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Lynne Leichtfuss
Sport climber
moving thru
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Hope this turns out well. Adventures are just that and the outcomes never guaranteed. Peace and safety to all who venture out.
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aspendougy
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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I am trying to make sense of the proposed route. On 395, it is about 132 miles from Independence to Bridgeport. Sounds like a long cross country ski trip in the middle of incredibly heavy snowfall. Even ski resorts are closing certain areas for avalanche danger. The article does not give any specifics. Can anyone who has hiked the PCT in summer in this area shed any light?
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, all... prayers ... hope it turns out, well, too, lynne...
:(
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Flip Flop
climber
Earth Planet, Universe
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Kearsarge to Bridgeport would be........um.......snowy
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10b4me
Social climber
Lida Junction
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His vehicle has not been located
^^^this, and the fact that he was allowing only ten days for the trip in the dead of a very snowy winter. . . . .
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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I would guess it will be easier to find his rental vehicle than to find him.
Kearsarge to the Bridgeport marine base is about 150 miles by trail. That’s a lot of DEEP trail breaking, given recent conditions. Hard to imagine it could be done in just 10 days, especially by a solo skier.
https://heavy.com/news/2019/03/matthew-kraft-missing/
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bajaandy
climber
Escondido, CA
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Don't most rental vehicles have tracking devices? Hoping for the best possible outcome for everyone involved.
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Ikat
Social climber
Carson City
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His rented Jeep was located Friday night "near Independence"**
Doesnt say exactly where but this would be near the Kearsage Pass trailhead that he had given as his start point.
From Kearsage to the Pickel Meadows Marine Base off of Highway 108 would be something like 150 miles of very heavy snow to get through. Incredibly ambitious for a 9 day trip with this winter's snowload.
Worried about the high avalanche potential along that route.
This is where a SPOT comes in handy.
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10b4me
Social climber
Lida Junction
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I wonder how he was planning to get back to his car, from Bridgeport.
Anyway, Inyo SAR, Mono SAR, CHP, YOSAR, and the Marines are involved in the search.
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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^ Probably would be easy to get a ride from someone at the base near Bridgeport, if you'd been able to ski solo all that way. Its pretty hard core, if you can do it.
I'd kind of expect anyone undertaking a trip like that to have some sort of GPS tracking device, like SPOT, Garmin inReach, that would broadcast one's location to someone, at least occasionally. But it's hard to guess the situation here.....
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JOEY.F
Gym climber
It's not rocket surgery
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Mar 10, 2019 - 09:52am PT
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From an article on SF Gate,
Searchers located on Friday night a Jeep that Kraft parked at the start of his trip near Independence, about 130 miles (209 kilometers) south of Bridgeport, Inyo County Sheriff's spokeswoman Carma Roper said Saturday.
It also states he was doing "The Sierra High Route".
Sad irony the quote is from Ms. Roper.
https://www.sfgate.com/news/us/article/Crews-search-for-Marine-missing-in-California-13676161.php
Hoping for a good outcome.
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Jay S
Mountain climber
Silver Gate, Mt
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Mar 10, 2019 - 10:22am PT
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It sounds to me like Kraft was planning to ski Roper’s High Sierra Route from Kings Canyon to Twin Lakes. To do it in ten days would be next to impossible during big storms. I think he would have realized rather quick the improbability of staying on the “high route” and changed plans to pick an easier route.
Getting over Kearsarge Pass is doable and after that there are multiple bail out points such as Bishop Pass, Piute Pass, Mammoth, Lee Vining etc. or longer western alternatives.
Since he hasn’t shown up yet it lead me to believe he had the unfortunate incident of an avalanche or he is sitting somewhere running low on food and fuel unable to travel do to an injury.
Wishing him the best of luck.
JayS
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WBraun
climber
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Mar 10, 2019 - 12:56pm PT
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The search area is massive.
Like finding a lone person in the ocean ......
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ClimbingOn
Trad climber
NY
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Mar 10, 2019 - 02:36pm PT
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I can pretty much guarantee that this video inspired Mr. Kraft. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZojE9nhR88o Skiing the SHR is certainly a worthy goal. Much like Free Rider may inspire some folks to solo, this video likely has inspired some to attempt skiing the SHR. Obviously skiing the SHR is far more attainable than soloing El Cap, but that doesn't mean that it is without considerable risk.
I've hiked the SHR and the idea of seeing it in winter is certainly alluring. The remoteness, the steepness, and the increased risk from this high-snow year make it a fairly daunting prospect. I hope Mr. Kraft will be found alive and with a good story to share.
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JOEY.F
Gym climber
It's not rocket surgery
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Mar 10, 2019 - 05:01pm PT
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Climbing on, that is a great watch. Thanks. Hopeful for Mr. Kraft.
Sidebar, I’ve never known what The letters SEKI mean.
Edit. Below, Thanks . LongDays.
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LongDays
Mountain climber
Eastside Bivy, Ca
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Mar 10, 2019 - 06:36pm PT
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JoeyF, it is an acronym for SEquoia and KIngs Canyon National Parks. Two adjacent parks, encompassing a large area of the southern Sierra Nevada. Thoughts going out to this young man on an epic adventure in winter season.
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HermitMaster
Social climber
my abode
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Mar 10, 2019 - 07:33pm PT
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I hope they keep looking. Keep looking for tracks. He still has a chance to pop up somewhere.
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