CA CA - Joel Thomazin, 31, solo hike Hetch Hetchy to Lake Eleanor, Yosemite National Park, 6 Sep 2021

[Coppertop15]

I’m unfamiliar with the area…very unfamiliar!
What is the weather like at this point during the year? What about the conditions in terms of hiking, search teams, etc??

It's so hard to say! There's a wide variety of weather in Yosemite. I *think* the last seen area is currently about 40F at night at a high of 70F. But a friend went up for a day hike today, and they were tromping through snow. We did finally get storms on Friday.

 

[mlhenn]

It's so hard to say! There's a wide variety of weather in Yosemite. I *think* the last seen area is currently about 40F at night at a high of 70F. But a friend went up for a day hike today, and they were tromping through snow. We did finally get storms on Friday.

Thanks! I have to be mindful of that because I often just innocently forget to take various weather conditions into account …(esp when it’s averaging 90’s during the day & upper 70’s at night where I’m at)

 

[5W's]

He had a lot of camping equipment with him after one month there is no mention of even one item being found. He's a young fellow with a young family, sad.

 

[5W's]

For one thing - unprecedented numbers of visitors, to the point that the park had to create a reservation system for even a one day visit (lots of people evade it, but that's a different point).

It's super hot up there - even in the valley between Hetch Hetchy and Tuolumne (although cooler by the time a hiker gets to Tuolumne).

I agree but it really makes me wonder if there were so many visitors (which of course I don't doubt) why didn't anyone see him after the last sighting? I know he had quite a few things with him for camping did he have a filter so he could drink water if he ran out? I don't remember I will have to go back and look. If he got lost which of course is possible he would have water available at least. Some sign of him should have come up by now. This missing person case baffles me, especially if he had a water filter (which I don't know he did at this point or not) and the area being visited so much. ?????

 

[5W's]

Joel may have had a -Black and yellow collapsible sink. I wonder if that had a filter. From what little I can guess from the things he may have had with him such as a GPS solar watch I think the sink probably had a filtering system. So that just adds to my questions among others that I have about why he hasn't been found and seen early on especially with the amount of people there.

 

[JerseyGirl]

No sign of missing Denair hiker; family plans memorial service

Thomazin’s family is planning a memorial service for the beloved husband and father as he is presumed dead due to the length of time he’s been missing in the remote area.

Thomazin leaves behind his wife of seven years, Amanda, and 2-year-old son Titus. He was a Sonora Union High graduate and Stanislaus State alumnus, a Civil Affairs Specialists with the United States Army Reserve and employed by Sanny Bros. Royalty Restoration in Modesto.

 

[Protectwomenandgirls]

I don't understand how he has not been located yet and even more puzzling is that none of his gear has been found.
At this time of year hetch hetchy is a very popular spot because it's warmer than higher elevation areas in the park.
Even if he was planning to go off trail (to climb a peak ect) it would make sense that he would use a day pack and leave his gear behind due to it being such a heavy load. This is a common practice among backpackers.
The packraft is bright red so even if something happened to him out on the water I would think it would be located quickly

 

[Protectwomenandgirls]

There is plenty of water all over this area. It sounds like he was experienced, so he likely had a filter, but even if he did not he could still find water to drink in an emergency situation
Based on my experience with the area

 

[Protectwomenandgirls]

Looking at a map I wonder if he decided to go further than lake Eleanor, which was only 7 mi from hetch hetchy. He could have ventured on towards kibbie lake or even further out towards boundary lake via cherry creek. The trail to boundary looks like it could get confusing and is remote, way more deserted out that way.
I'm sure SAR probably would have taken this into account though

 

[I wonder]

No sign of missing Denair hiker; family plans memorial service

Thomazin’s family is planning a memorial service for the beloved husband and father as he is presumed dead due to the length of time he’s been missing in the remote area.

I’m in the UK and haven’t been to Yosemite, but isn’t it a bit early to assume he’s dead? It’s been just over two months and he’s experienced in doing this sort of activity. He looks very fit and in good health too. Isn’t it possible that he’s injured somewhere, not enough to walk miles to safety, but enough to survive?

As discussed before, he has a lot of kit, none of which has been spotted either. Yosemite is a big place. Other people mentioned its increased popularity. Could he have changed his route, possibly because one of the points of this trip was to have some peace and isolation and because he was in unfamiliar territory, something happened.

MOO JMO

 

[5W's]

I’m in the UK and haven’t been to Yosemite, but isn’t it a bit early to assume he’s dead? It’s been just over two months and he’s experienced in doing this sort of activity. He looks very fit and in good health too. Isn’t it possible that he’s injured somewhere, not enough to walk miles to safety, but enough to survive?

As discussed before, he has a lot of kit, none of which has been spotted either. Yosemite is a big place. Other people mentioned its increased popularity. Could he have changed his route, possibly because one of the points of this trip was to have some peace and isolation and because he was in unfamiliar territory, something happened.

MOO JMO

I don't know if he can survive if he was injured. He would eventually need medical help, though. IMO two months with an injury to fester would probably not be possible. Plus, if IRC he only had enough food for a few days..

 

[j_in_c]

I’m in the UK and haven’t been to Yosemite, but isn’t it a bit early to assume he’s dead? It’s been just over two months and he’s experienced in doing this sort of activity. He looks very fit and in good health too. Isn’t it possible that he’s injured somewhere, not enough to walk miles to safety, but enough to survive?

As discussed before, he has a lot of kit, none of which has been spotted either. Yosemite is a big place. Other people mentioned its increased popularity. Could he have changed his route, possibly because one of the points of this trip was to have some peace and isolation and because he was in unfamiliar territory, something happened.

MOO JMO

I haven't spent time in this specific part of Yosemite, but the northern part of the park is vast, inaccessible and unpopulated. The Yosemite Valley is heavily trafficked and yet we still have several missing person/hikers in that vicinity. There is no chance that he is still alive and "out there" at this point in time and the direction he was headed in does not cross any roads where he could have easily been picked up. I think a funeral/remembrance is acknowledging the reality of the situation. I do still hope that he can be found someday, but it will probably be by happenstance.

 

[5W's]

On one of Joel's friends Facebook page it states that he was carrying an older model Apple Smartwatch that didn't have current features. For example current ones would alert a loved one if the individual fell down. I believe the watch first tries to alert the person who fell down a few times at intervals and if there is no action then it alerts others. Great feature.

 

[5W's]

Sometimes heavy rains can dislodge debris and remains of persons who may have been missing and deceased. Hopefully some good can come of the heavy rains that hit Yosemite recently. This being not just for Joel, but others as well. Although as of yet I haven't come across any such event happening, hopefully.

 

[Pennysmom1]

August 8, 2023

These people are still missing in Yosemite National Park

YOSEMITE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Yosemite National Park is 748,542 acres (or 1,169 square miles) with 94% of the park designated wilderness, according to the park’s website. Within that s…

www.yourcentralvalley.com

 

[10ofRods]

I agree but it really makes me wonder if there were so many visitors (which of course I don't doubt) why didn't anyone see him after the last sighting? I know he had quite a few things with him for camping did he have a filter so he could drink water if he ran out? I don't remember I will have to go back and look. If he got lost which of course is possible he would have water available at least. Some sign of him should have come up by now. This missing person case baffles me, especially if he had a water filter (which I don't know he did at this point or not) and the area being visited so much. ?????

People not being seen or remembered in Yosemite is...standard? What I was trying to say is that if every time a person is out of their car or on trail, they see about 100 people per half an hour - they aren't going to remember the individual characteristics of that person. On some trails, it's more like 300-500 per hour (but not in the area in question).

When I am in Yosemite, it's to look at nature, at the flora and fauna and to discern and learn even more. I ignore people as much as possible (and many others are of my ilk).

It's the fact that his stuff wasn't found that's a mystery. OTOH, if you leave things behind on the trail, a good number of current hikers in Yosemite might pick it up and not report it.

Doesn't matter if he didn't have a filter, a person in Yosemite who needs water will drink in the high country (and see a doctor later for giardia - if they are knowledgeable).

It's truly baffling, water filter or not. OTOH, there are quite a few people still missing in Yosemite (or the Sierra in general) and in many wilderness areas.

Visitors stick to the trails. After I became a WSer, I did notice one couple going off trail with big backpacks (they actually asked someone if they could get to Cathedral Peak off trail, we heard that). I never read about a missing couple, so after they set up (cross-country) I never thought a thing about it and other than being able to say they both had brown hair and he was at least 8 inches taller than her - and they had big dark colored backpacks and good shoes - I remember nothing about them (even though my DH immediately said that he was worried that they were young and going off trail).

Apparently, those two made it. If a person in Yosemite tried to memorize every single person, I'd want them to submit to a study about memory - because, I don't think most people do.

Anyway, baffling as heck. I don't know his equipment or actual planned route that well, but both human and non-human animals scavenge various kinds of equipment. People fall into steep terrain. There are people missing in most mountain rangers for these reasons.

Death of Esther Dingley - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Everett Ruess - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

IMO.

 

[PommyMommy]

Joel Curtis Thomazin – The Charley Project

Joel Curtis Thomazin​

Thomazin, circa 2021; Thomazin's kayak

• Missing Since 09/06/2021
• Missing From Yosemite National Park, California
• Classification Lost/Injured Missing
• Sex Male
• Race White
• Date of Birth 08/08/1990 (33)
• Age 31 years old
• Height and Weight 5'10, 175 pounds
• Clothing/Jewelry Description Tan or blue zip-off pants and a Garmin Tactix Delta solar GPS watch. Possibly carrying the following hiking and camping equipment: a floppy cloth hat (shown in one of the photos with this case summary); a dark blue/green hammock, a large tan Kelty backpack, a U.S. Army steel cup dated 1918, a red and black camelback-type day pack, a black and yellow collapsible sink, a bright inflatable red kayak, a kayak paddle, a small collapsible stove in a black bag, a Petzl Zipka headlamp, a yellow bear-resistant container to keep food in, a bright green mummy-style sleeping bag, a fishing pole and fishing gear. A photo of the kayak is posted with this case summary.
• Associated Vehicle(s) A bright red inflatable kayak. A photo of the kayak is posted with this case summary.
• Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Blond hair, hazel eyes.

Details of Disappearance​

Thomazin was last seen at Yosemite National Park in California on September 6, 2021. He planned to take a solo hike from Hetch Hetchy to Lake Eleanor and back. He planned to go fishing at Lake Eleanor, a remote reservoir in the northwest corner of the park, then return home on September 9. The last known sighting was by a park ranger at about 5:00 p.m. on September 6; at the time he was crossing above O'Shaughnesy Dam.

His family believes he was carrying the following items of hiking/camping equipment: a floppy cloth hat; a dark blue/green hammock, a large tan Kelty backpack, a U.S. Army steel cup dating to 1918, a red and black camelback-type day pack, a black and yellow collapsible sink, a bright inflatable red kayak,

After Thomazin did not resurface on September 9, he was reported missing. There was speculation that he had decided to extend his hike and visit Cherry Lake or the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River, but this could not be verified. An extensive search of the park turned up no sign of Thomazin or none of his gear was ever found either.

He left behind a wife and two-year-old son. He is presumed to have gotten lost or injured in the park wilderness.

Last updated February 1, 2024; casefile added.

 

[10ofRods]

I agree but it really makes me wonder if there were so many visitors (which of course I don't doubt) why didn't anyone see him after the last sighting? I know he had quite a few things with him for camping did he have a filter so he could drink water if he ran out? I don't remember I will have to go back and look. If he got lost which of course is possible he would have water available at least. Some sign of him should have come up by now. This missing person case baffles me, especially if he had a water filter (which I don't know he did at this point or not) and the area being visited so much. ?????

I know this is an older post, but I just wanted to say that once a person gets past Hetch Hetchy, you are not going to see many people. It is probably the least visited part of the High Country. The overcrowding and massive amount of visitors are all in Yosemite Valley, which is just a tiny fraction of the park.

The rest of the park is a vast wilderness, most of it above 5000 feet. Tioga Pass is at 10,000 feet; Tuolumne Meadow area is at 7000 feet (the Meadow area is very large, I've been there many times, we usually go off trail there, as it's not hard to orient oneself, and the only place we've seen people are on the two domes that are near the road.

We started the hike to Eleanor Lake a few years back, didn't make it. That part of the park is separate from the main Yosemite NP. It's actually in the National Forest, just outside the park. It is extremely under=utilized, we saw no one at all (in fact, we've been just one mile off the Tioga Road on a different trail and apart from the first mile, we saw no one - and it was high summer.

September is a busy month, but almost no one goes to the remote parts of the high country. A person is supposed to have a wilderness permit to backpack there (which I believe Joel had, as they knew his rough itinerary).

The only thing I can think of as an explanation is that perhaps he did go kayaking on a lake (and took all his gear? because he was planning to camp at the other side...)

 

[Protectwomenandgirls]

I know this is an older post, but I just wanted to say that once a person gets past Hetch Hetchy, you are not going to see many people. It is probably the least visited part of the High Country. The overcrowding and massive amount of visitors are all in Yosemite Valley, which is just a tiny fraction of the park.

The rest of the park is a vast wilderness, most of it above 5000 feet. Tioga Pass is at 10,000 feet; Tuolumne Meadow area is at 7000 feet (the Meadow area is very large, I've been there many times, we usually go off trail there, as it's not hard to orient oneself, and the only place we've seen people are on the two domes that are near the road.

We started the hike to Eleanor Lake a few years back, didn't make it. That part of the park is separate from the main Yosemite NP. It's actually in the National Forest, just outside the park. It is extremely under=utilized, we saw no one at all (in fact, we've been just one mile off the Tioga Road on a different trail and apart from the first mile, we saw no one - and it was high summer.

September is a busy month, but almost no one goes to the remote parts of the high country. A person is supposed to have a wilderness permit to backpack there (which I believe Joel had, as they knew his rough itinerary).

The only thing I can think of as an explanation is that perhaps he did go kayaking on a lake (and took all his gear? because he was planning to camp at the other side...)

Last summer we gave a ride to a couple who got lost while attempting to hike around Lake Eleanor. They ended up above Cherry Lake instead. You are correct in that there is little use in this backcountry area, even in the high season. The lack of signage and overgrown trails there reflects this

 

[10ofRods]

It's so hard to say! There's a wide variety of weather in Yosemite. I *think* the last seen area is currently about 40F at night at a high of 70F. But a friend went up for a day hike today, and they were tromping through snow. We did finally get storms on Friday.

Those would be the temps near the entry to Hetch Hetchy. Up at Lake Eleanor, it would be a bit colder. I'm not sure exactly what trail he initially took, but I think it's this one:

https://www.trailforks.com/route/beehive-meadow/

That would go almost 3000 feet higher and therefore be as much as 15 or more degrees colder.

I think his plan was to do Lake Eleanor (descending a bit) and then the rangers hypothesized that he may have gone across through the Little Yosemite Valley toward Tuolumne (where he likely could have hitched a ride - Tuolumne is at 8600 feet).

Last summer we gave a ride to a couple who got lost while attempting to hike around Lake Eleanor. They ended up above Cherry Lake instead. You are correct in that there is little use in this backcountry area, even in the high season. The lack of signage and overgrown trails there reflects this

There ought not to have been snow up there at the time Joel went up, but it certainly could have gotten down into the 30's overnight. He was prepared - but was he prepared (for example) for falling out of his kayak (if he made it to either lake?) This is unsigned backcountry wilderness, where only the main trail junction will (hopefully) have signs. One needs a map for sure.

It was very kind of you to pick up that couple. And you're right that there's no signage - which is clearly stated in Yosemite's wilderness information. When one gets a wilderness permit, they remind you again. The trails that start from Tuolumne and from Lake Tenaya get far more use, but there are still missing people up there - some very perplexing cases that must surely be wilderness misadventure. Way easier to find one's way in those areas - the area Joel went into apparently attracts a few day hikers (going by trail forums) but if he did something like attempt to get to Tuolumne, there would have been a lot of trail junctions, possibly unsigned and some of them so-called "social trails," meaning that humans have made trails that the park doesn't mark as real trails and never signs.