CA CA - David O'Sullivan, 25, Pacific Crest Trail, Idyllwild, 7 April 2017 Irish citizen

[ThoughtFox]

Just a little bit about hiking the PCT - my son-in-law had a chance to hike the first part of the trail last year as part of a veterans group. He is 28, a big strong guy, used to the outdoors, and he served two tours in Iraq when he was younger so he was trained for the desert and mountains. In the first week, they saw rattlesnakes and scorpions every day, which was kind of freaky, and he had no wifi until he was near a town. So he usually couldn't call the family until nightfall if he was lucky. The rocky trail is not easy on the feet, and he kept sliding and spraining his ankle until it started swelling and he had to give up the hike. As others have mentioned, parts of the trail were closed in the past year due to mudslides and avalanches, and the hikers were warned about snow and ice up high (if they could make it that far). Based on all that, I would say something has definitely happened to this young man.

 

[GraceG]

Just a little bit about hiking the PCT - my son-in-law had a chance to hike the first part of the trail last year as part of a veterans group. He is 28, a big strong guy, used to the outdoors, and he served two tours in Iraq when he was younger so he was trained for the desert and mountains. In the first week, they saw rattlesnakes and scorpions every day, which was kind of freaky, and he had no wifi until he was near a town. So he usually couldn't call the family until nightfall if he was lucky. The rocky trail is not easy on the feet, and he kept sliding and spraining his ankle until it started swelling and he had to give up the hike. As others have mentioned, parts of the trail were closed in the past year due to mudslides and avalanches, and the hikers were warned about snow and ice up high (if they could make it that far). Based on all that, I would say something has definitely happened to this young man.

Agreed, I've hiked little sections of it on day hikes but couldn't imagine doing the whole route. 2017 was particularly bad and some hikers I know that I'd consider "expert" delayed their trip until 2018. Will This Be the Pacific Crest Trail's Deadliest Year?

 

[jash]

A search is planned for next weekend, to look for John Sturkie and David O'Sullivan.

www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/ca-john-sturkie-55-planned-to-go-to-the-beach-oceanside-san-diego-county-4-jan-2019.421075/page-7#post-15060921

 

[SFDukie]

I'm seriously doubting the legitimacy of this sighting. That area is east of Mt. Ranier, fairly near the end of the PCT. I think it would be highly unlikely that David would not contact his family once through WIFI or other means in almost 4 months from April to a late August sighting. I have to speak from experience as a former LE investigator. Often when you get a singular sighting that's not backed up by anyone else or any other digital evidence it's often someone getting caught up in the emotion of an investigation and they see someone similar in appearance, behaviors, or accent on TV or in media and convince themselves that have an active clue. They really do mean well, but it is usually not credible.

Concur. There would be money spent for supplies-multiple times. No one, even the most naive, brings cash for a through hike from SoCal to WA state. there'd be other through hiker sightings. A wifi hookup somewhere, etc.

 

[JMapes]

'Boy who left home': 5 years since Irish man went missing on PCT

 

[StillDiggin]

Mystery remains over Irish man who went missing on hike in California

 

[Jmoose]

Mystery remains over Irish man who went missing on hike in California

I wish his family could know how many people here want him to be found.

 

[Suglo]

I wish his family could know how many people here want him to be found.

I think they know. I’m in a FB group for him that has 1,800 members. We all want him to be found especially for his mother Carmel.