Missing hiker search July 19

[Halohiker]

This is all sad news, indeed!

However, I see no need to rail against hiking Skyline. I've done it and will do it again- but never, ever, ever, ever in summer. When we, as hikers, do what the mountains call us to do, we take risks. But we can minimize our risks by making the smartest choices possible. I suppose we can continue to learn from the mistakes of others, and keep ourselves safe and healthy.

[halhiker]

This is all sad news, indeed!

However, I see no need to rail against hiking Skyline. I've done it and will do it again- but never, ever, ever, ever in summer. When we, as hikers, do what the mountains call us to do, we take risks. But we can minimize our risks by making the smartest choices possible. I suppose we can continue to learn from the mistakes of others, and keep ourselves safe and healthy.

My railing was against doing it in summer. Esp., if doing it for the first time. There is a very small and select group of people who are capable of a summer climb of this trail but everyone else should steer clear until fall.

[Marknhj]

Thanks. I hope that they give an exact location for where the bodies were found - It would be unbearable to think I was that close with enough water for 4 people and didn't tune into what was going on.

Al - the news reports that they found the bodies near the bottom of the trail, not up between the signs. One was just a couple of hundred feet above the desert floor.

[Cy Kaicener]

The two bodies are probably two different hiking incidents according to their location.
http://blogs.pe.com/news/digest/2009/07 ... above.html

[Al Bouche]

Thanks Marknhj. All I can think about was how I faintly sensed something was going on but fate just didn't allow our paths to cross...

I'm going up short a hike today (w/128 oz. of ice water, etc.) - It will give me a chance to work out some of the negative energy this incident has caused... and allow me to express my condolences. I can't begin to imagine how terrible the pain must have been for them.

[Florian]

I just spoke with a Desert Sun reporter for a story she's doing regarding desert hiking dangers. (I used to work for the newspaper and they know i'm a hiker so that's why she called me.) I tried to stress that summer is not the time for "anyone" to hike the Skyline. I didn't want her to write a piece about proper hiking gear, etc, when people unfamiliar with the desert shouldn't be up the trail AT ALL in the summer. I also suggested that the best thing a person finding themselves in trouble up the trail to do is just stop, find some shade, and call 911 for help. Search and Rescue would rather come help a hiker who's alive and coherent than have to find a dead body the next day because they thought they could get down on their own. I stress the need to carry lots of water too for anyone that really is set on hiking in the summer.

-Florian

[guest]

Hi,
My thoughts go out to these souls, their family & friends.

Here's what a SAR member related to me:
A big group of friends from San Diego (not heat acclimated ?) company (working friends). were going to do Skyline route this past wkend.

All but 2 realized this was a bad idea and decided to ride tram up & hike.
2 left Ramon rd. (N Lykken) at 3:30a, got to picnic area around dawn, (this timing doesn't make sense, as it should only be less than an hr. to this point, but who knows what transpired).
After another 1k or 1,500 ft. one said he needed to turn around, was ok to go back down on his own.
The other made it up the trail to tram.

PSMP didn't get call till after 7 pm apparently, and didn't have much info to go on, so the main search was begun the following morning, (from what info I've gotten).
Returning hikers car was still at Ramon that morning.
Chopper drops Sars around 3,500 ft. to hike down, others hike up & head in different areas.
One body is found above O'Donnell GC (a few hundred ft. above valley floor, N of Museum tr.) with very little on, missing since Thur, had been dead for probably a couple days, (unrelated to hiking group).

Chopper spots body around N. Lykken tr. between benches & Ramon, off & below tr., (probably on 1 of the small overlook trails some use to look down at city). We think this man may have been in bad shape by this point, saw the city & attempted to hike down, (off trail).
Surely heat played a big role, being 110+ with little wind & higher humidity. Even with enough fluids to possibly complete Skyline in summer, (which almost every experienced hiker on this board strongly cautions against, (1 1/2 gallons min. to include electrolytes,) he could have run out w/in 5-6 hrs.

I relate this info to help prevent this from occurring again.
I refrain from passing too much judgment since we may never know all the details
These conditions are every bit as deadly as freezing cold or other extreme conditions. There have now been several hiking fatalities this summer in our local mtns.

Be well & take care

ss

[Al Bouche]

Well I went up there to get a feel for things - I was struck by how the difference 5 degrees cooler can make you feel (110 vs. 115 w/ equal humidity). I also remembered something that struck me odd on Sat. - every 200' past where his body was found there was a white tip / gold striped cigarette lying on the trail with a couple of inches of ash still attached, it was like someone just was lighting cigarettes and laying them down on the trail (they weren't squashed).

Just to make things even more surreal as I'm getting to my car his friends show up to drive his car away - I didn't get a chance to talk to them but then the Channel 3 (KESQ) news truck pulls up and I spend half an hour talking with the reporter (about 10 min. on camera). I tried to relate all the good advice you have been giving and emphasize that it just isn't smart to be up here in the summer. Naturally he asked why I was up there - that took some 'splainin'

[Perry]

Assuming the newspaper write-up is accurate, I don't understand why they called off the search at night. The foot-path ("trail") is not technical when there's no ice, and there are some powerful headlamps available at climbing/hiking stores.

Remember that search and rescue teams are made up of volunteers. What is easy for you may a challenge for them. Members can have a wide range of skills and abilities. They are going out on their own time, with their personal gear. While it seems like maybe they should be able to do more at times, they often do as best they can under the circumstances. We don't know how many members were available, what their condition is, experience level, etc. They are always looking for members and I would encourage every one to go to one of their meetings and check them out. You might get inspired to join.

I used to play with them.

True, I can't judge people for being cautious. I emailed PSPD-SAR about volunteering. Granted, I would need a fit partner to be sent on a night search. I doubt they would approve a solo search effort, and just going out there alone is less likely to be useful, lacking inside information.

[halhiker]

According to Channel 2 News the dead hiker is Robert Liebler from Colorado. Nothing yet on the other one.

http://www.kpsplocal2.com/global/story.asp?s=10758426