7/18 Missing Hiker Alert

Search
Go

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List
This thread has been locked
Messages 1 - 20 of total 34 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
maverick01

climber
Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 20, 2017 - 11:35am PT

Inyo Co. Sheriff's Dept:

On the evening of July 18th Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch was notified that Linda Solomon, a 61 year old woman from Irvine, CA could not be located by her hiking partners. The hiking party originally consisted of three members; the route was a two night trip from the Green Lake trailhead out of South Lake to the North Fork trail via Baker Creek. On the last day of the trip Mrs. Solomon started down the trail slightly earlier than her hiking companions; the starting point was Baker Lake. Mrs. Solomon and her hiking partners unintentionally took two separate routes from their camping spot resulting in the two hiking partners being on one side of Baker Creek and Mrs. Solomon on the other. The hiking partners spotted Mrs. Solomon on the opposite side of Baker Creek across a marshy area about a mile east of their previous night’s camping spot. Both parties continued east but were unable to reunite. The hiking partners searched for Mrs. Solomon throughout the day, and when they were unable to locate her they hiked out via North Fork and contacted Inyo County Sheriff’s Office.
A search and rescue mission was launched Wednesday morning. Two teams were sent in; one via Coyote Flats and the other through the Baker Lake trail via the Glacier Lodge trailhead and up North Fork. Aerial reconnaissance was provided by CHP H-82 out of Victorville. The Coyote Flat SAR team discovered a note around 2:00pm in an old abandoned cabin on the south end of Coyote Flat. The note stated, “Wed. noon. July 20. Linda Solomon was here.” A note was left in the same place by a SAR team member instructing Mrs. Solomon to stay put if she comes back to the cabin, and that search teams will be back the next day. An additional clue that was discovered was a camera lens that was identified as Mrs. Solomon’s; the lens was about ¾ of a mile from the cabin on a dirt road. Search teams concluded yesterday’s efforts around 7:30pm.
On Thursday July 20th teams from Inyo Search and Rescue and China Lake Mountain Rescue Group began a ground search in the vicinity of Coyote Flat near and around the cabin, and the Baker Creek drainage out of Big Pine. Aerial recon for today’s efforts is provided by CHP - Inland Division Air Operations.
Mrs. Solomon is 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. She has black shoulder length hair and brown eyes. Her clothing consists of a light blue long sleeve shirt, dark blue rain jacket, and blue/grey backpack. She is described as a cautious and experienced hiker. If anyone has seen Mrs. Solomon or has any information that can assist this search please contact Sheriff’s Dispatch at 760-878-0383.
http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=16312

Lynne Leichtfuss

Trad climber
Will know soon
Jul 20, 2017 - 11:50am PT
Praying for speedy and positive results. So, so hard when people go missing.
Jon Beck

Trad climber
Oceanside
Jul 20, 2017 - 12:13pm PT
Sounds like she is okay, just lost. Hoping for the best, I wonder if she travelled alone without a map or compass. Seems like easy enough terrain to get out of.
LAhiker

Social climber
Los Angeles
Jul 20, 2017 - 12:44pm PT
I hope she's found safe soon. If they don't find her pronto, this sounds like a situation in which tracking dogs might be helpful.
Lynne Leichtfuss

Trad climber
Will know soon
Jul 20, 2017 - 12:57pm PT
What makes me nervous is she does not seem like a hiker that gets lost. She is described as cautious and as a cautious person I would pro never start ahead of my companions. Puzzling. Again, hoping for a fast find.
limpingcrab

Trad climber
the middle of CA
Jul 20, 2017 - 01:27pm PT
If she was careful I hope that means she didn't try to cross the creek.
IntheFog

climber
Mostly the next place
Jul 20, 2017 - 05:04pm PT
From the Inyo Co Sheriff's FB page

LINDA SOLOMON HAS BEEN FOUND

At approximately 1:45pm Mrs. Solomon was located by CHP H-82, south-east of Baker Lake on a rocky bench between Baker Lake and Hidden Lake. She had positioned herself in area that was open and was waving her jacket as the helicopter approached. Due to the rocky location the helicopter could not land, so ground search members responded to her location and guided her to a location accessible by a vehicle. Mrs. Solomon and the team successfully made it to the vehicle location around 4:30pm.
We would like to thank China Lake Mountain Rescue Group, Inyo Search and Rescue, and CHP - Inland Division Air Operations.

https://www.facebook.com/InyoCountySheriffsOffice/posts/813307095518526
Lynne Leichtfuss

Trad climber
Will know soon
Jul 20, 2017 - 05:28pm PT
Happy conclusion. When will I stop being a mom? Today!
10b4me

Mountain climber
Retired
Jul 20, 2017 - 06:11pm PT
I wonder why she left the cabin? She was obviously lost, so it seems like the cabin would have been a good place to stay.
crankster

Trad climber
No. Tahoe
Jul 20, 2017 - 09:35pm PT
She left a note she was at the cabin Wed, July 20...which actually was the 19th. Anyway, happy outcome.
Jon Beck

Trad climber
Oceanside
Jul 21, 2017 - 12:19am PT
She left a note she was at the cabin Wed, July 20...which actually was the 19th.

If you can still remember the date after a couple of days out then you are missing the point of getting out. Glad she is okay, and she has a story to tell, and definitely a learning experience. Great job by SAR. Once again, a cheap beacon would have saved everyone a lot of hassle. Probably some other mistakes she made, map?

I do not understand why people feel they have to separate themselves. Sure, everyone goes at a different pace, but you have to stay together. Losing someone sucks a lot more than going a little slower.
10b4me

Mountain climber
Retired
Jul 21, 2017 - 07:51am PT
I do not understand why people feel they have to separate themselves. Sure, everyone goes at a different pace, but you have to stay together. Losing someone sucks a lot more than going a little slower.

I was taught that when hiking, or cycling, etc.,the pace is dictated by the slowest person.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jul 21, 2017 - 07:57am PT
And why didn't she retrace her steps? They never do.
Nobody reads Hansel and Gretel any more.
Gary

Social climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
Jul 21, 2017 - 08:00am PT
She was probably hungry and ate her bread.
Batrock

Trad climber
Burbank
Jul 21, 2017 - 08:11am PT
That area can be pretty confusing with multiple trails all leading in the same
direction but not the same place. It's used for cattle grazing and the cattle have created a web of trails. Also the trail from Baker to Glacier Lodge where it sounds like the final destination was is not obvious and not marked. Glad she is safe.
guyman

Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
Jul 21, 2017 - 08:27am PT
Then it would be very hard to explain it to you. But not everyone wants to head out into the wilds with all the tethers the modern world can offer.

If I ever get lost know that I have no beacon, no gps, no smart phone, and maybe I'll have a map and compass and then again maybe not. I'm not counting on anyone coming looking for me so don't volunteer, either.

Even when traveling with a party there is latitude for solitude. But we'd have an agreed meet up spot and if following the same trail use the 'wait up at all major trail junctions.'

DMT

As someone who has been "LOST" before..... I am with Dingus, that is 1/2 of the fun.

I am happy that she is safe and sound.

I have a hunch that at some point in the future.... you will be required to carry a beacon... the same as a Bear Can.

LAhiker

Social climber
Los Angeles
Jul 21, 2017 - 08:56am PT
Batrock said:
That area can be pretty confusing with multiple trails all leading in the same
direction but not the same place. It's used for cattle grazing and the cattle have created a web of trails. Also the trail from Baker to Glacier Lodge where it sounds like the final destination was is not obvious and not marked. Glad she is safe.

Makes sense. While it's true that separating from one's group is almost always a bad idea, it my have happened because she wanted to get a head start on the hike out and thought she knew the trail. I'm glad she's okay.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jul 21, 2017 - 09:02am PT
That area can be pretty confusing

Oh, yeah, it is a veritable Amazonia.
Batrock

Trad climber
Burbank
Jul 21, 2017 - 09:08am PT
It's not typical east side terrain where everything heads east into the Owens. It's a huge tableland with trails and roads crisscrossing it. I've been camping up there for 50 years and know it like the back of my hand and I still lose the trail from Baker to Glacier Lodge every time I do that hike. I always find it because I know landmarks and know where the trail eventually goes but it seldom gets used and never gets maintenance. It's a great trail with great views of the Palisades but you have to know where the trail goes or is supposed to go.
Jon Beck

Trad climber
Oceanside
Jul 21, 2017 - 10:29am PT
I do not understand why people feel they have to separate themselves.

Then it would be very hard to explain it to you. But not everyone wants to head out into the wilds with all the tethers the modern world can offer.

I was referring to separating from a party who starts out together. I spend more time solo than in a group so you can save yourself the difficult explanation. I have never gone into the back country with more than one other person. Three is truly a crowd. If you want solitude by all means go by yourself, but be prepared to handle the navigation.
Messages 1 - 20 of total 34 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Return to Forum List
 
Our Guidebooks
spacerCheck 'em out!
SuperTopo Guidebooks

guidebook icon
Try a free sample topo!

 
SuperTopo on the Web

Recent Route Beta