Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Repost of SAR request(from HST)

I am reposting this - just saw it posted on HST:

Inyo County SAR and SEKI SAR are currently conducting an Search & Rescue Operation on Mt. Whitney. SAR teams are searching for 3 male individuals aged in their mid-forties that summited Mt. Whitney late Monday evening. Last contact with the party was at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday via text msg from the summit hut requesting assistance. Clothing and equipment descriptions are unknown at this time. Any hikers who may have seen or come into contact with this party are requested to contact SEKI SAR Incident Command at 559 565-3117, 3118, 3119 or 559 565-3188, 3189.

Any assistance in this incident is greatly appreciated.

SEKI SARSEKI SAR
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Apparently the three are part of a larger group from Nebraska that split into three groups Monday. Two groups made it down safely, but these three (first names of Phil, Stephan and Dale) have not yet.

Godspeed to them.

More info at Summit Post:

http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=55747

Hi Part of the group helped Doug Jr and I unload the wood on Monday and we watched the two groups drive off.We thought they were all down until we got a call yesterday about the three in the summit hut.


Another two hikers are overdue , this was a group that went into the Meysan draniage and heading for Whitney via the "scenic route". One came out Saturday night and did the main trail on Sunday, two others went over candlelight and joined the trail around trailcamp ,the overdue hikers headed east out of Meysan Lake on Sunday morning.

Weather has been about normal for this time of the year but somewhat warmer , still no snow in the Portal and the snow line is about 10'000'. The wild card for most not aware of the area is how rapid storms can enter the canyon and conditions change , then add the east/west side and the change from 8000' to 14,000' with drifts and whiteout conditions on a base of sheet ice from past storms . Theses are the fine details you will not get in the weather reports. I talked with several people today about the conditions and as always it is not the weather it is what you take and the choices YOU make depending on the conditions. NO ONE will be there to make those decisions for you.

With luck the three stayed in the hut , the two others find a way down Tuttle Creek and walk out.

Last week someone ask why we stay open this time of the year and I replied in the old days we had the only phone and this time of the year we will have problems as at start of the season late April early May, things don't change much sad to say. Thanks Doug

Best of luck to all. Let's hope they all made smart decisions. Not always easy when you're cold and tired.

Updated from SEKI Public Affairs this morning on SummitPost

UPDATE:

See the three attached flyers for specific information and photos of the missing parties. Any hikers who may have seen or come in contact with any of the individuals should call the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Incident Command Post at 559-565-3117 or Inyo County at 760-873-2513.

Approximately 45 people have been assigned to the incident as of October 20. Search operations are being hampered by snowstorms with accumulations between 1-3 feet of new snow. Additional staff and a helicopter have been ordered in the hope that the weather will allow search operations to continue tomorrow.

Whole thing here: http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=55747

Hang in there guys, help is coming. Prayers to all of you.

Doug,
Thank you for the fix on my login for this message board as per my call to you on Tues morn.
We are considering coming up this weekend and as per our conversation Tues AM I had a lot of confidence in the weather and conditions. We were considering Mtrs Route by way we took a few years back according the route planned in The Book.
Is that the Scenic Route described in this post thread? And are the conditions changing to quickly for "quick" weeknd up the hill?

Local news story in Omaha here, courtesy of Steve C. A few more details than I've read elsewhere.

Let's pray SAR can get to them today, even though the webcam till shows the summit socked in. Looking at their photos and knowing they had planned a dayhike Monday, they are not equipped for the situation they're in. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome.

Can I make a humble suggestion? Today 12 Noon no matter if your home or at work take 1 minute of your day and pray for these guys. Matthew 18:20 says, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them"......Let's pray these guys get down safely and home to thier families and also that the SAR team get up and down safely as well....

Yeti

You got it Jeff. Thank you! 12 it is.

I don't do this much, but it's noon straight up and my head is down...good luck guys!

Stacy

See Stacy? It worked!

Gary

I'm not saying that I don't talk to Him, 'cause I do that alot...I just try not to ask for much unless it really means something.

Stacy

Thank You SAR. Thank you Dale, Stevan,and Phillip for not giving up.

Found safe at 12:00 p.m.!!! The power of 1,000 positive thoughts!

Rumor has it they survived on Cheetos and Mike & Ikes

Like they say in comedy Stace, "timing is everything!"

The power of prayer is strong. I am not a preacher but I was told by quote, if more than one gather in my name, then I am there with. JC

Hi The two that entered Meysan are still over due Lets shift the power on this effort. Thanks Doug

GK
I think The Yeti (Jeff) posted something very similar in his post above. Looks like a case of "the power of many helped the welfare of a few".
As long as they are out safely, that's all that really matters.

Thank you SAR (again and again!)

Stacy

Just for clarification............Some have been located and some are still missing?????