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Use this forum to stay informed on missing persons alerts, active SAR's and unfortunate hiker accidents we can all hopefully learn from. Any information you may have on a missing person, including first hand weather related information or any other insight (however little) may prove to be critical information to Law Enforcement / SAR in locating the person in question.
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maverick
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by maverick » Mon Dec 21, 2015 1:20 pm
Inyo County Sheriff's Dept:
On December 15th the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office received notification of a deceased 18-year old female at Outpost Camp, which is a stopping point on the route to Mt. Whitney. According to her father, who was both the hiking partner and reporting party, she had always wanted to hike the Mt. Whitney trail. Her father also indicated that both he and his daughter were experienced hikers, including hiking in winter conditions. They set out Monday mid-day with no intention of summiting; rather they just wanted to go as far as they could safely and return. By early evening they reached Outpost Camp, where they decided to camp for the evening. Her father indicated that the 18-year old had been experiencing a headache; when he woke up the following morning she was deceased.
CHP helicopter (H-80 out of Apple Valley) and two Inyo County Search and Rescue members recovered the body this afternoon. The Inyo County Coroner is working with the Orange County Coroner's office to determine cause of death.
Our deepest condolences are with the family.
More info:
http://spectrummagazine.org/article/201 ... ney-watson
Sounds like the cause may have been HACE.
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I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
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The Other Tom
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by The Other Tom » Tue Dec 22, 2015 6:20 am
Wow! So sad. Outpost camp is ~10,400 ft. I don't know how high they climbed before that but I would have thought 10,400 is too "low" for HACE. I guess everybody is different and may be good at altitude one day but not so good the next. My condolences.
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schmalz
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by schmalz » Thu Jan 07, 2016 5:56 pm
I'd really like a follow up on this, although it seems like we rarely get them regarding backcountry deaths.
I have a hard time wrapping my brain around this being HACE based on the details of the story.
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Ikan Mas
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by Ikan Mas » Sat Jan 09, 2016 6:03 pm
My condolences and prayers to the family.
Yes, I would also like to know more about this, having read some about HACE. I've had friends who got headaches and other symptoms over passes like Franklin. Hate to think they could have woke up dead.
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