Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Missing hiker

This was posted on the JMT Facebook group, and I thought I'd post it here too, since the missing hiker indicated that one of his possible plans was to hike Mt Whitney.

http://dailybruin.com/2015/11/17/ucla-graduate-student-reported-missing/

Hi We were ask several days ago if he stayed at the Hostel or if he had been in the store. His car was on a side road near the Portal area.reported this afternoon by Inyo Co.

I think the news program used one of the black and white photos off our site. Dale did this photo labeling some years ago.


We had a young man come into the Hostel to download a "map" I helped get it loaded and talked with him a few seconds waiting for the map to print I notice about 25 pages I thought I had hit a wrong button on the printer so I ask why so many pages? His answer was he was starting the High Route to Yosemite , This was the day before the last storm, I said very few make this trip in the summer with the first few storms and not enough time to settle yet this might make travel very hard. Next day one of the rangers talked with him as he was heading up the trail in the late afternoon, I think I saw him in town Monday of this week ,this time of the year we see this pattern , no permit required still very warm down south and the less experienced people will be tricked into coming up.

The last day at the store snowing all day my truck was the only vehicle in the area, a guy comes in and ask " Many people on the Mountain today?" Answer not unless take walked from town. We had about 6" on the ground and more at the higher elevation no one had made it above Trailcamp for several days .I think he planned on a dry trail, warm weather and people on the trail if he needed help.

I hope Michael is found and is just on a backpacking trip in the lower elevations.

Hi Blue Not sure which side road but I think it was at the foothills area around Lone Pine Campground . I had reports of Patrol cars in that area and yesterday air search over that area.

Will Meyers has been updating Facebook. Here is his post from Saturday night, 11/21/15.

Dear Every Member of US 395 / Owens Valley,
The SAR crews have concluded their rescue mission. I have the overwhelmingly unbearable news to report that Michael did not make it out alive from the Meysan lake area.
We as a family are absolutely devastated. But we are also thankful that they did in fact find him, and knowing that we were able to recover him has begun our long process of closure.
Michael may have been an experienced hiker, but he was definitely unorthodox. He was always striving to go above and beyond, he always was. If he set a goal or was driven to do something, he would.
Mountain climbing gave him a rush from his physics work. In the end, we know he died doing what he loved, and according the SAR, painless too.
I would like to thank the members of US 395 / Owens Valley. I have no idea who any of you are, yet you treated and prayed for Michael like family, and the gratitude that must be expressed for that cannot be said in words.
We are shaken. We are tired. We have a long recovery ahead of us. We know Michael is in a better place, and we believe his spirit is still with us. I like to believe that he will watch over anyone visiting the area from here on out.
Love you Michael, you're here in spirit, and someday after a good long life, I will see you again.
Thank You, Everyone. God Bless.

So very sorry for this tragic loss. My heart goes out to Michael Meyer's family & friends... and to MIchael who died way too young. He was only 25. Cause seems to be an avalanche that covered a 60 to 70 foot long area. Often these acts of nature cannot be foreseen but always important to check avi sites, snow conditions, various weather sites (I like NOAA and mountain-forecast.com as you can check actual elevations) and of course, forums such as this one for current reports. In addition, I make a quick call to a climbing ranger who has just been on the mountain I am headed for. Winter conditions can change in an instant. Stay safe while enjoying our beautiful mountains...

As always, big thanks to SAR and dog team. No words for what they do.


Report from KTLA 5