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Todd Quinn
Trad climber
Oceanside, CA
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Aug 21, 2013 - 03:29am PT
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Cragman, thank you for the weather update. I Would like to offer any assistance I can. I have experience with different search teams in California. Finding Matt going to take some time if you ever need a partner please let me know. I appreciate what you are doing for the Greene Family and I hope to give some time to the search. Aloha, Todd
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tdg119
Social climber
Northampton, PA
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Aug 21, 2013 - 02:26pm PT
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bump
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Aug 21, 2013 - 03:11pm PT
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Are any search dogs going in?
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jstan
climber
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Aug 21, 2013 - 11:13pm PT
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Back out there again soon.....
Alpinism at its most meritorious. Whether on the Eiger, or the Sierra.
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alli0103
Social climber
Lehighton
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Aug 21, 2013 - 11:49pm PT
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You guys might be the most amazing people I've ever witnessed that have come together to help out someone you don't even know. As Matt's long time friend (we met when we were 12 or 13), it has been absolutely unbelievable to watch you all do whatever you possibly can to help.
The photos I'm seeing are absolutely breathtaking. What a beautiful, humbling, amazing area you are in. And I now "get" WHY Matt was drawn to it.
A heartfelt thank you to all of you. Seriously.
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alli0103
Social climber
Lehighton
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Aug 22, 2013 - 12:06am PT
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Also, Cragman, a heartfelt THANK YOU to you. I just tried to send you a PM, but you have them disabled, so I'll just put it all out here for everyone to see. I don't know what special "mold" you come from... or what in your life made you become so intent on helping other people, but it has been amazing to "watch". I check in here several times a day, waiting to see what you've posted... Your TR was absolutely amazing and I, not being a hiker/climber at all, FINALLY got a feel for what anyone searching for someone out there is dealing with (you're an unbelievable writer and photographer by the way)... I am absolutely humbled by the fact that you plan on going out AGAIN to look for him. I can't even wrap my brain around what is driving you, but I won't question it, because I am so grateful for it, that to question it would be insane.
Please know that Matt's friends and family are extremely grateful for all that you (and many others) are doing. It's very hard to explain to someone else (who doesn't know Matt or someone else that has gone missing) what it would mean to gain ANY sort of closure. *I* didn't realize it until this all happened.
So thank you. Sincerely.
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Aug 22, 2013 - 07:23am PT
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For family and friends know that this area is incredibly beautiful and very very special to all of us.
I can think of no better place on this planet to spend my last days and though we all hope and pray Matt will miraculously appear somewhere somehow, the fact is the Sierras are heaven on earth.
He couldn't have picked a finer spot to wander and explore himself and the world around him.
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10b4me
Ice climber
Wishes-He-Was-In-Arizona
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Aug 22, 2013 - 10:43am PT
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Once again, good luck Dean. Be safe. When are you going up?
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Aug 22, 2013 - 10:54am PT
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Dean, I'm behind on a big project right now. Won't be able to get away this weekend.
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crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Aug 22, 2013 - 01:08pm PT
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This might be a screwy question (and forgive me because I haven't personally been back there other than the Ediza area) but could Matt have possibly gone out of the Devil's Postpile trailhead (if perhaps he wanted to go to a peak or glacier south of Ritter/Banner)? I'm not sure if any of the searches (besides Cragman and Doug's) were in this more southerly area...we are assuming, with the limited info we have, that he was going for Ritter/Banner. Besides Agnew Meadows trailhead there is Devil's Postpile...is there another trailhead in near Red's Meadows resort?
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crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Aug 22, 2013 - 02:46pm PT
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Thanks for the map. I'm sure most of those trails are still highly traveled right now - but maybe only to lakes below the Minarets.
This is so frustrating. Thanks, Cragman, for going back out there and be safe yourself. I don't know Matt but his disappearance has really bothered me as it has many of you.
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Aug 22, 2013 - 09:29pm PT
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Another long shot I know, but have all the bear boxes been checked at these trailheads?
I have often left food, brew, etc in them as I'm sure others do before heading in even for a day.
I most often will leave a note with the contents letting anyone know roughly when I'll be back so that I they won't think it has been there forever and may discourage them from eating and drinking it...dam those PCTers :-)
Knowing he probably didn't drive himself to a trailhead but caught a ride ( if indeed he did e head into the backcountry) he probably didn't have extras to put into a box, but I'd think in was SOP for any SAR to check at the trailhead boxes where it is speculated he might have entered.
Just a thought I woke up with this morning that I couldn't get out of my head.
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10b4me
Ice climber
Wishes-He-Was-In-Arizona
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Aug 22, 2013 - 09:40pm PT
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Delhi Dog, good question.
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Finn2302
Trad climber
Easton, pa
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Aug 22, 2013 - 11:34pm PT
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I am one of Matts many, many friends from PA, a climber and active reader of Supertopo. I've spent a fair amount of time in Yosemite, but never in the area Matt was suspected to be in.
Wanted to say thanks to all the wonderful people who care so much about Matt and helping out another person in need - you are inspiring!!
It's just so tough when we have so darn little information to go on, but maybe there is something about the power of social media and some of the group think that is going on here.
Not sure if this information has any value, but thought I'd pass it along to the group.
Matt and I went to the Gunks the weekend before he departed this summer for his Westward bound trip. He, I and another friend climbed several climbs that day including Doubleissima - which he followed easily. During the drive, one of the areas we spoke about was the Cathedral peak area in Tuolumne. Matt has been in that area in past years. I told him that we followed the Budd Creek north on our way out and how nice it was.. When I first heard he was missing, and that he was camping in the Mammoth Lakes area - I wondered back about our conversation and if he could have been back checking out Matthes Crest.. Once I learned that he had his big boots and crampons - I just thought ok that area seems unlikely. I did see that he climbed Unicorn peak - I wonder if from that vantage point, if there are interesting snow/gully climbs that maybe he spied and decided to do and would have needed his big boots and crampons for.
I know how big that country is and really appriciate everything you all are doing!
Please contact me with any questions - thanks again!
 Greg
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crankster
Trad climber
South Lake Tahoe, CA
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Aug 22, 2013 - 11:54pm PT
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Not really any couloirs visible from Unicorn, Greg. The Dana Couloir is close to that area - it appears he had already climbed it.
It sounds like he was climbing classic routes from the guidebook.
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Aug 23, 2013 - 12:00am PT
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Also, I was back in the Mathes Crest area July 20th. Did not see any snow worth lugging boots and an ax into. Of course that's just me though I doubt he would either.
Doesn't hurt to mention it though Greg, thanks.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
extraordinaire
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Aug 23, 2013 - 12:24am PT
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I think I asked this early on - did the Red's Meadow (or YARTS) shuttle drivers ever get interviewed about the specific date(s) when he went missing? I know they may have had full buses/ distractions etc, but that seems very basic to the investigation.
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Fluoride
Trad climber
West Los Angeles, CA
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Aug 23, 2013 - 02:44am PT
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QITNL don't worry about the length of the post. You bring up a lot of worthy questions. Very well thought out. Thanks for posting this. A lot of us are questioning a lot of things. His family and friends are looking for closure and his climbing family is stepping up. Very inspiring.
Is there surveillance video from where his last purchase was? Was he alone? Was he with anyone? What was his mood? What was he wearing?
The village has a ton of security cameras cause there's so many businesses in the area. Someone had to have a last pic of him before he went missing after being there. There are so many businesses there. Stores, bars/restaurants and bars tapes like this and looked through them and either he wasn't there or wasn't visible...are authorities going through those?
Been following this thread. Just a big mystery in so many senses.
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tdg119
Social climber
Northampton, PA
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Aug 23, 2013 - 07:08am PT
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Pretty sure Head gasket blew around July 4th; had to wait for holiday to pass to get car into shop. Confirming w my parents. Can you say longest repair ever?
It was so much time, I think he did anything and everything to pass the time. His friends did say all his clohes were clean, folded, organized like he'd just done laundry. No doubt preparing to leave town.
Ok, going to go off on a tangent here. Not sure if none believes in psychics. I don't usually bother with them but when there are no other clues, well, several of us did touch base with them. About the only interesting one was the following:
-She feels to look within a mile radius of where his car is. (That would have been the garage where it was being fixed.) She sees a walkway/road with a rail of some sort, from there if you look over it, there is water. She feels he fell, didn't get severely injured from the fall but needed help and didn't have reception. Feels he was bit by a snake in his calf and he may be in a ravine. She said she had seen this over and over. If she sees anything additional she will call me.-
The other thing that has been bugging Matt's friends is that all the evidence seems to indicate that Matt spent the day of the 16th in town. We saw that he “liked” and commented on an article on Summitpost on a topic that indicated he was just killing time. His laundry was clean and folded. He went to Rite Aid. His campsite was paid for that night. So we assume that he went off for a day hike on the morning of the 17th. His phone records show that he spoke to the garage on the 16th and was told the car would be done on the 18th. The confusing thing is that Detective Hornbeck and Bill Green said that his calls at 8:12 and 3:09 on the 16th were from town (according to the ping off the tower) and the 4:30-4:35 calls to/from the garage were pinging from on top of mammoth or north of there. Which makes no sense. Why would he be in town all day and then go up to mountain.
So, Andrea (one of Matt's friends that went back out), has been keeping in touch w Donna (driver out there who was super helpful) and they've been relaying back and forth.
One of the possibilities discussed was Earthquake Vault: in a MSG from Donna: "Just got back from a hike up at the Earthquake Fault with a friend. Spent a hour and a half there. Mile from town, ravine, railing, no water, no snakes. You can get cell phone reception there just a bit North, East of the mountain. Hiked along the rim. Did not go into the bottom. Parts of it are very steep and cant get into it, at least someone my age cant but someone younger could go down in there and check it out. Might be a bit dangerous. Funny thing is that there is a trail my friend said that goes from Shady Rest Campground directly to the Earthquake Fault. Don't believe much in psychics, but I'm thinking I may change my mind here. "
One of Donna's friends also said, "If he did stay in town and the first psychic is accurate, then he could have walked up the bike path on Lake Mary Rd. Once you get up toward Tamarack, there is a rushing creek that is a big drop down into a ravine and I think a railing. Maybe the cell phone ping from the mountain would occur if he were up there?"
So everyone, take that for what you will. Wanted to share; might be easy quick places to search and prove psychic right or wrong.
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