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Matthew Gelber
Social climber
Tahoe
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One other possibility might be Red Slate Couloir. Might he have seen it from the Minarets and decided to check it out? Just a thought.
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Wolfie
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes
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Headwaters Country: Devil's Postpile to Tuolumne Meadows, crossing the Ritter Range and the Cathedral Range. Roper calls this "Headwaters Country" because the route crosses headwaters of the San Joaquin River. This is a section of the High Sierra Route aka Roper's Route. I believe it is approximately 47 miles.
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JOEY.F
Gym climber
It's not rocket surgery
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Been about 10 years, but, the High Route from Lake Catherine to TM via Bench Canyon was very challenging route finding. Remote as can be considering the proximity to roads. Some of the moves across the the terrain were scary (for me). I did it North to South.
In any case, and having following the thread, hoping for the best for Matt.
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Lori Fairchild
Social climber
Lehighton
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Ron Anderson I sent you a private message. Please look into the possible sighting if you can. Thanks.
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crankster
Trad climber
South Lake Tahoe, CA
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Cragman is familiar with the area, but here's a photo for those who aren't. There would be less snow , but the SE Glacier would still be there. Good luck, all.
I had a positive vision last night. If he left in the early am, equipped with a large pack (could be used as a bivy, at least for his lower body), probably a light down jacket & rain shell, some food & water for a long day - if he fell & was injured, but was close to some water, he could still be alive.
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micronut
Trad climber
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Nice photo and input Crankster. Much appreciated by his friends and family for sure.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Perhaps the cliff bands below the Southeast Glacier (in cranksters photo) should be checked out. That high crossing from Cecile Lk to Ritter is trickier and more exposed than first appears. Although I'm sure there is much less snow than when I did it so I can't speak for current conditions.
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Lori Fairchild
Social climber
Lehighton
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Hopefully something will happen now that you contacted local authorities.Maybe Gary will start looking into it further too. Thanks for the info.
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Lori Fairchild
Social climber
Lehighton
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At least they are spreading the word. Is there anyone local that can distribute flyers?
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Lori Fairchild
Social climber
Lehighton
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I just thought it was odd that a retired police sergeant would take interest...something stuck out to him that made him think it was Matt. He lives in the area and sees hikers all the time. Why did this particular person catch his attention to make him post on Matt's facebook page? I am trying to keep the faith...
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tdg119
Social climber
Northampton, PA
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BUMP
Favor - Does anyone have the 3rd edition Secor book that would be willing to scan the maps from those missing pages (entire mineret area) for me to see? As I can't be there myself I'd like an idea of the routes and such that his friends might be checking out.
I'm not sure if it was mentioned but 6 of Matt's friends are heading out to CA today/tomorrow to poke around - including the two he was out there with prior to his disappearance. So keep up the thoughts and speculation - it's something for them to consider while they're able to look.
Thanks.
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TeddyKGBee
Trad climber
Chester Springs
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 9, 2013 - 03:40pm PT
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Map:
I compiled a map of the area using the comments and feedback from this and other forums. I do not know the area too well, so I may have some locations slightly off. If there are any changes or additions that you would like to suggest, please let me know.
If you have been in an area and checked a summit register, please let me know and I will add it. If you have been hiking or searching in an area, please let me know and I will add it.
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zn3r74pmynOE.kUAGPbbv8mwo
Thanks,
Tom
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10b4me
Ice climber
Wishes-He-Was-In-Arizona
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Secor, 3rd edition
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tdg119
Social climber
Northampton, PA
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The maps are great - thank you so much!
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mattyj
Mountain climber
Truckee
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Tom, I hope you don't mind that I took the liberty of copying your map onto caltopo so that people who aren't familiar with the area can see the places you've marked on a USGS map: http://caltopo.com/map?id=4J3A.
I will PM you a password so that you can make changes or delete it, if you want.
Edit: I also overlaid the page scan from Secor. Scroll down to the bottom on the left under 'Geospatial Images' and click 'Secor'.
Edit 2: HighTraverse, the locations were pulled from Tom's map using a script (so his map will still have it in the old location). I moved the Clyde marker to 3738.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Some rambling thoughts
I'm referring to Teddy's excellent map, particularly the "empty" areas.
The environs around Cecile Lake should be thoroughly searched if hasn't been done already. The saddle is largely covered by krumholz which as we all know can be a great bivvy site or can obscure whatever is there on the ground. To my mind, a likely spot for Matt to bivvy after the Clyde and if he's there, pretty hard to see him without a thorough bushwhack search. Being sheltered, with water from the lake he could hole up in there for a while even if injured.
I don't see any reference in this thread to Amphitheater Lake. If Matt went over the top of the Clyde Minaret he would most likely (but not necessarily) have descended past or above this rockbound lake. It's deep and cold.
The back (West) side of Adams Minaret offers easy access to the N Fork San Joaquin (Schallenbarger Lake). Would be a good way for Matt to access that area if he caught the notion after the Clyde. Not mentioned in Secor, it's possible to climb directly to the Adams Minaret central ridge and then summit (700 ft higher than Clyde) from the NW corner of Amphitheater Lake (not from Amphitheater Col which is 3d class). Steep 4th to low 5th class climbing, (I might have made the FA 1978 or 9). I don't think anyone goes under the extremely rugged East face of Adams for years at a time since the regular Clyde descent is along the other side of Amphitheater Lake.
What's the chance he went to NW face of Michael Minaret to look for Peter Starr's resting place?
mattyj
I think you've mis marked the Clyde Minaret. You've got it on Eichorn. Clyde is the high point on the ridge running East from there, 3738m.
3736m is Michael Minaret.
EDIT: great work with the overlay
Earlier I mentioned the glacier/snowfield between Cecile Lake and Ritter. It runs along the slope roughly between the 3200 and 3300 meter contours all the way to the SE Glacier of Ritter.
EDIT: on the far left of Cragman's pic below
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High Fructose Corn Spirit
Gym climber
Potemkin Village
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Cragman, are you heading in tomorrow? If so, do you have your itinerary planned already?
Those are great maps above.
Since last week, any more helicopter flybys anyone know?
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crankster
Trad climber
South Lake Tahoe, CA
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Best of luck, Cragman. Be safe out there.
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High Fructose Corn Spirit
Gym climber
Potemkin Village
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Cragman, thanks for the update.
And your insight.
.....
Did Matt climb Clyde with a buddy, or buddies? If so, have they been debriefed? Among the questions I'd have on my short list is whether Matt had any propensity as a serious climber-mountaineer to go off-trail enroute as many do.
As you know, confident serious climber-mountaineers - some more than others - will frequently cut trails, esp switch-backs, if not for expediency then for added adventure.
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ruppell
climber
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Among the questions I'd have on my short list is whether Matt had any propensity as a serious climber-mountaineer to go off-trail enroute as many do
Good question which leads me to another that I haven't seen asked. What was his comfort zone for solo adventures? Maybe his climbing partners can chime in and answer this one. If he was just looking to peak bag than he would most likely avoid the lower cliff bands. If he was comfortable soloing technical rock then the lower cliff bands can draw you in pretty quick. Also no one has mentioned Crystal Crag at all. It's close to town and a super enticing solo. It does get done quite a bit so I'd imagine it has been climbed in the past three weeks but maybe not. No reason to bring snow gear to that one but if you're not that familiar with the Sierras you might.
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