Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Baldy tragedy

This last week saw one of the mountaineering community, Ali Aminian, die in a fall on Mt. Baldy. What is of particular interest to this community is that Ali was a climbing partner of our own Bob Rockwell, who participated in the search, and who's team actually found Ali's body.
As a member of the California Mountaineering Club, I'm in receipt of a copy of an e-mail from Bob, in which he talks about the incident, and how he waited with Ali, until the helecopter recovery could be affected. It is quite touching, and shows the concern and respect I'd expect of Bob, and towards his partner of at least 20 summits.

It is hard to imagine the professionalism involved, and it makes me proud to be a part of the mountaineering community.

My condolences to Ali's family, and to Bob.

Newspaper reports indicate that the body of the last missing hiker, Charles Koh, was recovered Saturday. He apparently walked away from the site of his first fall and fell a second time. So far this year, the death toll in the Southern California mountains stands at four. Rest in Peace.

Search team finds body of Buena Park hiker missing since New Year's Day

The Associated Press
Last Updated 9:49 a.m. PST Sunday, January 18, 2004
MOUNT BALDY VILLAGE, Calif. (AP) - The body of a Buena Park man who tumbled down a Mount Baldy ridge on New Year's Day was found in an ice chute, officials said.
Search crews found the body of Chung Hun "Charles" Koh, 53, at 12:18 p.m. Saturday at the 8,200-foot level, said Robert Gattas, operations leader for the West Valley Search and Rescue Team.


Koh, a member of the Sierra Club, apparently wandered away from the area where he originally fell, said Chip Patterson, spokesman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
Teams had searched for Koh every day since he disappeared and his body was spotted Saturday by a six-person team in the third ice chute they searched.

Koh had left his wife and two children on a popular trail Jan. 1 to begin the trek to the summit on the Hut Trail with a male friend, officials said. He made it to the top of the 10,064-foot mountain and then fell on a narrow stretch of trail. His hiking companion sought help and rescuers were summoned.

Rescuers the next day at the 9,100-foot level found trace amounts of blood on the snow and a ski pole that Koh had been using as a hiking stick. Authorities believe he may have fallen a second time because his body was found farther down the mountain.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

Four people have died in the San Bernardino County mountains in the last three weeks, including two on Mount Baldy.

Can someone here explain to me exactly what an ice chute is?

A chute is a steep, usually narrow, drainage runoff/culvert (there are a number of chutes running down the east and west sides of Whitney and the other needles). An ice chute is the same thing, but with a bunch of ice and/or hard-packed snow in it.

These are sad days.

I might as well give you the link to my <a href=http://members12.clubphoto.com/robert634908/1957198>pictures</a>. Others are <a href=http://members3.clubphoto.com/arold274133/1959927>here</a>.

I attended Ali's memorial service this morning. I was proud that his family asked me to be a pallbearer. Ali was my friend, and it was wonderful that I was on the SAR team that found his body last Wednesday. When I returned home this evening after the service, there was a recorder message that my team is gathering at 0400 to go on the San Gorgonio search for Richard Brooks. Unfortunately, the back tweak I suffered looking for Ali will keep me home for this one.

A message: During Ali's lengthy memorial service, during which many of his friends and family reminisced about him and his life, there was not a moment of anguish about his decision to be a mountaineer. I know that, if I happen to go to the high reward the way Ali did - as is perhaps likely the way it will be for me - my family and friends will cheer me on in the same way. Ours is a way of life most people will not understand.

Ali was a good Muslim. By that I mean he was a good man, and he was also a Muslim, originally from Iran. You may be interested to know that he married a wonderful Mexican lady, Roberta, a Catholic. They had three fine children: Jilaa, Bidjan, and Keyon. On many occasions Ali enjoyed a nice glass of Shiraz or maybe two, but - and we had fun with this - he was not fond of Retsina. He always thought that Iranian pistacio nuts were far preferable to the ones we grow here, and I agree with him. But I am getting misty, and this is not the forum for that.

Another message: The LA area mountains are less than friendly these days. High up, snow on north-facing slopes is more like sheets of ice than snow. There is a lot of fun to be had on desert peaks, and this is a good time to consider these alternatives. This weekend I am climbing Thimble and Corkscrew, in Death Valley.

Hey Bob, thanks for posting those pictures. Brings SAR to life, for me. It's amazing that such an experienced climber like Ali should have tragedy befall him on such a mundane peak. How common or rare is it to have sheet ice conditions in Southern CA?

I only met Ali once, as they did Clyde Minaret. The wisdom, the clown, he was such a versatile person. Unfortunately I had a falling out with him on my sending spare climbing clothes to his request for mountaineering gear to send to his people back in Iran. Not exactly what he wanted!

Makes me consider things twice as I head up into the hills, solo, as I am unable to secure even a hiking partner!

Sorry to hear about your back-- I am seeming to know what that is. Rest well, you did a fine job!

Pete, that's funny you bring up the story about the climbing clothing - Ali told me about it a while back. Another side of this many-sided man.

About the ice: I can't say from personal experience since I rarely get to these mountains, but two people who do Baldy as often as he did wrote me that they had not seen these sorts of conditions before.

People talk about the dangers in going solo, and there is certainly additional risk in it sometimes. But, in cases like Ali's, I'm pretty sure having someone along would not have changed the outcome. The only thing I can think of is, if another person had been along they might have discussed the conditions and decided to put crampons on and get ice axes ready. Of course, the search would have been wrapped up in a few hours instead of a few days.

I don't think the going-solo aspect is worth focusing on in this case. This is a trail, and a popular one at that. Note further that Charles Koh was not alone, and I think the other two fatalities did not involve solo climbers.

The back is coming around. I have a few disks that are not quite shaped like they used to be, but the problem is not serious enough for surgery. I just have to be careful and, when I forget, ice and rest for a couple of weeks takes care of it. The problem flairs up once a year or so, so I can't complain.

Bob R - I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. Thank you for sharing the SAR photos. I have a much better apprciation of the effort that goes into a rescue or recovery. Please share with your teammates my thanks for your dedication and hard work. It's good to know that people like you are there to offer help.

Looked at Bob Rockwell's pictures of the Mt. Baldy incident. Looks like the snow got rained on, then frozen. Makes things really dangerous. You find this commonly on eastern mountains and it is one of the reasons why full (not instep) crampons are de rigeur above treeline there in the winter. Numerous deaths have been caused by these conditions and my own closest brush happened up there as a teenager when a clump of scrub intervened in what would otherwise have been my death slide. This was 40 years ago and the memory of the adrenaline rush, the mental acceptance of doom, and the miraculous reprieve, are as clear now as they were the day after.

Here is the latest newspaper story on conditions:

Hikers Warned to Avoid Icy Risks

Four are dead and two missing in Southland mountains. Despite recent sunshine, 'It's just a sheet of ice up there,' a rescue official says.

By Lance Pugmire and Janet Wilson, Times Staff Writers

With four Southland hikers dead since New Year's Day and two more missing, authorities on Wednesday closed a popular Mt. San Gorgonio trail and issued strong warnings to those who choose to hike the region's rugged mountains in treacherous conditions.

"Warning, Extreme Icy Conditions … Do Not Hike Alone," stated fliers handed out with hiking permits in the San Gorgonio district of the San Bernardino National Forest beginning Wednesday. U.S. Forest Service personnel were preparing similar advisories to be given to hikers who buy parking and hiking permits in the San Bernardino, Cleveland, Angeles and Los Padres national forests.

"It's just a sheet of ice up there," said John Amrhein, emergency services coordinator for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. "They're going to slip and fall thousands of feet, like these other hikers, if they're not properly prepared. Basically, now would be a nice time to go to the beach."

Amrhein spoke at the command post at the closed Vivian Creek hiking trailhead, where weary search-and-rescue teams fanned out on a foot of fresh snow atop sheer ice, looking for Eugene Kumm, 25, of Seal Beach, missing since he set out alone for San Gorgonio peak Saturday. He had taken ice climbing equipment he'd been given for Christmas, but had never used it before, authorities said.

Heavy cloud cover at higher elevations meant helicopters had to transport rescuers to narrow ravines. The fresh snow overnight could have covered any tracks or other signs of a campsite, but "if he's still moving, we'd be able to see his footprints clearly," Amrhein said.

By late afternoon, with the sun sinking, the search was suspended for another long, cold night.

Amrhein said searchers had seen "not a thing, not a thing."

To the west, along the Pacific Crest Trail, a second team was searching for Ronald Barbour, 69, of La Crescenta, who set out on a combined bike ride and hike Sunday. Searchers planned to be back out this morning looking for both men.

It has been a grim winter for search-and-rescue teams. Four hikers have been found dead in three weeks, none of them novices. Chung Hun "Charles" Koh, 53, of Buena Park left home New Year's Day to hike on Mt. Baldy. His body was found Saturday, nearly 1,000 feet below a spot where a partner thought he had fallen.

Ali Aminian, 51, of Newbury Park was an experienced Sierra Club member who went hiking alone in the same area Jan. 11, while Koh was still missing. Aminian's body was found Jan. 14.

Matthew L. Jones, 15, of San Bernardino tumbled about 400 feet to his death from a steep, burned slope near Devore on Jan. 11.

Kenneth Smith, 66, of Yucaipa died Jan. 5 while ice climbing in the Forest Falls area, not far from where Barbour is missing now.

Even experienced hikers should understand that winter ice hiking requires Alpine mountaineering equipment and skills, authorities said.

Treacherous ice is the common denominator in three of the four deaths, and the disappearances of Kumm and Barbour, said Sgt. Cliff Weston, the San Bernardino County sheriff's search-and-rescue coordinator. Ice covers trails and slopes frequented by hikers, he said.

"Especially on the north-facing slopes, it has remained extremely cold up there," he said. The high-pressure, bright, sunny weather system in recent weeks has created icy conditions with no snow covering it."

That fair weather in the valleys has fooled too many hikers, Weston said.

"Usually, at this time of year, snowfall would keep people out," Weston said. "Sunshine lulls people into a false sense of security. It may be in the 60s and 70s in the valleys, but it's not warm in the mountains. On the mountaintop, the ice continues to stay, and if hikers continue going up there, we're going to continue to have problems."

The icy conditions are the third deadly threat in the mountains, which were ravaged first by fires, then flash floods late last year. The Old fire, which started in San Bernardino, and the deadly flood that ravaged a campground in Devore were blamed for establishing the brittle ground that gave way when Jones fell to his death.

"The vegetation is not strong in burned areas; more rocks are falling than ever before in those areas. There's a clear message being sent to those who go into the burn areas to be aware of your footing," said Ruth Wenstrom, a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman.

San Bernardino County authorities have rescued at least six other hikers since Jan. 1. Rescuers typically are called out about 90 times a year, but rarely in such close succession.

Both Mt. Baldy and Mt. San Gorgonio are popular peaks year-round with Southland hikers, and receive snowfall above roughly 7,000 feet in winter. Access to San Gorgonio is regularly limited by use of hiking permits, with 25 to 30 people a day allowed in the area at a time. The Vivian Creek trail is an artery used by hikers to reach the peak. It was closed Wednesday both because of hazardous conditions and because rescuers did not want hikers disturbing any footprints or other clues that might have been left by Kumm.

Authorities urged all hikers to travel with a companion, tell a friend or family member of their exact hiking path, stick to it if at all possible, know the weather forecast, dress warmly and understand that there are many mountainous pockets where cellphones don't work. Hikers going above the snow line should carry ice axes and boot spikes and know how to use them.

While searchers said three of the men who died were experienced hikers, Kumm is better described as an outdoors enthusiast, said Cpl. Darren Goodman of the sheriff's search-and-rescue team.

"He was alone and had no map…. He didn't know the area, and he was in ice with [boot spikes] he just got at Christmas," Goodman said. "Everything he has done indicates he was not an experienced hiker. You don't hike alone. That's suicide."

Dan Hendley, a colleague of Kumm's at Kiewit Industries in Long Beach, said he was surprised to learn that his friend had taken on the 11,500-foot-high mountain by himself.

"He usually goes with his girlfriend or a buddy," said Hendley, who lives across the street from Kumm. "He's a pretty smart dude and a great physical man at 6-2, 240 pounds. But I'm worried about him."

Hendley described his friend as always well-prepared for a hike. He said Kumm had hiked to 6,500 feet a week earlier with his girlfriend. And he said he doesn't have any doubt that his friend is still alive.

"I'm assuming, with all the snow, he just got turned around," Henley said. "If he's not hurt, he's on the move somewhere. He's a pretty strong-willed guy."

Having been on Baldy, San Jacinto and San Gorgonio this month (the latter two last weekend), I'd say that "it's just a sheet of ice up there" applies to Baldy while normal winter conditions exist on San Gorgonio and San Jacinto. Eveyone we saw above about 8000' last weekend was sensibly wearing crampons, etc., but we did not encounter the type of skating rink conditions that prevailed on Baldy when we were there a couple of weeks ago.

Eugene Kumm, the man they're searching for on San Gorgonio now, appears to have gotten lost, which is a whole lot better than falling 1000' down an ice chute. I hope they find him ok!

>>>Amrhein spoke at the command post at the closed Vivian Creek hiking trailhead, where weary search-and-rescue teams fanned out on a foot of fresh snow atop sheer ice, looking for Eugene Kumm, 25, of Seal Beach, missing since he set out alone for San Gorgonio peak Saturday. He had taken ice climbing equipment he'd been given for Christmas, but had never used it before, authorities said.<<<

>>>While searchers said three of the men who died were experienced hikers, Kumm is better described as an outdoors enthusiast, said Cpl. Darren Goodman of the sheriff's search-and-rescue team.<<<

>>>"He was alone and had no map…. He didn't know the area, and he was in ice with [boot spikes] he just got at Christmas," Goodman said. "Everything he has done indicates he was not an experienced hiker. You don't hike alone. That's suicide."<<<

I am still constantly amazed, yet not suprised, that things like this happen on an all too regular basis. The above paragraphs tie in nicely with the "Crampons in June" thread. If you don't know what you are doing, don't do it.
Most years these names without faces that we read about in the paper hold no real meaning for most people. But when some one you know,as in Bob's case, is the faceless victim, it suddenly becomes all too real. The people who go out and get themselves killed don't fully relise that when they die EVERYONE that they know is affected in some way, however great or small, for the rest of their lives. The lesson this story should teach to all of us is to be smart about the choices you make when hiking and in life.In Bob's friend's case, he knew what he was doing, but more often than not, the people we read about in the obit's had no business doing what they were doing that got them killed. Ice climbing with no training,backcountry skiing with no beacons,probes or shovels, the list goes on and on. People need to take stock of their lives and figure out what is most important to them before they go out and do something that they have no business doing.

Hey Bob, thanks for posting the photos. Although he wasn't a close friend, I used to see Ali on Baldy every year at least a few times. He was a pretty fast hiker with a good altitude tolerance as I recall. I'm curious as to where the slip occurred. Was it at the "narrows" section of the trail (I think that is around 9K)? Thanks again.

From where the body ended up (UTM 11 439722E 3792952N, about 8900'), he probably slipped from somewhere around 9200' to 9250'. My guess as to the fall line is in the picture:

<img src="http://a2.cpimg.com/image/2E/3B/28761902-ff83-02000180-.jpg"width=640>

Body of Seal Beach hiker found in San Bernardino mountains

The Associated Press
Last Updated 5:41 a.m. PST Sunday, February 1, 2004

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) - The body of a Seal Beach hiker who disappeared two weeks ago was found Saturday in an icy ravine on Mount San Gorgonio, authorities said.
Volunteer rescue workers found the body of 25-year-old Eugene Kumm along with his wilderness permit and a .22 caliber handgun, said sheriff's Deputy Shannon Kovich.


Coroner officials were expected to confirm the body's identity Sunday, she said.
Seven hikers died in January in Southern California mountains, authorities said.

Two rescue teams began searching for Kumm about 6 a.m. Saturday, but a family of hikers spotted the body first and led the teams to the area, Kovich said.

Kumm may have been hiking down the 11,500-foot Mount San Gorgonio when he wandered off the snow-covered trail and slipped into the ravine, Kovich said.

"As far as we can tell, he died instantly. There was no sign that he tried to move or get anything out of his pack," she said.

The parents of Kumm's girlfriend were waiting at the command post when the body was found. Chaplains notified his girlfriend and were contacting Kumm's family in Nebraska.

One final comment on this thread regarding how dangerous that sort of ice can be. There is a mental error that's easy to make which is the perceptual thing about what constitutes a dangerous slope. People just don't tend to think a 20 degree slope is dangerous, that is their basic instinctual wiring doesn't think so, but if a slope is hard ice you can easily fall to your death on such a slope or even one not so steep. Once you get moving fast enough and run into an obtacle, boom, out go the lights.

I was reading an article about the seven hikers who have fallen to there deaths last month and one fact that jumped out at me was that these were all experienced hikers, yet the proceeded to hike alone in winter conditions. None of them, except Ali Aminian, had crampons, iceaxe, or a helmet. One survivor was lucky enough to have an off duty ranger hiking along and saw him fall 140 feet. I think that many people underestimate what they are getting themselves into when they hike during the winter.
Matt

If my memory serves me correctly, Koh was hiking with a friend when he had his first fall. His friend went to summon help, but Koh had staggered off and fallen again by the time help arrived. It was the second fall that did him in. Crampons and ice axe may have prevented the first fall. Not wandering off and waiting for help to arrive may have prevented the second.

Kumm (sp?) has been characterized as an avid hiker. He tried a solo route up San Gorgonio (a place where he'd never been before) to try out new crampons. Supposedly he did not have an ice axe nor any experience with winter conditions. He wandered off route and fell. Perhaps his new crampons gave him too much confidence. Going alone was certainly a factor, but I also believe that if you don't know how to use the equipment correctly then maybe you shouldn't be using it. Also, crampons and ice axe go together like salt and pepper. They should be used together.

Not to detract from XC-Runners point about expereinced hikers getting into trouble, I would add that Southern California's mountains should not be taken lightly, especially during the winter. If people are training now for summer Whitney attempts and are not familiar with winter mountain travel then I would suggest lower elevation hikes until the conditions are more favorable up high.

Speaking of how decieving conditions are in So Cal Mt's. I was a Pro Patroler at Mt Baldy for 11 years. During that time I witnessed a handfull of deaths at the area and participated in countless rescues in the ski are that where caused by people being decieved by snow that looked soft and powdery but was actualy bullet proof ice. In one instance I watched from the ski lift while a skier ducked under the closed rope (clearly marked) made one turn fell and proceeded to ricochet head first into trees finaly sliding out onto the run below. When I arrived he was unconcious with agonal resperations. He later died that night at the hospital. I had to go and rtrieve some gear that was that came off during the fall. I ended up rappeling from tree to tree with skis on to get his gear it was that icy. Conditions can be very decieving.