Missing Person Alert Devil's Postpile 9/28 (Resolved)

[Shawn]

Robert Bondurant - Approx 4 days overdue from a hike or climb.

From Facebook on 10/5/22:

"His car was just found on 10/5/22 the Devils Postpile TH. It is believed that he was going to Clyde minaret. Search and rescue has been initiated with Madera and mono county sheriffs department

Robert Bondurant, is currently overdue. His last known post was from the Sierra Nevada/Golden Trout Lake area 4 days ago. Robert failed to show up for work (this never happens). It is unknown whether he had an InReach with him. We’ll post updates with more specific info as we get them. Please contact me or Becky Rogers or the Rob's hometown police in Port Townsend, WA if you have any information on Rob’s whereabouts. Rob is an accomplished mountain ultra endurance athlete and mountain climber. For those who live in the area I'm sure help would be appreciated. Or those who don't live in the area but can spread the word to those that do that would be great!
**car is a Toyota Camry 2022 Grey Washington State Plates
Update: the CA local police and SAR have been notified"

[maverick]

Please note that nothing official has come from either agency on this incident.


Posted on Facebook Seattle Running Club page:

Our friend Robert Bondurant is overdue returning from a trip to the mountains. His last known location was Wednesday Sept 28th at Golden Trout Lake west of Independence, CA. We believe he went to a hotel in Bishop, CA Wednesday evening (still waiting on confirmation) and then probably went out on the trails/mountains within an hour or two drive of Bishop again the next day and possibly other days after that. Probably still in the same approximate area, maybe Independence Peak/Onion Valley or other places near there. But he could also be anywhere between there and Washington State where he lives and was supposed to be back at work on Monday. It's a huge area that he could possibly be.
Rob is a 5'4" 145-155lbs, stocky/super fit. Runs marathons and ultramarathons multiple times a year and climbs lots of peaks. He has a very distinct walk/run gait, as his feet always turn outwards like he's doing a powerlifting squat. He also is very friendly and quick to smile. He's the nicest guy ever and volunteers a ton.
He was driving a grey 2022 Toyota Camry with Washington plates.
His family has contacted the local police and SAR where he was last known to be as well as his home police in Port Townsend, WA.
If you have any info please contact his friend Rebekah Rogers at 360-731-8649 or
morphconditioning@gmail.com Becky Rogers Thanks!
If you could help by sharing this with any hiking/running/outdoor groups or people anywhere in California, Oregon or Washington that would be a huge help as we're still trying to narrow down where he is. Maybe someone saw him or his car on Thursday or Friday or this weekend? His family and police are working to figure out via electronic/financial records where he might be but it's a process that takes time but if anyone has seen him or his car any where since last Wednesday (Sept 28th) it could be a huge help in locating him. This is urgent. Any info helps. Thanks again!

Update: His car was just found at the Devils Postpile TH. We believe that he was going to Clyde minaret. Search and rescue will be initiated and we’ve been in touch with Madera (559) 675-7770 and mono county (760) 932-7549 sheriffs department

[maverick]

There as been some developments in this incident, but I will wait till the official word comes out before posting it.

[maverick]

Mono & Madera Co Sheriff's Dept:

At 1303 hours, the Team was called to assist Madera County Sheriff Search and Rescue in the search for an overdue hiker/scrambler in the area of the Minarets. The subject was traveling solo with the possible objectvie of summiting Clyde Minaret, 12,281’ elevation.

For the first afternoon, the Team was on standby as CHP helicopter H40 conducted an aerial search of the area. The search was postponed as darkness descended.


On October 6 at 0800 hours, Teams from Mono, Madera, Marin, and Fresno staged at Minaret Vista, and an Air National Guard Blackhawk helicopter arrive just after 1000 hours to begin inserting field teams into the search areas. Four field teams were inserted, and shortly thereafter a spontaneous volunteer (a local outdoors professional) located the subject after hiking in and checking various locations that he thought were likely.

Madera was unable to extract the subject before darkness, so arrangements were made to have the National Guard Blackhawk return at 0800 hours the next morning.

Due to mechanical difficulties and other delays, the Blackhawk did not arrive at rescue base until after noon, but were able to insert their own personnel, extract the subject, and transport his remains to rescue base for transfer to the Madera coroner.

IC: Madera Sheriff Search and Rescue Mono Ops Leaders: Thompson, Beck Responders: Brownlee, Burnett, Creager, Endo, Evans, Godshalk, Hartstrom, Haugh, Kaufman, Kelly, Knecht, Knight, Leyen, Lipman, Mayernick, Pavlovsky, Quiring, Wallace.