Missing friend in Mammoth Lakes /Tuolumne area
Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 1:28 pm
Our friend was out in the Mammoth Lake area for the past few weeks and hasn't been in contact with anyone since July 16th. If anyone has been hiking/climbing in the area and ran into Matt, please contact the ML police below. His photo is in the link below. Thanks and please forward to others who may have been in the area.
http://www.sierrawave.net/25773/mlpd-ma" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... her-found/
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Matthew Greene is requested to contact the Mammoth Lakes Police Department at (760) 934-2011 or the Mono County Sheriff’s Office at (760) 932-7549 X7.
I heard back from the PD in another message about some of the gear that was left in his car. It's not extremely detailed, but may be helpful. Most importantly, it sounds like his large backpack was not there, he had his crampons with him, and possibly some climbing equipment. He has one ice axe with him. In taking his crampons, it's possible that he may have planned to be on some snow or ice. I'm trying to find out what camping gear he may have had with him too. I know he has a bivy tent in addition to a larger tent for the campsite. It sounds like the larger tent was left behind, but I don't know about the bivy tent.
If he was planning on a simple day hike, I think he would have left his larger backpack behind and took a day/summit pack with him. It's also possible that he may have stashed his larger pack somewhere if doing a peak and just carried with him his small summit pack and technical tools. I have seen two references in other forums to Mt. Lyell, but again, nothing has been confirmed. Any sections in that area that would have required or suggested the need for crampons?
Also, For anyone that has knowledge about Mt. Lyell and the area, is it conceivable to decide to peak Mt. Lyell and then plan to hike back to Mammoth Lake? From the aerial maps, it looks possible, but fairly technical in some areas. This is all just speculation on my end, but knowing Matt, and knowing that he had several days to wait for his car to be fixed, I could see him considering this as an option.
Finally, Matt almost always signs logs at trail heads, so please check them if you're in the area. Confirmation of location will help in initiating a search by S&R.
If anyone knows someone who took the shuttle from Mammoth Lake to the meadows on the 16th or 17th, please share this info with them.
UPDATE:
In talking with Matt's Friends who were last with him and are communicating with local authorities, they feel strongly that he either attempted Mt Lyell from Tuolumne or Mt. Banner/Ritter in Mammoth Lakes on July 17th. They went through his car and gear and based off of past conversations with Matt, agree that one of these areas were likely scenarios for him. They are leaning more toward Mt. Lyell.
Search and Rescue can't initiate a search without more concrete information on where he may have gone. Until that happens or until S&R makes the decision to go anyway, the hope is that some locals or others in the area could head out this weekend and search these two mountains. If anyone is able to do that, please let me know. I'm not sure if anything formal can get established between now and then (I and several of his friends are on the East coast), but just having people out there walking these areas would be extremely useful.
Thank you!
Tom
http://www.sierrawave.net/25773/mlpd-ma" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... her-found/
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Matthew Greene is requested to contact the Mammoth Lakes Police Department at (760) 934-2011 or the Mono County Sheriff’s Office at (760) 932-7549 X7.
I heard back from the PD in another message about some of the gear that was left in his car. It's not extremely detailed, but may be helpful. Most importantly, it sounds like his large backpack was not there, he had his crampons with him, and possibly some climbing equipment. He has one ice axe with him. In taking his crampons, it's possible that he may have planned to be on some snow or ice. I'm trying to find out what camping gear he may have had with him too. I know he has a bivy tent in addition to a larger tent for the campsite. It sounds like the larger tent was left behind, but I don't know about the bivy tent.
If he was planning on a simple day hike, I think he would have left his larger backpack behind and took a day/summit pack with him. It's also possible that he may have stashed his larger pack somewhere if doing a peak and just carried with him his small summit pack and technical tools. I have seen two references in other forums to Mt. Lyell, but again, nothing has been confirmed. Any sections in that area that would have required or suggested the need for crampons?
Also, For anyone that has knowledge about Mt. Lyell and the area, is it conceivable to decide to peak Mt. Lyell and then plan to hike back to Mammoth Lake? From the aerial maps, it looks possible, but fairly technical in some areas. This is all just speculation on my end, but knowing Matt, and knowing that he had several days to wait for his car to be fixed, I could see him considering this as an option.
Finally, Matt almost always signs logs at trail heads, so please check them if you're in the area. Confirmation of location will help in initiating a search by S&R.
If anyone knows someone who took the shuttle from Mammoth Lake to the meadows on the 16th or 17th, please share this info with them.
UPDATE:
In talking with Matt's Friends who were last with him and are communicating with local authorities, they feel strongly that he either attempted Mt Lyell from Tuolumne or Mt. Banner/Ritter in Mammoth Lakes on July 17th. They went through his car and gear and based off of past conversations with Matt, agree that one of these areas were likely scenarios for him. They are leaning more toward Mt. Lyell.
Search and Rescue can't initiate a search without more concrete information on where he may have gone. Until that happens or until S&R makes the decision to go anyway, the hope is that some locals or others in the area could head out this weekend and search these two mountains. If anyone is able to do that, please let me know. I'm not sure if anything formal can get established between now and then (I and several of his friends are on the East coast), but just having people out there walking these areas would be extremely useful.
Thank you!
Tom