John Donovan

[Ed]

I ran across this article on the John Donovan case, which many people on this board may remember. Very interesting and moving.

https://www.backpacker.com/trips/trips-by-state/california-trails/lost-found/

[guest]

Hi Ed, that was a great, (long) read, Outside does seem to have some good writers. A bit of the info was not quite accurate, (but it's tough not having a deep knowledge of the area).
I've seen a few folks with a similar, willful, determined attitudes, and did my best to not hike or climb with them, (even if they were nice, friendly folk).
Those drainage's all along Long Valley & beyond are steep, and full of dead-fall and loose stuff.

I left Idyllwild too late (after the Jazz festival up there), to run back to the tram, (I was trail-running marathons back then), and found it very dark working my way up that final climb after Willow creek, (no headlamp, my bad). Assuming John was even at that spot, (& not climbing up before that, making it worse), it's a loose, rocky area that takes a good amount of energy. Then, I decided, (badly) to work my way down the short-cut from Hidden lake area, which dumps into southern Long Valley, where Catachahippee drainage, (aka Long Valley creek), dumps over the mountain. I'm amazed he, and that couple got that far down that chute, (article says 4,300 ft. I believe), and surprised they weren't cliffed-out before that, and a good thing that signal fire didn't start a big burn.

Sounds like they recently found the lost PCT thru-hikers remains who went missing a few years back, I believe quite a few miles up from Snow creek / DWA paved rd. scott

[Ed]

Yes, a few minor inaccuracies on the geography. Quite an odyssey for John Donovan. Across the Willow Creek area, up to Hidden Divide, down the Long Valley Creek drainage. All covered in snow, I assume, until he was well down Long Valley Creek. No trekking poles, and it does not sound like he was a strong hiker, despite his experience. About as wrong in direction as a PCT hiker can be. And he must have passed near the tram station. Sometimes I have looked down from the trail and think 'I know it is down there at my feet, but I can't see it through the trees.' It is amazingly easy to lose your way. I have even at times taken the wrong fork on the return part of a hike. Fortunately detecting and correcting my mistake in 15-20 minutes, but very humbled and disconcerted that it happened at all.