Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
crankster
Trad climber
South Lake Tahoe, CA
|
|
Ritter & Banner beckon from Mammoth. Lyell does not.
|
|
HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
|
|
crankster spewed Not interested in the opinion of an extremist right-winger, DJ.
I hope I'm wrong. Matt looks like a gentle, wonderful person. But 17/18 days missing in the High Sierra makes for long odds.
Holy jumping to conclusions on all counts, Batman.
|
|
TeddyKGBee
Trad climber
Chester Springs
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 7, 2013 - 12:15am PT
|
Hi everyone-
Again, thanks for all of the help, ideas, leads, etc. As all of you can probably guess, this is extremely hard for those of us that know Matt. It's almost impossible to describe every last detail that we know, but I will try to provide the latest update and thinking by those involved in the search efforts.
Matt went missing on July 17th. His last contact with someone was on the evening of the 16th.
Matt's car broke down and he was in Mammoth Lakes staying at the Shady Rest Campground. His car was being fixed in town and was scheduled to be finished on the 18th. Matt was in town, from what we know, on the 16th. He was on a computer (we suspect the library) as indicated by a summit post forum post about water intoxication around 2:45 on the 16th. He talked with his father that day and texted a friend that night (around 9:00PM). He gave no indication to anyone that we know of that day what his plans were. His last cell phone ping came from Mammoth Mt., which would have been the tower from Mammoth Lakes
We suspect that on the 17th, Matt decided to do a day climb/hike as he took no overnight gear with him. He had a large pack and gear for snow, which indicates that he was thinking that snow was a possibility (crampons, Mountaineering axe, and boots). He had no bivy gear and it clearly seems like he had every intention of coming back that same day.
Matt was happy and loved life. He was a quiet guy, but happy to have a conversation with anyone that wanted to talk. He met a lot of people on his trips, so it's likely that he talked to someone that we weren't in contact with yet. As for questions about depression, while valid ones to ask, they do not make sense in this case or for Matt.
Matt had no transportation, so would have used his own two feet, hitched a ride, or more likely taken the shuttle. He was used to riding the shuttle as he did another hike on the 11th to do Clyde Minerat. I understand that he may have done another one in the Minerats as well. He talked about this with a fellow climber on what we believe was the 11th, but gave no indication of definitive plans and the info he was given covers a fairly large area. This person was also participating with SAR.
Matt had pages torn out of his guide book for the entire Minerat area, which covers approximately a 5 mile by 20 mile area, which included both Ritter and Banner (hence the search of the summit registers). Neither register was signed by Matt as reported by search teams. Other speculated that he may have attempted Lyell, but that would have required an early start that the shuttle service wouldn't provide. There are a lot of options in the Minerats, which would have been likely choices for Matt.
SEARCH
SAR was out on both Ritter and Banner last weekend as well as had a chopper that covered some of the snow fields for about 30 minutes. Without more information, they couldn't proceed with further efforts. Additionally, to make things harder, the area that is suggested as a possibility is in another county jurisdiction, which makes organizing the search more challenging for allocating resources.
Right now, SAR has put together some flyers asking for anyone and everyone hiking and climbing in those areas to CHECK the registries. Please do so if you're out there and help spread the word. This will be posted at all major climber hangouts in the region, but please help to spread this via word of mouth. The focus areas is in the Minerats right now since the limited info suggests that more so than any other location. However, there is always the possibility of the wildcard and he jumped the YART and headed into the park.
All permit offices were checked and those with permits from the time frame before and after he was missing are being contacted. Matt was known to get an early start, so it's very possible that he could have been the 1st one on the trail.
Right now, the missing piece to the puzzle is information. We need something, however small, to help hone in on his location or possible plans. If there is anything that you wish you could do, it's spread the word. Some resources are available for this including:
1. Facebook page: www.facebook.com/findmattgreene
2. Flickr Page with lots of photos: http://www.flickr.com/groups/findmattgreene/
3. Flyer: http://socalcrisis.org/findmattgreene
4. Mono County Sheriff: http://www.monosheriff.org/
5. And tons of news stories (google Matthew Greene, Missing)
I will try to provide any additional info that I get or clarify something that is missing. It is challenging to get everything out, but I and his other friends and family will do our best. Please continue to share. Miss you, Matt.
Tom
|
|
crankster
Trad climber
South Lake Tahoe, CA
|
|
It has to be Ritter. It can be done in a long day, so no need for overnight gear. No evidence he had previously climbed it, from what I've read, so would have been an obvious goal. He likely took his big pack to carry his bulky mountaineering boots. There's little snow in the Sierra this summer which points to the Southeast Glacier route.
|
|
Wolfie
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes
|
|
Staying positive that Matt will return. There was a statement that resonated from his mother; that he likes to be alone in the wilderness, and often does not contact her for weeks after an adventure.
Has anyone checked Wilderness permits in Tuolumne and Mammoth Lakes. I live in the area, and the areas mentioned Mt.Lyell and Ritter/Banner are well traveled zones; someone has seen him if he is in these areas. Stay hopeful the climbing community is very small. My eyes are open.
|
|
Wolfie
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes
|
|
Another bit of information..If Matt decided to climb Ritter/Banner he would need to travel to Agnew Meadows via the Tram from Main Lodge @ Mammoth Mountain (unless he went in prior to 6am),then he would have to go in with someone and a car. When one pays for a ticket a form is filled out for your intentions for the day(s). Has anyone checked the Tram logs(private company,not run by forest service)?
|
|
ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
extraordinaire
|
|
I appreciate the OP's effort and dilligence, but this seems a story that will have to be solved in time.
|
|
Anastasia
climber
Home
|
|
Bump...
Keep posting up on every site.
If I ever lost Bill or my son out there, I would do everything and anything to find them.
|
|
mattyj
Mountain climber
Truckee
|
|
Tom, one thing that I haven't seen mentioned here is a description of the gear Matt brought with him. It sounds like you may know this, or at least be able to take a reasonable guess, since you know what was missing from his campsite.
Sometimes I recognize gear as much as or more than faces. I've passed people on the trail where 2 minutes later I couldn't tell you what their face looked like, but I can remember what color pack they had or what shoes they were wearing, because that triggered something in my brain - whether it's a piece of gear I want, or I momentarily went "that's the same helmet so-and-so has".
Could be enough to jog someone's memory.
I just want to say this: In the limited number of SARs like this that I've been involved with, active involvement by friends/family makes a huge difference in the outcome. There are so many possibilities, and one person seeing a flier or a report on the news and having an "aha!" moment can totally change the direction of the search. Keep up the good work, keep people informed, and keep trying to get the story carried as far and wide as possible.
In this recent case, it took two months for someone to connect the dots and bring forward a vital piece of information. You never know where that next lead might come from.
|
|
ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
extraordinaire
|
|
From my experience with Ritter/Banner/Minarets the foremost hazard is loose rock.
I assume the snowfields ice-up even in summer 'til mid morning(?), depending on direct sun. I once took a ride down one I'll never forget.
|
|
Sheik aka JD
Trad climber
|
|
Bad month to be named Matthew Green. First my best bud from childhood (different Matt Green) is in a critical car crash. Now this. Been following this via the Mammoth newspaper...ugh
|
|
mdavid
Big Wall climber
High Springs, FL
|
|
Hoping for the best, however the window is closing fast. Hopefully he found a young college gal with tons of party favors and is enjoying himself hiking around the area...there's always hope.
|
|
Dave Johnson
Mountain climber
Sacramento, CA
|
|
Sad & distressing story. I can't imagine what his family is going through. Without being too critical, I'd like to suggest that anyone thinking of solo adventuring in the High Sierra take pause. It takes only a minute to let someone know where you are going, by what route and when you plan to return.
The Sierra is a wild mountain range, despite it's relative friendliness in terms of summer weather. It would be easy to disappear. Last fall a hiker, Larry Conn, went on a solo backpacking trip over Taboose Pass and never returned. He had only vaguely mentioned his itinerary. A massive search was conducted by air & ground despite an early season snow storm. Not a trace. Sadly, his remains were recently found near the Taboose Pass trail. His tent had been set up, however, none of the searchers had spotted it the previous fall.
I hope Matt's story has a happier ending and he learns a valuable lesson.
|
|
micronut
Trad climber
|
|
Checking this thread a couple times a day makes me feel strangely engaged. I have never me Matt...the first I've heard of him was this thread, but I feel oddly connected and concerned. Its a funny thing about climbing, how we all share in eachother's stories. Its different than any other "group"....ie; my church, my fellow physicians, fellow swimmers....I'm very connected in many other life spheres to many other people. Being a professional swimmer for much of my life, I'm very connected to all swimmers, from age groupers, to past Olympians, to US team members. When twenty something year old US member Fan Crippen died during an open water race a few years back, our whole sport mourned. But climbing for some reason transcends that. I'm just musing a bit about why the connection is so strong, and why I'm truly concerned and hopeful for a safe return for Matt, a guy I've never met. I'm sure most of you share my sentiments. What a strange thing, this climbing tribe. I'm often humbled by its breadth and strength. If you're out there Matt, stay strong. To his family, I pray for peace and steadfast hope and endurance in the days to come.
Scott
|
|
splitclimber
climber
Sonoma County
|
|
hoping for a good outcome
any searches along the mammoth crest near hammill lakes. probably still a little snow in those couloirs that would be an easy day trip and a fun snow climb.
|
|
Leggs
Sport climber
Tucson, AZ
|
|
bump
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!