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LAhiker
Social climber
Los Angeles
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Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 19, 2015 - 08:14am PT
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A 25-year-old UCLA grad student named Michael Meyers who had said he was planning to climb Mt. Russell or Mt. Whitney on the weekend of Nov 6-8 has been missing for over a week. [Update: a more recent understanding is that his objective may have been to climb Mt. Irvine plus possibly Mt. LeConte on 11/9.] Meyers is 5-feet-10-inches tall and weighs 150 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.
Yesterday at 4pm, his Dodge Durango was found abandoned on a side road near the entrance to the Whitney trail.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/ucla-student-hiker-missing-inyo-county-mount-whitney-michael-myers-351607931.html
According to news reports (some of which haven't been updated), Meyers left Los Angeles on Nov 5th, planned to start a climb on Nov 6 and to be back at UCLA by Nov 9th. (One report says his family last heard from him on the 8th, but that doesn't fit well with the rest of the info.) [Again, see updates below.]
Maybe someone saw Meyers on or around the weekend of Nov 7-8 and can help narrow down the search.
Clearly this doesn't sound good. Does anyone know what conditions were like on Russell and Whitney around that weekend?
Anyone with information about Michael Meyers can call the Inyo County Sheriff's Department at (760) 878-0383 or UCPD at (310) 825-1491.
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overwatch
climber
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Nov 19, 2015 - 08:28am PT
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Sounds like they are beating all around it without actually saying "foul play". I suggested the possibility in the Matt Greene case and was blown out of the water
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LAhiker
Social climber
Los Angeles
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 19, 2015 - 08:32am PT
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Jody, thanks for the info re conditions.
I wondered whether "found abandoned" is a way of saying "and neither he nor his body was in the car." I'm not familiar with the area but wonder if they mentioned the side road partly to explain why the vehicle wasn't found earlier. Maybe now that it has been found more details will come out...
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Alpamayo
Trad climber
Davis, CA
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Nov 19, 2015 - 09:05am PT
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It's been a while since I've been up there, but aren't there several side "roads" that go into/around the Whitney Portal and Lone Pine campgrounds and to some cabins?
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Nov 19, 2015 - 09:07am PT
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Yes, but I can't imagine your vehicle going unnoticed for more than a day.
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Nov 19, 2015 - 11:15am PT
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I recall from doing the NE ridge on Lone Pine Peak, there are side roads which head out the desert floor towards the start of the climb. Just before the Whitney Portal gate. You can see them on Google Earth...
There's dirt roads all over the place there.
Good luck to Michael, I hope he turns up okay.
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crankster
Trad climber
No. Tahoe
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Nov 19, 2015 - 11:50am PT
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It is unclear where his car was found. It doesn't sound like Whitley Portal. "Near the trail to Mt. Whitney" could be anywhere in the region. Sounds like he was interested in exploring the area before beginning the climb. Very confusing.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Nov 19, 2015 - 12:08pm PT
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Bummer. I think of all those times I just went and never told anyone where I was going. Man...
Sending all my positive energy for a positive outcome.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Nov 19, 2015 - 04:15pm PT
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I'd check the sides of Mt Russell crest. Plenty of places to go "whoops."
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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Nov 19, 2015 - 04:24pm PT
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Second to check the slopes heading down to tulainyo lake. Ice forms quick on that N side. Hoping for good news.
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crankster
Trad climber
No. Tahoe
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Nov 19, 2015 - 04:25pm PT
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Hmmm. East Ridge seems likely.
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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Nov 19, 2015 - 04:27pm PT
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No kidding, There's a fairly long section where a Whoops would put you in Tulainyo Lake
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maverick01
climber
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Nov 19, 2015 - 04:57pm PT
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Working with family:
Mike planned to do Mt. Irvine on 11/9 via "East Chute" route, and possible do Mt. LeConte, all as day hike.
Not Russell or Whitney as originally reported.
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Nov 19, 2015 - 07:44pm PT
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Irvine and LeConte is a pretty impressive day. Maybe Mallory and LeConte?
Either way getting to that East Chute (it goes up to either peak) it's pretty tempting to cut across the ice on Upper Meysan Lake if you're trying to make time.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
ne'er–do–well
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Nov 19, 2015 - 09:40pm PT
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Maybe not the correct time-frame, but there was a storm on the 15th.
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DataJunkie
climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
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Nov 20, 2015 - 12:03am PT
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This one hits home as I am also a UCLA grad student and hiker. Just curious... is it common for people to climb Whitney/Russell/etc at this time of the year? It seems like it would only for the absolute most skilled climbers due to the weather combined with the altitude.
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kief
Trad climber
east side
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Nov 20, 2015 - 07:37am PT
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"The Alabama Hills are named after a Confederate warship that sank in the summer of 1864."
Only a matter of time till the protesters show up in Lone Pine.
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Nov 20, 2015 - 08:28am PT
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"The Alabama Hills are named after a Confederate warship that sank in the summer of 1864."
Yep. And it was the Kearsarge which pursued her to the coast of Normandy to do the job.
Lone Pine residents were Confederate sympathizers. Independence,Yankees. Therefore Kearsarge pass.
East side trivia. Still thinking of Michael.
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