
Missing Mt. Whitney Hiker: Last Picture from Badwater
Missing Mt. Whitney Hiker: Last Picture from Badwater
There's an overdue hiker who made his way through Death Valley to Mt. Whitney last week in case anyone has any information. It sounds like the hiker's family is coordinating with Inyo County and other area authorities:


- Candace_66
- Death Valley Resident
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- Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:47 am
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Re: Missing Mt. Whitney Hiker: Last Picture from Badwater
Unfortunately, not a happy ending.
His body was found yesterday, June 19th.
https://www.latimes.com/local/californi ... story.html

https://www.latimes.com/local/californi ... story.html
DV Road Conditions: https://www.facebook.com/DeathValleyRoadConditions
Re: Missing Mt. Whitney Hiker: Last Picture from Badwater
Yes, very sad. Hit me kind of hard for it being someone I didn't know. It's been a tough couple weeks in the Sierras. A friend of mine was good friends with this man:
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/dave ... -obituary/
I just found this update a minute ago. This one hit me also, even though I knew he was probably dead.
Emotions are really strange things. Now I need to text my friend to make sure she is OK.
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/dave ... -obituary/
I just found this update a minute ago. This one hit me also, even though I knew he was probably dead.
Emotions are really strange things. Now I need to text my friend to make sure she is OK.
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- Death Valley Resident
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- Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: Nevada
Re: Missing Mt. Whitney Hiker: Last Picture from Badwater
D.A. Wright
~When You Live in Nevada, "just down the road" is anywhere in the line of sight within the curvature of the earth.
~When You Live in Nevada, "just down the road" is anywhere in the line of sight within the curvature of the earth.
- Candace_66
- Death Valley Resident
- Posts: 949
- Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:47 am
- Location: Las Vegas
Re: Missing Mt. Whitney Hiker: Last Picture from Badwater
Given the location of the body, I'm guessing he was using the Mountaineers Route. I wonder if he had all the proper equipment to do that under the current conditions?! By any route, and under any conditions, that was a very ambitious plan.
DV Road Conditions: https://www.facebook.com/DeathValleyRoadConditions
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- Grubstaker
- Posts: 174
- Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 7:56 pm
Re: Missing Mt. Whitney Hiker: Last Picture from Badwater
Really a terrible ending, I had been following this story since it broke.
Sadly, I think we're going to see situations such as this increasing, especially after reading this article. https://www.outsideonline.com/2330916/m ... -accidents
Personally, I have serious issues with mountaineering due to vertigo (exposure is something I cannot due), so I cannot imagine even attempting some of the peaks in the Sierras.
Sadly, I think we're going to see situations such as this increasing, especially after reading this article. https://www.outsideonline.com/2330916/m ... -accidents
Personally, I have serious issues with mountaineering due to vertigo (exposure is something I cannot due), so I cannot imagine even attempting some of the peaks in the Sierras.
Re: Missing Mt. Whitney Hiker: Last Picture from Badwater
I think it will hit some sort of natural limitation not too much above what it is now. If deaths start becoming more frequent, restrictions will be tightened.Aedwards27 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 4:14 pmReally a terrible ending, I had been following this story since it broke.
Sadly, I think we're going to see situations such as this increasing, especially after reading this article. https://www.outsideonline.com/2330916/m ... -accidents
Personally, I have serious issues with mountaineering due to vertigo (exposure is something I cannot due), so I cannot imagine even attempting some of the peaks in the Sierras.
Re: Missing Mt. Whitney Hiker: Last Picture from Badwater
I suggested that and others countered that he may have become disoriented from the thin air and gone the wrong way. As I understand it, you need a different permit to use the Mountaineers Route. There was a death last year where the main gear was left at the main trail, so the conclusion in that case was he wasn't thinking clearly. Some of the pictures of where it happened I find terrifying. Definitely beyond my limits. I've done a lot of cross country in DVNP, but when it's Whitney, it will be via the main trail and after the snow melts. Here is the story from last year, which also has new comments from Dao's death: http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthread ... on_WhitneyCandace_66 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 3:34 pmGiven the location of the body, I'm guessing he was using the Mountaineers Route. I wonder if he had all the proper equipment to do that under the current conditions?! By any route, and under any conditions, that was a very ambitious plan.
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- Death Valley Resident
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- Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: Nevada
Re: Missing Mt. Whitney Hiker: Last Picture from Badwater
From what I read, it appears he crammed Whitney into his itinerary. The article mentioned he needed to be home and at work the following day; his plan was to summit, drive to Vegas then take a night flight home and go to work the following morning. Apparently he summited (eyewitnesses). My thought was he pushed himself too far and unfortunately paid dearly.
D.A. Wright
~When You Live in Nevada, "just down the road" is anywhere in the line of sight within the curvature of the earth.
~When You Live in Nevada, "just down the road" is anywhere in the line of sight within the curvature of the earth.