Re: Overdue hiker in SEKI

AGE: 53-years-old
HEIGHT: 5’10”
WEIGHT: 160 lbs.
HAIR: Short, black with gray
IDENTIFYING FEATURES: Mustache and goatee

HIKING ROUTE INCLUDED: On Friday, Oct. 19, 2012, Larry started his hike at the Taboose Creek Trailhead in the Inyo National Forest with plans to travel over Taboose Pass toward the John Muir Trail in Kings Canyon National Park. His route may have included Split Mountain and areas to the south, including Pinchot Pass. He planned to be back on Monday, Oct. 22, 2012.

CLOTHING/EQUIPMENT: Likely wearing dark clothing, may have a red or yellow bandana, may be using a dark gray or blue backpack and using a tan/red dome tent.

GENERAL INFO: Larry is an experienced backpacker and is familiar with the area. IF YOU HAVE SEEN/CONTACTED HIM OR HAVE MORE INFO: Please contact Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks’ Dispatch at (559) 565-3195 OR the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department at (760) 878-0383.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Search Underway For Missing Hiker

A search is underway in Kings Canyon National Park and the adjacent Inyo National Forest for 53-year-old Larry Conn of Pacific Palisades, who failed to return from a hike as planned last Monday. Twenty people from the park and the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department are involved in the operation, which includes both ground searchers and three helicopters, one with thermal imaging technology. Efforts have been hindered by snow and high winds. Conn started his hike last Friday at the Taboose Creek trailhead in the southern portion of the Sierra Nevada in Inyo National Forest with plans to travel over Taboose Pass toward the John Muir Trail in Kings Canyon National Park. His route may have included Split Mountain and areas to the south, including Pinchot Pass. He planned to return to the Taboose Creek trailhead last Monday. The search area is in rugged terrain between 10,000 and 12,000 feet. Between a foot and a foot-and-a-half of snow is on the ground in the search area. Temperatures are ranging from the mid-30s in the day to the low 20s at night.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Search Continues For Missing Hiker

Search efforts continue for hiker Larry Conn, who’s been missing since October 19th. A total of 35 staff from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue, and Yosemite National Park were part of the operation. Six ground search teams and two contract helicopters focused on specific high-probability areas on Tuesday, including likely travel corridors/camp locations around Pinchot Pass, Taboose Pass, and Split Mountain. Search conditions remained challenging, with significant areas covered by a blanket of snow, masking the ground and potential clues. Temperatures have ranged from the mid-40s in the daytime to the low-20s at night. Ground crews have been effective in searching for clues within the established search area. Despite aggressive searching, no clues have been located that have been tied to Conn since he was seen by another hiker near his vehicle on October 19th. Ground search assignments have been completed and ground teams have been removed from the search area.

The search has now been suspended...

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Lengthy Search For Missing Hiker Suspended

Efforts to locate missing hiker Larry Conn have been suspended. The search of likely areas lasted for eight days, utilizing 56 personnel from multiple agencies – ten ground search teams, three dog teams, and five helicopters and crews. Conn began a four-day trip into the rugged wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park at Taboose Pass on October 19th, where he was last seen by an outbound hiker. A winter storm arrived in the area on the evening of October 20th and deposited up to 12 inches of snow. Conn was reported overdue to the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department on the evening of October 23rd and the Sheriff’s Department confirmed his vehicle was still at the trailhead. On October 24th, the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department notified the National Park Service; search operations began later that day and continued through October 31st. Environmental conditions were challenging in the search area, which covered 48 square miles of mountainous terrain. Elevations ranged from 8,000 to 14,000 feet. Nighttime temperatures dropped to as low as 15 degrees, and snowdrifts made travel by foot difficult. Two searchers were evacuated by helicopter due to medical concerns related to environmental conditions. The incident management team, with the assistance of the state search and rescue coordinator, reviewed operations and decided to suspend the active search due to lack of information and any additional clues.

The search by the park was suspended. Hikers in another forum where Larry frequently posted have gone up in pairs and threes over the past week, and mention in trip reports that there are still Inyo searchers out and about.

But he's been gone too long and there has been no trace.

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