope was that they must be experienced and familiar with area. But as soon as we attempted some conversation we realized that something wasn’t right. There was a significant language barrier that made getting details very challenging. They were Korean and didn’t speak too much English. One of the men explained that English was a second language and he was talkative and able to communicate with us but he told us that he did not know which route they had ascended. He said that they didn’t have a map, were not familiar with the area and relied on faith in their “leader”. He explained that they had left early, about 3:00 a.m. Monday Morning. The talkative one somehow lost his pack on some technical terrain when the “leader” lowered a rope to him to assist him. Somehow after that they had become separated from their “leader” after trying to follow him up some steep technical terrain, they assumed the leader was taking them to Mt. Whitney.

They told us that they huddled together on Monday night trying to stay warm. On Tuesday they met a pair of climbers somewhere west of the Whitney-Russell Ridge. The pair of climbers gave them some water and trail mix. According to the lost trio, the pair of climbers pointed them to the notch in the Whitney-Russell and suggested they exit through the notch, descend the slope to Ice Berg Lake, and try to find their way to the “Parking Lot”.
They told us their car was at the Parking Lot which we were pretty sure had to be Whitney Portal. They wanted to get back and they just wanted directions. We told them we would go with them and help them to navigate the route back down the north fork of Lone Pine Creek. They were proud and reluctant to accept our help but we were persistent.

We had tents at Upper Boy scout Lake. We stopped at our camp to take a break and gather our gear. The woman reacted when she looked northwest, up-canyon of Upper Boy Scout Lake and told us that she recognized that was the way they went up Monday morning.
We had phone signal at Upper Boy Scout so we all made calls. The Korean group told us there were no messages and no answer from attempts to call their leader. One of my friends called the Forest Service Ranger and the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department but found that was no report at that time of any missing hikers.

The trio were again reluctant to wait for us to pack up our camp but we explained that we did not want them to go down without our help. We specifically tried to caution them about the Ebersbacher Ledgers. We knew we had just barely enough daylight to descend the ledges prior to nightfall. We gave them more water, hot tea, sandwiches, and cookies. They were very appreciative.

We arrived back at Whitney Portal at about 10:00 p.m. Tuesday night. Their leader was not there. They had phones and thanked us for assisting them. We urged them to call the Rangers and Inyo County Sheriff’s Department to at least report that they had become separated. There was a lot of activity at the Portal as the Badwater Ultra finish-line was set up and the first finishers were arriving. The trio assured us they would be OK and thanked us again for assisting them.

Wednesday Morning we stopped in at the Inter-agency Visitor Center to return a rented Bear Canister. We shared our account of meeting the trio with the Rangers.

One of my friends had exchanged phone numbers with talkative Hiker. On Wednesday my friend called a few times to follow-up on the outcome and find out if they found their leader. They had not. Last night my friend found out from the Hiker and the Inyo County Sheriff’s that the leader was still missing.

The Search and Rescue should now have most of the details about the direction the Party took and the retrace back from the west side to Ice Berg Area , but If you were in the North Fork on Monday, Tuesday or yesterday and today , heard any noise or saw any thing please call Inyo County SAR . Thanks Rick , Jim and all the others that have provided details.

From Inyo SAR

Hello everyone,

John Lee is my uncle. I would very much like to get his son (John Jr.) in touch with Rick F. and Jeff. I am not sure if I am allowed PMs yet, but please message me with your phone numbers and I can pass it along to him. Thank you so much for these updates.

Sam Lee

Hi All:

As the thread says, we're continuing the search for John Lee. I'm with Sequoia Kings SAR and we're concentrating on the Whitney West and North slopes. There might be some recent anomalous tracks coming down the west slope where it runs out on the last straightaway before the switchbacks start.

If you or anyone you know was on the summit Tuesday or hiking on the west side of Whitney (Guitar/Hitchcock/switchbacks) Tuesday to present, please contact Sequoia Kings SAR. Even if you didn't see the individual, getting your location, route and times will help eliminate terrain and give a timeline. Call SAR at 559-565-3117 and ask to speak to me or one of the investigators. You can also reply to me here or PM. Also useful would be anyone who did the Mountaineer's Route on Tuesday, though that doesn't appear to be the route he took.

Rick F and Party: I just sent you a PM. I'd really appreciate a call. You guys did great to help them. There might be more information you have that's relevant. Also, do you or anyone here know who the two climbers who gave them food might have been?

Check the description on the Inyo Facebook Page and, if you're in the area, especially XC on the routes listed, keep an eye out for equipment or other clues. Mark any clues, photograph and record coordinates, if possible.

Many thanks!
George Durkee
NPS SAR

Hi George,
My Nephew and I met the two climbers on the West summit of Mt. Russell at around 2 PM on Tuesday. They told us of the encounter with the 3 Koreans. They were young and from the Tahoe area. One had previously lived in the Owens Valley and had been involved in SAR worked. He told us specifically of being involved in the rescue of a lone woman who was trying to climb the mountaineer's chute, but ended up trapped on the East Face route. He was clean shaven and his partner had a beard. We did NOT get their names. When he told of SAR work, I asked if he met "Ranger Bob" (Bob Rockwell). He said yes, there were two older Bob's, old Bob and young Bob. Young Bob probably older than me (I am 62). With that information, maybe someone knows who he is.
Gary[u][/u]

We also spoke with one of the Korean's at the Portal on Wednesday. He mentioned passing through a "gate" at the top of a chute. He described this as a gap with a horizontal rock above. I have never seen this, but thought it might identify the chute that they negotiated.

My cousin said they found his rope southwest of his pack on flat terrain today

Sam Lee, I sent you a PM with my contact info.

Sam: I've talked to Rick F and his buddy Mario. Both were very helpful. We're continuing to follow up on their clues as well as the rope. I'll also try to find the Aussies.

Doug Sr.: You mentioned a Jim F as doing the mountaineer's route. Where's his post again?

Many thanks for everyone's continuing help.

George Durkee
NPS SAR

Hi George,

My post was on the topic Slow Day:

I went up the Mountaineers Route Wed Am and then descended the Main Trail. The weather was great, the evening warm, the moon full (favorable for survival). Unfortunately, I was not aware of the missing hiker or I would have been on the alert for clues.

As I told the Inyo Sheriff at the Portal Wed eve:

(1) I saw no person between the Portal and the Summit.

(2) I only saw one tent. It was at Iceberg Lake (south shore) and I believe it was green. That was about 0845.

(3) A 1015 at the Notch (14000'), I thought I heard a voice(s) from the West Face of Russell. However, I saw no climbers on Russell, nor anyone down below in the Arctic Lake drainage.

I did not tell the Sheriff, that from Iceberg Lake I took a good look at Whitney Russell Pass, as I had gone over it July 9. There was still a residual snowfield running out into the Lake. Sliding down this into the Lake would not be good.

Finally, concerning a "horizontal" rock at the top of a chute. It is possible (but unlikely) that this is referring to the following: From the top of the Notch on the MR, if one takes the Traverse to the West, one landmark to finally gain the Summit Plateau is what I call the Flying Saucer. It is a large flat horizontal overhanging rock. Reach it, maybe go under it, and you top out on the Plateau (very close to where the Main Trail makes a sweeping hairpin turn).

Do not hesitate to PM me for questions. The Inyo Sheriff has my cell and home phone numbers.

Thanks for your efforts in the search.

Jim F

Anyone know if this hiker is still missing? We are headed up the Mountaineer's route tomorrow and will look for clues if he has not yet been found.

There have been no reports from Inyo County or any of the SAR agencies involved that he has been found.
Following is the last report from the Inyo County Sheriff's Office posted this AM:
Sunday morning update: SAR members are preparing for another multiagency search for missing hiker John Lee. Sunday’s support includes: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, Inyo County Search and Rescue, Yosemite Search and Rescue, Marin County Search and Rescue, Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit, China Lake Mountain Rescue Group, Contra Costa Search and Rescue, San Diego Mountain Rescue Team, CHP H-40 out of Fresno, California Air National Guard, and CalOES.

Full information can be found on their Facebook page found here: https://www.facebook.com/InyoCountySheriffsOffice/

George - I camped at Guitar Lake on Weds July 20, with a group hiking with Sierra Mountain Center. One guide, Mike Phillips, and I hiked up to Arctic Lake from Guitar Lake on the morning of Thurs July 21. We did not see anyone up there. A helicopter was doing a search of the area and flew around the lake a couple of times while we were there. On Friday July 22, we talked to the Crabtree Meadows ranger and told him that we had been there and seen no-one else. He and another ranger (Laura) were going to hike up to that area that day, I believe.

The following was posted on the Inyo County Sheriff's Office Sunday evening:

FINAL POSTING - Sunday evening update: After five days of an intense multiagency search effort we are all deeply saddened to report that missing hiker John Lee’s body has been located by a helicopter in Sequoia National Park at the base of the southwest slope of Mt. Whitney ~12,500 feet elevation. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Lee's family and friends during this very difficult time.

Condolences to all of Mr. Lee's family and friends. I know they held Mr. Lee in high regard.

"The mountains are calling and I must go"
Rest in peace John Lee.
My condolences to your friends and family.

This is always the start of the healing process, may God give your family and all involved strength .Reflect on the many great years
and the time spent on the journey.

I want to Thank all that provided input during the first few hours and on during the search .

Yes, it is with great sadness that my family and I learned of this tragic news. We kept thinking he would pop up somewhere, and that leaving the rope in a straight line was some sort of directional sign from him.

I cannot express how much gratitude we have for the help and concern in this SAR mission. Many brave and selfless people risked their own safety to try and locate my uncle.

Thank you all and please be safe out there.

Sincere Regards,

Sam Lee
Putnam Valley, NY

As Mr. Doug says, the goal should not be the Whitney summit - the goal is to safely return to the Portal parking lot.