Missing Hiker Alert: Bishop Pass/Dusy Basin

If you're too far gone to even push the Help button then previous tracking points aren't likely to afford you much help by the time they find you. If you're a mile from your last check point you might get found, but
probably not in time.

Search for Missing Hiker Robert “Bob” Woodie Scaled Back

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Calif. -- After more than a week of searching for hiker Robert “Bob” Woodie, the mission has been put on hold due to a series of incoming winter storms forecasted for over the next week. All search teams were taken out of the field Wednesday afternoon in anticipation of the significant weather event, which is forecasted to bring two to three feet of snow at elevations above 8,000 feet and high winds, with gusts up to 75 mph.

“We’ve completed very thorough ground and aerial searches in very difficult terrain over the last nine days, but the storms would put our search teams at risk and decrease our ability to find clues,” explained Rich Browne, incident commander for the search. “When it clears, we’ll reassess, but it does look like weather and snow coverage will end our ability to continue active ground and aerial search operations.”

The suspension of an active field search moves the operation into what is called “limited continuous,” which may include air searches, backcountry patrols, and outreach to hikers heading into the area. The operation will be upgraded to an active search if any leads about or whereabouts of Mr. Woodie are discovered. Additionally, the Incident Management Team continues to evaluate data collected by field teams while investigators continue to follow up on leads.

The itinerary for Mr. Woodie, a 74-year-old resident of Manhattan Beach, CA, was a four-day backpacking and fishing trip between Thursday, October 13 and Sunday, October 16. An experienced hiker who knew the area, he parked his vehicle at the South Lake trailhead in Inyo National Forest and hiked over Bishop Pass into Kings Canyon National Park. An “OK” check-in message was sent from his satellite GPS device on Saturday evening from the Barrett Lakes area. A winter storm that night and next day brought very high winds, overnight temperatures to below freezing, and snow to some areas above 10,500 feet. When Mr. Woodie did not return from his trip, his family notified authorities.

The National Park Service continues to ask the public to contact officials at 559-565-3195 if they were in the search area between Thursday, October 13 and Thursday, October 20. The 26-square-mile search area within Kings Canyon National Park consists of Bishop Pass, Dusy Basin, Barrett Lakes, and the John Muir Trail/Pacific Crest Trail between Muir Pass and Mather Pass. The area is a high sierra alpine environment, between approximately 8,000 and 12,000 feet elevation. The rugged terrain includes areas of forest, alpine lakes, and areas above tree line with talus slopes and rocky mountain passes.

Over 130 personnel have worked on this multi-agency operation within Kings Canyon National Park. They include Yosemite National Park (YOSAR, including YODOGS, and Helicopter 551), L.A. County Sheriff’s Department (with Sierra Madre Search and Rescue), and Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department, California Office of Emergency Services, China Lake Search and Rescue, National Weather Service’s Hanford field office, USGS, and U.S. Forest Service.

He told me that the only thing you should worry about is doing your best. When you know you have done your best the rest is out of your control and silly to worry about.

Last October, Bob Woodie set off on a four-day trip in the eastern Sierra to do what he loved most: hiking and fishing. The 74-year-old Manhattan Beach resident and avid backpacker may have had his sights set on hiking in the South Lake area near Bishop.

But something went wrong. When Woodie didn't return, a massive search and rescue mission was launched. He was never found. Officials believe he may have been the victim of a rock slide.

That's not where Woodie's story ends.

His gentle spirit and love of nature has been transformed into a Sierra Club endowment aimed at igniting a passion among youngsters who may have not yet discovered the thrill of being out in nature.

"Bob spent is whole life introducing children to the outdoors, be they his sons, cousins, friends or grandchildren," says his son, Robert Woodie. "His gentle spirit and enthusiasm for our wild places was contagious and spawned new generations of nature lovers in our family. We are excited to partner with the Sierra Club to keep his name alive by continuing his lifelong practice of connecting youth with the outdoors."

Woodie's family established a memorial endowment that will benefit the Sierra Club's L.A. and Orange County youth programs Inspiring Connections to the Outdoors, or ICO. The goal is to raise $100,000 to ensure funds for the program that trains the next generation of hikers and stewards of the planet.

"We would like to thank Bob Woodie's family for establishing this endowment," says Elizabeth Neat of LA ICO. "Last year LA ICO led 136 hikes that involved 4,277 young people. These funds will go a long way to providing the bus transportation we need to get the children to the trail heads. Again and again students and their teachers tell us how special these trips are."

Kids who participate in ICO says things such as: "This is the best field trip ever" and "Nature is more beautiful in person than on my phone."

Woodie is survived by his wife, Joanne, and sons Robert and Tim. He also had five grandchildren.

Those lucky enough to have known him describe Woodie as a humble, simple, and very capable man. His love of the outdoors led him to family backpacking trips. The eastern Sierra backcountry was his church and he worshiped at the altar of its trout fishing.

To make a tax-deductible donation, you may donate online here or write a check payable to the Sierra Club Foundation and write "Bob Woodie Memorial Endowment" in the memo line. Mail it to:

Sierra Club Foundation
2101 Webster Street, Suite 1250
Oakland, CA 94612