7/24 Missing PCT Hiker

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maverick01

climber
Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 24, 2017 - 04:03pm PT

Facebook PCT:

ALERT!! For the purpose of a "Hotline" to be released to the general public, through Facebook or any other public forum, contact can be made via the Investigative Services Branch (ISB) Tip Line at 888-653-0009. Anyone can call this number at any time and leave messages. On July 7th, Rika Morita aka Strawberry, a 32 yo NOBO PCTer from Japan was last heard from family and last seen on the trail by other hikers on July 8th. Yosemite SAR have been alerted and currently searching for her. Below is information from a post from one of friends who is flying out from Germany to join with other friends to search for her, gave her last whereabouts and what her NOBO plans were. "Gathering all information the situation is as follows: We have a “Search for Rika” team now consisting of Gehn Shibayama, Christopher Lynch and me. Rika’s father doesn’t speak English. So Gehn joined in our team and got in direct contact with him. He’s fluent in English and Japanese. They had some phone calls in between. From this phone calls we learned from his father that Rika’s plan was to go the following route: Bishop – Muir Trail Ranch (MTR) – Red’s Meadows Resort (RMR) – Toulumne Meadows (TM) - Half Dome – Yosemite Valley – Toulumne Meadows – South Lake Tahoe. She had planned to do this in 11 days, but according to her plan she was overdue already 5 days in Bishop. Anyway. Rika was last seen by Aidan Dahler, Rachel Hopke, Greg Strachey and Justin Myers on July 8th 4 miles behind Glen pass. After fording a creek Rika went on solo while Greg and Justin were reorganizing their backpacks. On leaving Rika had announced to ask for their support (as she’s only 5 feet tall) at the next critical fording situation. The situations came, but Rika wasn’t there. Jonathan Szakacs saw her last on July 7th between 08:00 and 10:00 am when both they ran out of Bishop back on the PCT “but [she] pushed away”. They haven’t seen her since, and now they are in Toulumne Meadows. Neither in MTR, nor in VVR or RMR. TM itself is the place where Rika should contact Ted Hall who has got two boxes for Rika at his house in NorCal. By now there hasn’t been any call. It provides a little modicum of reassurance that actually it is impossible to make any calls from TM (no signal, public phone is out as PO is closed). As her plan was to go from TM to Half Dome we are now trying to find out if she obtained a permit for it. But officials in Yosemite are very slow, we are waiting for hours now for them to answer our request. To find out where Rika resupplied, we gathered the following information: We wrote an email to MTR to see if there was any sign of Rika. Still waiting for an answer. We called VVR to see if there was any record of her regarding resupply or if anybody has seen her. The answers was no. We contacted Moderne Hostel and Davison St Guest House in Mammoth Lakes to see if she checked in or has reservation. The answers were no. We contacted Sonora Resupply and Kennedy Meadows Resort to see if she was there or has sent resupply. The answers were no. We contacted Yosemite's Wilderness Office to see if she had overnight (necessary to hike down to Yosemite Valley) and Half Dome permit. She never obtained overnight permit. They are still researching Half Dome permit. John Godell checked Mammoth Lake Motel 6, but the answer was no. Regarding Donna L-Rod Saufley’s great idea to check her credit card records her Father told us that he doesn’t know which card she uses. Putting all this together, we don’t have any idea where she is or where she has been after the morning of July 8th. Please keep on helping. Gehn, Chris and Ingo"
Lynne Leichtfuss

Trad climber
Will know soon
Jul 24, 2017 - 04:21pm PT
Dad should find records of all credit cards she owns and start checking. We will be praying. That's a stout journey for anyone.
Climberdude

Trad climber
Clovis, CA
Jul 24, 2017 - 06:23pm PT
I hope this turns out well. The information is very confusing, but that may be due to the report coming from people not familiar with the area. If the last sighting was around Glen Pass and she did not show up to Bishop, I hope the various authorities for that region have been alerted.
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Jul 24, 2017 - 07:58pm PT
https://www.reddit.com/r/PacificCrestTrail/comments/6p6nm8/pct_hiker_missing_north_of_glen_pass/
Map with locations where she was last seen:
https://caltopo.com/m/HU12
SofCookay

climber
Jul 25, 2017 - 06:52am PT
Sadly, she was found deceased - I do not know any other details than this. The search was ended late yesterday and her father posted this morning :(
labrat

Trad climber
Erik O. Auburn, CA
Jul 25, 2017 - 01:44pm PT
:-(
Sad news
Lynne Leichtfuss

Trad climber
Will know soon
Jul 25, 2017 - 02:44pm PT
Heart breaks for her family and friends. Thanks for everyone involved in finding her and giving closure to those close to her. Sad when adventures go bad.
maverick01

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 25, 2017 - 07:00pm PT

Official Update: http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=16376&p=123198#p123198
crankster

Trad climber
No. Tahoe
Jul 25, 2017 - 07:41pm PT
Sad deal. So very sorry. You have to be super-cautious this year with all the water.
Mei

Trad climber
mxi2000.net
Jul 25, 2017 - 08:33pm PT
Oh no, that's too sad! Condolences to her family and friends! What an adventurous spirit! Hope adventures abound on the other side of the rainbow bridge.

Here is a close-call story of a water crossing on PCT that happened earlier this year (available on Podcast):
https://soundcloud.com/the_sharp_end/epic-in-yosemite-national-park-ep-18 . Posting here because it's closely relevant. Will delete if it is considered insensitive.

neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Jul 25, 2017 - 09:59pm PT
hey there say, sofcookay... thank you for letting us know... very very sad...my condolences and prayers to her family and loved ones... :(


edit mei:
feel at ease... anytime you share, for to help another human, by
any dangerous-warnings, it IS GOOD to do so...

as it is similar, as you said, do not worry...

thank you for caring for others...
clifff

Mountain climber
golden, rollin hills of California
Jul 26, 2017 - 11:26am PT
With some 7mm rope and a tag line a belay can be set up for safe crossings with a partner or solo. Keeping all your stuff packed in water proof plastic bags or river dry bags will help the operation.
BruceHildenbrand

Social climber
Mountain View/Boulder
Jul 26, 2017 - 11:32am PT
I am not sure that belaying someone across a raging stream is very safe. Climbers have died in Yosemite after being swept under while being belayed by their partner. I believe Bridalvail Creek at the top of the Leaning Tower had been the scene of at least one tragic incident.
kunlun_shan

Mountain climber
SF, CA
Jul 26, 2017 - 11:53am PT
I am not sure that belaying someone across a raging stream is very safe.

Aguja Poincenot in Patagonia is named after the talented French climber, Jacques Poincenot, who was part of the team that did the FA of Fitzroy in 1952.

Poincenot drowned in the Rio Fitzroy, crossing "with a harness hitched to a rope fixed from shore to shore, when one anchor pulled loose and his rig slid down the rope, only to hold him underwater while his teammates tried futilely to release him".
Gunkie

Trad climber
Valles Marineris
Jul 26, 2017 - 11:59am PT
Poor Rika, tragedy strikes on her epic hike. So many of us have had close calls, its so sad her number came up.


No kidding! I crossed a stream on a day hike a couple of decades ago and almost got the chop. Of course I'm bragging to my friends that I can get across, no problem, since I'm a great surfer and don't want to walk the 1/2 mile to a bridge. Besides, the car in just on the other side from where we were.

I start across and it's getting deeper and harder to stand, but I'm so darn close to the other shore so I press on in an attempt to keep from being embarrassed. One more step and I'm gone and picking up speed.

Long story short, I managed to clamber up a steep muddy cliff still on my side (same) of the creek having washed back down the trail about 1/4 mile. Just below that exit point there were a pile of strainers just waiting. I was so F-ing lucky. Got away with some humble pie, scratches and bruises, and a full load of getting laughed at to this day by that gang of much smarter people.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jul 26, 2017 - 12:05pm PT
Most people have zero ability to read water. What looks a gently flowing
stream to most people is probably twice the speed they can swim, as if
anybody can swim with a pack on, especially a 5' tall Japanese lady.

RIP

ps
Four people have drowned on the PCT so far this year.
WBraun

climber
Jul 26, 2017 - 12:10pm PT
There's danger at every step, not just in the wilderness, but everywhere.

Never let your guard down anywhere even in your own home .......

And when one's number is up all the greatest advancements in science and medicine become instantly useless ......
clifff

Mountain climber
golden, rollin hills of California
Jul 26, 2017 - 12:20pm PT
A large dry bag can be used for flotation to keep one on the surface and keep your stuff dry.


A belay greatly increases one's safety in climbing. The same is true in river crossing. Good judgement and skill is still necessary in both to further enhance one's odds.
kunlun_shan

Mountain climber
SF, CA
Jul 26, 2017 - 01:27pm PT
A "pendulum traverse" can work, with one end of the rope attached to the opposite side of the stream, rather than a taut line across the water, and the stream crosser holding the other end (but not tied in). If the person crossing loses footing, they hopefully get pendulumed to the bank they want to reach, rather than getting stuck part way. There need to be no obstacles mid-stream and, of course, one needs to be able to get the line attached to the opposite side.

If the waterway is too swift or raging, all bets are off. As Werner emphasizes, life can be dangerous, no matter what one is doing.
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Jul 26, 2017 - 02:00pm PT
I believe Bridalvail Creek at the top of the Leaning Tower had been the scene of at least one tragic incident.
 Peter Williamson, in 1973. (Accidents in North American Mountaineering 1974 and the final chapter of the first volume of Royal Robbins' biography "To Be Brave").
 Don Wilson drowned in the Salmon River, Idaho, 1970, on a similar "belayed" crossing where the rope held him under.
http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/1348506/The-Life-of-Don-Wilson-Elite-Rock-Climber-Adventurer
http://faculty.ucr.edu/%7Ecurrie/donald-wilson.htm
In that last chapter of "To Be Brave", Royal describes how he barely made the crossing of Bridalveil Creek.
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