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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Nov 21, 2015 - 04:22pm PT
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Somewhere in a maze of steep talus and towers with snow coming down. It might be spring before we find him at this point.
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DataJunkie
climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
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Nov 21, 2015 - 06:32pm PT
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Would bringing in search dogs be realistic around the location of the helmet? I am guessing no, but doggies can be quite rugged.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Nov 21, 2015 - 10:45pm PT
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hey there say... oh my... sad to hear this part...
prayers for all concerned in this matter...
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Bad Climber
climber
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Nov 22, 2015 - 06:24am PT
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What Spider said. I recall now how intense the talus is up there--huge, steep, and seemingly endless. I could easily see someone falling in between a couple of those massive boulders and never being found. Add some snow with hidden sinkholes and adios. Another storm coming fairly soon. This recovery will likely have to wait until next spring/summer. Damn, shades of Matthew Greene. I could so easily have been in their ranks. Heck, there's still time. Be careful out there, folks, and file a flight plan with someone you trust.
BAd
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LAhiker
Social climber
Los Angeles
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 22, 2015 - 07:42am PT
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Unfortunately, it has been confirmed that Michael Meyers did not make it.
As quoted on High Sierra Topix, his brother Will apparently posted the following to the US 395/Owens Valley Facebook page last night:
Dear Every Member of US 395 / Owens Valley,
The SAR crews have concluded their rescue mission. I have the overwhelmingly unbearable news to report that Michael did not make it out alive from the Meysan lake area.
We as a family are absolutely devastated. But we are also thankful that they did in fact find him, and knowing that we were able to recover him has begun our long process of closure.
Michael may have been an experienced hiker, but he was definitely unorthodox. He was always striving to go above and beyond, he always was. If he set a goal or was driven to do something, he would.
Mountain climbing gave him a rush from his physics work. In the end, we know he died doing what he loved, and according the SAR, painless too.
I would like to thank the members of US 395 / Owens Valley. I have no idea who any of you are, yet you treated and prayed for Michael like family, and the gratitude that must be expressed for that cannot be said in words.
We are shaken. We are tired. We have a long recovery ahead of us. We know Michael is in a better place, and we believe his spirit is still with us. I like to believe that he will watch over anyone visiting the area from here on out.
Love you Michael, you're here in spirit, and someday after a good long life, I will see you again.
Thank You, Everyone. God Bless.
This is very sad. That said, I'm glad that despite the difficult terrain, SAR was able to find his body.
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10b4me
Mountain climber
Retired Climber
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Nov 22, 2015 - 08:04am PT
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My condolences, and glad that he died painlessly.
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Fish Finder
climber
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Nov 22, 2015 - 08:04am PT
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RIP Michael Meyers
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Nov 22, 2015 - 08:20am PT
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Rest well mountain soul
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Dapper Dan
Trad climber
Redwood City
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Nov 22, 2015 - 08:28am PT
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Rest easy Michael , your family is in our thoughts ...
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overwatch
climber
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Nov 22, 2015 - 10:13am PT
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^^^^^^
agree. So brutal for family and friends. I have a knot in my stomach and I didn't know him.
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johnboy
Trad climber
Can't get here from there
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Nov 22, 2015 - 10:44am PT
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My condolences to all of his family and friends.
May you all have peace in your closure.
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phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
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Nov 22, 2015 - 08:13pm PT
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For the sake of his family, I am so glad they were able to recover his body.
These incidents are very sad. Peace to the friends and family.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Nov 22, 2015 - 08:20pm PT
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Condolences to family and friends.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
ne'er–do–well
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Nov 22, 2015 - 09:01pm PT
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... he died ... according the SAR, painless How do we know that? ___
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Nov 22, 2015 - 09:53pm PT
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hey there say, ... very sad to hear this... :(
my condolences to his family and loved ones...
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crankster
Trad climber
No. Tahoe
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Nov 23, 2015 - 12:39pm PT
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Further details. RIP.
The body of a UCLA graduate student who went missing earlier this month was found Saturday, buried in snow after an avalanche came crashing down in the John Muir Wilderness.
Search-and-rescue crews used sonar technology to find Michael David Meyers, 25, under the 60- to 70-foot-long avalanche area, said Inyo County Sheriff William Lutze. Meyers suffered massive injuries, including broken bones, during his fall, he said.
“It’s like being in a head-on accident at 100 mph,” Lutze said.
The last time anyone heard from Meyers was on Nov. 5, when he texted his roommate to say he was going to Mt. Russell in Inyo National Forest.
At the time, the area was slammed by a winter storm. The mountains were blanketed with heavy snows and 100 mph winds blew through the canyons, he said.
Avalanches are not unusual for the area, especially after heavy snow builds up and forms a cornice, sending overhanging snow crashing down. Navigating dense, snow-packed mountains requires skill and experience and should only be attempted in pairs, the sheriff said. Fatalities are not uncommon.
“If it doesn’t look safe, it’s not safe,” Lutze said.
According to authorities, Meyers was an experienced hiker and climber. He enjoyed cold weather camping and had drawn up a detailed itinerary for his travel, Lutze said. Search-and-rescue crews used the itinerary to track his movements.
About 40 searchers from throughout California started looking for Meyers on Nov. 18 after a local resident spotted a vehicle parked under trees and heavy snow on a service road.
Authorities confirmed the vehicle belonged to Meyers.
Aided by a California Highway Patrol helicopter and a California National Guard Boeing CH-47 Chinook, crews set off the next day to search. On Friday, volunteers found a helmet and a beanie below the avalanche’s path. Authorities believed the items belonged to Meyers.
The next day, crews used sonar equipment along the patch of avalanche to find Meyers' body.
Meyers’ death was felt by the entire UCLA community, the university said in a statement. Meyers, a Minnesota native, was studying physics.
UCLA will offer counseling resources to students and staff mourning his death.
“We join together in offering our deepest condolences to all of Michael's family and friends,” the university said in a statement.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-ucla-student--avalanche-20151123-story.html
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Nov 23, 2015 - 12:43pm PT
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Terrible news. RIP.
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High Fructose Corn Spirit
Gym climber
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Nov 23, 2015 - 01:06pm PT
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Terrible.
Does anyone know if this is a common avalanche site and does anyone know precise location, gps?
Condolences to loved ones.
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Capt.
climber
some eastside hovel
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Nov 23, 2015 - 01:59pm PT
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Very sad to see this. Condolences to all family and friends.
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incopnsolable
Mountain climber
CA
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Nov 23, 2015 - 02:12pm PT
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RIP. And to those who wish to question minutiae of the reports/posts, please give the family a bit of airspace. Your questions may be pertinent but your timing needs adjustment.
Getting bad news, even expected, during a holiday week is an extra burden.
Thanks for taking the extra minute, hour, or day.
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