RECENT RESCUES
10-6-10 Missing Person Search - Saddlebag Lake / Virginia Canyon
On October 6, 2010 Yosemite National Park Search and Rescue Office established a unified command structure with the Mono County Sheriff’s Office for an overdue backpacker search in Yosemite National Park and Mono County. The subject, a 70 year old male from California was on a 5 night one-way hike from Virginia Lakes Trailhead to Saddlebag Lake. He was due out on October 6 at noon, but did not arrive. Much of the intended route for the overdue subject was in the park. However, the point last seen, and entry and exit points were located in Mono County, creating a unified command between the two jurisdictions.
Two Tuolumne rangers arrived at the Lee Vining Command Post the evening of October 6 to fill command staff positions. Mono County Search and Rescue had begun a hasty search that evening with three field teams in the Virginia Lakes and Saddlebag Lake area with no success. The returning field teams reported very difficult conditions with cold temperatures and drifts of snow up to two feet deep. The next morning, the search was expanded with more command staff positions, 7 field teams, 2 dog teams, and 2 helicopters.
The investigators on the case reported that Mr. Alden had completed similar trips in that area 25-30 times before with his wife. It was the first time Mr. Alden had done this trip alone. Interestingly, last year the couple did the same trip and encountered bad weather. They were unable to cross over Secret Pass leading to Saddlebag Lake. They aborted the trip and hiked out to Tuolumne Meadows.
During troop insertions, Helicopter 551 noticed tracks leading away from two circles stamped in the snow and an arrow pointing towards the southwest and Virginia Canyon. Field teams and the helicopters were shifted to that area. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Alden was found at 1420 hours by a field team near Summit Lake. He was 26 hours overdue at that point. He was moving slowly toward Virginia Lakes Trailhead. He was tired and cold, but otherwise in good condition. He was extracted to Tuolumne Meadows by Helicopter 551 and reunited with his wife.
During the debrief, the subject reported that on Saturday, Oct 2 he was soaked from rain while hiking near McCabe Lakes. The next day it snowed 18 inches. He spent the next three nights at the same location attempting to dry his equipment. Due to the deep snow he decided to abort his attempt to cross Secret Pass (class 2-3 without snow) and return to Summit Lake via Virginia Canyon.
This search was the third major search in the Tuolumne Sub District since the beginning of September.
http://friendsofyosar.org/rescues/rescues.html