Resuming The Search For Larry 7/30 - 8/4

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Psilocyborg

climber
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 29, 2013 - 02:56pm PT
If anyone would like to participate in an attempt to bring closure to his family please refer to http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8867



Resuming The Search For Larry 7/30 - 8/4

Postby maverick on Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:44 pm
Fellow HST Members,

Would like to find out if any of you would be interested in joining our search for
our fellow member, mountain brother, friend, and father who disappeared
last October while out on a 4 day trip into the Taboose Pass region.
There are several HST members and some of Larry's friends from SoCal who
have already signed up to take part in this search.
Would like to now open this up to all forum members so everyone has the
opportunity to volunteer in this collective effort. Many had family, work,
or other obligations that made it impossible for them to participate at the time.
Some voiced that they did not have the experience or the conditions were to
extreme/dangerous for them to volunteer at that time. If you have any questions
please PM me.

Below is a form that I would like anyone who is interested in volunteering to
answer and send to me via PM.
Those of you who have already come on board or have voiced interest from HST
would like you to please answer the questions too since there are some that were
not asked initially and we do need this information.
Periodically there will be updates, especially as we get some feedback from SEKI
in the next few months. Also several request will be made in regards to info about
routes, peaks, and possible photo's of certain sections that are high on the probability
list. Please refrain from adding any conjecture or theories to this thread, we are
trying to base our search on as much factual, real life, first hand experiences/info as
possible.
Would like to thank those who have already come on board, those who may consider
coming with us, and any pertinent information you may be able to supply down the line!


Information Requested From Volunteers:


Our search will be concentrating on the Taboose Corridor, and from south of Mather
Pass to the Pinchot Pass region.
The distances and areas that can be covered are dependent on the volunteer
turn out. The more people we have the more areas that we can cover thoroughly
and especially safely. If turnout is lower than expected we shall cover the
areas of highest probability according to info gathered from various sources.

Would like to qualify all potential hikers (searchers) so we can get an understanding
of your levels of experience and that you can be placed onto a team accordingly and
then be assigned to areas using these perimeters.
No one will be asked to do anything outside of their comfort levels.

Level 1: Backpackers with no cross-country/off-trail experience
Level 2: Backpacker with some cross-country/off-trail experience (class 2)
Level 3: Backpacker with lots of cross-country/off-trail experience (class 2-3)
peak bagging, and very strong navigational skills

If you have backpacked through this area and are familiar with it please indicate this
when sending in your information. Is it okay to contact you in this regard?

Please indicate how many days that you would be able to participate.

Equipment: Do you have a Spot, SatPhone, GPS, or Walkie Talkie? Are you
well versed with a GPS?

Transportation: Do you drive a SUV or pick up truck, if yes, would you be
willing to drive fellow backpackers to the trail head from the Taboose Creek
Campground area?
The road to the trail head is a light four-wheel drive road which is best not
attempted by a 2 wheel drive passenger vehicle that has a low clearance level
also the trail head has a limited amount of parking spaces available.

We understand that some folks may not be able to start Tuesday, but may be
able to join in on Wednesday or Thursday and that is fine, if you can only search
for 2-3 days please do not disqualify yourself, anything you have to contribute is
happily excepted. Saturday afternoon will be our memorial/celebration of Larry’s
life, Sunday will be our day to hike out.

Hopefully with a united effort we can get closure for Claus and his son Alexander.
Professional Fine Art Landscape Photographer http://wildernessapertures.com
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jan 29, 2013 - 03:17pm PT
With all due respect, isn't he where he wants to be?
climbski2

Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
Jan 29, 2013 - 03:21pm PT
It's good to see the effort being made. Body recovery is important and quite unpleasant. But the comfort it can bring to loved ones is worth the effort. As to the odds of succeeding? They diminish greatly with time.

Best wishes for luck and solace for friends and family.
Kurt Ettinger

Trad climber
Martinez, CA
Jan 29, 2013 - 03:57pm PT
Not much snow and ice to deal with up high yet this year?
Psilocyborg

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 29, 2013 - 05:06pm PT
The official dates are at the end of july, beginning of august
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Jan 29, 2013 - 05:18pm PT
I would want my body to remain in the mountains but i certainly can understand the importance of closure for loved ones.....good luck.
Psilocyborg

climber
Topic Author's Reply - May 23, 2013 - 02:23pm PT
We still need volunteers!

http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8867&start=36

Resuming The Search For Larry 7/30 - 8/4

Postby maverick on Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:44 pm
Fellow HST Members,

Would like to find out if any of you would be interested in joining our search for
our fellow member, mountain brother, friend, and father who disappeared
last October while out on a 4 day trip into the Taboose Pass region.
There are several HST members and some of Larry's friends from SoCal who
have already signed up to take part in this search.
Would like to now open this up to all forum members so everyone has the
opportunity to volunteer in this collective effort. Many had family, work,
or other obligations that made it impossible for them to participate at the time.
Some voiced that they did not have the experience or the conditions were to
extreme/dangerous for them to volunteer at that time. If you have any questions
please PM me.

Below is a form that I would like anyone who is interested in volunteering to
answer and send to me via PM.
Those of you who have already come on board or have voiced interest from HST
would like you to please answer the questions too since there are some that were
not asked initially and we do need this information.
Periodically there will be updates, especially as we get some feedback from SEKI
in the next few months. Also several request will be made in regards to info about
routes, peaks, and possible photo's of certain sections that are high on the probability
list. Please refrain from adding any conjecture or theories to this thread, we are
trying to base our search on as much factual, real life, first hand experiences/info as
possible.
Would like to thank those who have already come on board, those who may consider
coming with us, and any pertinent information you may be able to supply down the line!


Information Requested From Volunteers:


Our search will be concentrating on the Taboose Corridor, and from south of Mather
Pass to the Pinchot Pass region.
The distances and areas that can be covered are dependent on the volunteer
turn out. The more people we have the more areas that we can cover thoroughly
and especially safely. If turnout is lower than expected we shall cover the
areas of highest probability according to info gathered from various sources.

Would like to qualify all potential hikers (searchers) so we can get an understanding
of your levels of experience and that you can be placed onto a team accordingly and
then be assigned to areas using these perimeters.
No one will be asked to do anything outside of their comfort levels.

Level 1: Backpackers with no cross-country/off-trail experience
Level 2: Backpacker with some cross-country/off-trail experience (class 2)
Level 3: Backpacker with lots of cross-country/off-trail experience (class 2-3)
peak bagging, and very strong navigational skills

If you have backpacked through this area and are familiar with it please indicate this
when sending in your information. Is it okay to contact you in this regard?

Please indicate how many days that you would be able to participate.

Equipment: Do you have a Spot, SatPhone, GPS, or Walkie Talkie? Are you
well versed with a GPS?

Transportation: Do you drive a SUV or pick up truck, if yes, would you be
willing to drive fellow backpackers to the trail head from the Taboose Creek
Campground area?
The road to the trail head is a light four-wheel drive road which is best not
attempted by a 2 wheel drive passenger vehicle that has a low clearance level
also the trail head has a limited amount of parking spaces available.

We understand that some folks may not be able to start Tuesday, but may be
able to join in on Wednesday or Thursday and that is fine, if you can only search
for 2-3 days please do not disqualify yourself, anything you have to contribute is
happily excepted. Saturday afternoon will be our memorial/celebration of Larry’s
life, Sunday will be our day to hike out.

Hopefully with a united effort we can get closure for Claus and his son Alexander.
Professional Fine Art Landscape Photographer http://wildernessapertures.com

Update 5/21 & Info
by maverick on Wed May 22, 2013 2:18 pm

Can't comment on the particulars of how we got SEKI & Inyo on board with
our search, but can say it took knowing the right people, having folks in the
park/forest system who cared and were effected by this tragedy as much
as we were, putting the appropriate pressure on the right folks, having Eric's
blessing to use HST, being very persistent, and extremely patient. Glad we
made the decision to start this whole process back in Jan.

We still are in the need for volunteers to join our search effort.

A little about the search effort:

SEKI will have 2 rangers (one is a HST member ) stationed at Bench Lake
starting in June for up to 60 days for the purpose of looking for Larry. There
may be occasional helo support/help also.
Will be working with SEKI SAR who will supply me with updated info on the
areas searched by the rangers stationed at Bench Lake before our search so
hopefully we can narrow our search perimeters if nothing is found by the time
of our search, if Larry is found, there will be no search effort.
We have been allowed to search in SEKI and pass through Inyo NF, but we must
follow all the park/forest regulations such as groups larger than 10 must camp
1/4 mile from each other, ascend toward the pass in groups no larger than
10, also it will be my responsibility to enforce these/all rules, the conduct of
our members, and ensure the safety of our search members as much as possible.
We will have an Alpha, Bravo and Charlie team (depending on final counts) based
in specific, assigned areas, from where each team will conduct their daily searches
from Wed thru Sat.
Their will be one more team (Delta) made up of members with a lot of crosscountry/
climbing experience, led by myself, that will be searching the more difficult
crosscountry routes that Larry may have taken.
Will have team leaders in place that will be in charge of each individual team
during the search, these people will be selected by their work experience (they
will have either a SAR, Ranger, Law Enforcement or Military background), an
abundance of wilderness/backcountry experience, and leadership qualities that
are needed to complete this mission safely and diligently.
Every searcher will be assigned to a team and notified before the actual search, you
will also be informed about your basecamp locations.
To reiterate, safety of each and every person involved in this search mission is my
number one concern.
Thanks Mav

PS Yes you guessed right, my background is military, guess the team names
gave it away.
Last edited by maverick on Wed May 22, 2013 7:00 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Added text
maverick
Forums Moderator


Posts: 3626
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
franky

Trad climber
Bishop, CA
May 23, 2013 - 04:29pm PT
I for one am a bit dissapointed that SEKI is sending two employees up to Bench Lake RS to search, seems a bit like overkill at this point. I don't mean any disrespect to Larry, it is just a lot of money being spent.

i'm still not even sure if all the peak registers have been checked. I know Split has, but I don't know about any others. Striped, Pinchot, Arrow, Cardinal, etc. It also seems to me the biggest search holes are east of the crest.
Batrock

Trad climber
Burbank
May 23, 2013 - 07:17pm PT
Taboose is a butt kicker of a pass, good luck to all involved.
Studly

Trad climber
WA
May 23, 2013 - 07:22pm PT
If it was your husband or your son or your friend, you would want to know what happened. Best wishes and success on the search.
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