Deceased/Not Found CA - Ralph Elliot, 51, Yosemite National Park, 22 Apr 2021

[mlhenn]

Search For Possible Missing Hiker In Yosemite

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Park officials relay that 51-year-old Ralph Elliott is believed to have gone on a day hike to the Upper Yosemite Fall overlook and Eagle Peak on Thursday (April 22). There has been no sign of him at the park, which is being searched in hopes of locating the man who could be lost.

Elliott may be “exhibiting emotional distress and suicidal ideation,” according to park officials.

They describe him as a muscular and fit white male, 5’ 8”, with blue eyes, a beard, and long graying hair that he often wears in a bun. He was last seen wearing earth-tone casual clothing.

 

[mlhenn]

Man reported missing after day hike in Upper Yosemite Falls area | abc10.com

https://www.fresnobee.com/news/california/yosemite/article250902634.html

Ralph Elliott is believed to have gone on a day hike to Upper Yosemite Fall overlook and Eagle Peak on Thursday, according to a post from the park service. He hasn’t been seen since.

Rescuers are in a hurry to find Elliot because they say he “may be exhibiting emotional distress and suicidal ideation.”

Anyone with information on Elliot can contact the park service at 209-372-0216during business hours or 209-379-1992 after hours.

 

[annpats]

If you knew someone was 'exhibiting emotional distress and suicide ideation' wouldn't you try and stop them going on a hike by themselves to falls in Yosemite National park?!

I would have got them some mental health assistance, or at least tried to. Called 911 if need be.

Oh dear, I don't think this is going to turn out well. I hope I'm wrong and he just needs to clear his head for a bit. But he went on the 17th April and today is the 24th April. That's a week already....

 

[kccorona]

If you knew someone was 'exhibiting emotional distress and suicide ideation' wouldn't you try and stop them going on a hike by themselves to falls in Yosemite National park?!

I would have got them some mental health assistance, or at least tried to. Called 911 if need be.

Oh dear, I don't think this is going to turn out well. I hope I'm wrong and he just needs to clear his head for a bit. But he went on the 17th April and today is the 24th April. That's a week already....

I believe he went on a day hike on April 22 according the the linked articles.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I hope he's okay and that they conduct a full-on search. Rooting for him.

 

[swanniee11]

They need to change the picture. He has long graying hair worn often in a bun and a beard. That changes his appearance a lot. IMO

 

[mlhenn]

Authorities searching for missing hiker in Yosemite National Park

Officials say 51-year-old Ralph Elliot went on a day hike to the Upper Yosemite Fall overlook and Eagle Peak last Thursday.

But after his trip, he never returned.

In a social media post from Yosemite officials, they say Elliot may be in emotional distress.

 

[mlhenn]

Ralph Elliott

 

[mlhenn]

Hiker missing in Yosemite National Park
https://missingnpf.com/listing/ralph-elliott/

Unable to find an update

 

[mlhenn]

Ralph Elliott is believed to have gone on a day hike to Upper Yosemite Fall overlook and Eagle Peak

Eagle Peak | Discover Yosemite National Park


Eagle Peak
Eagle Peak can be reached by following the Upper Yosemite Falls and Eagle Peak trails. The hike is 6.0 miles (9.7 km) one way with a climb of over 3,500 feet (1,100 m).
Average round trip trail time is 8.5hrs, it is also highly advised to depart early morning so you have adequate time to return before dark.
Distance: 6.9 Miles / 11km
Elevation: 7,779ft / 2,371m
Difficulty: Difficult / Strenuous
Time: 4.5hrs ascent / 3.7hrs descent
Begin at: Camp 4 Yosemite Valley
•Major elevation gain, no pets, no overnight camping without permit, limited water in summer

Hiking to Upper Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Point

This is not a hike to be underestimated. Getting to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls is challenging. Most of the trail is a steady, uphill climb with a relentless number of switchbacks.

 

[10ofRods]

Still no updates, sadly.

 

[mlhenn]

I don’t want to sound ignorant and I’m sure the answer is quite the obvious, but I’ll ask anyway...

Living in southeast Arkansas (more specifically, the delta) my entire life where there is miles upon miles of flat farmland, rivers, and bayous...my knowledge of the terrain/environment that makes up places like Yosemite National Park is very limited.
It seems to me so many people who go missing in areas like this (national parks, and such) are never found or it’s quite a significant time before their remains are located...is this pretty much due to the geography of areas like this?
Meaning the mountains, caves, nooks, dense forests? The endless possibilities of where they may have ended up at? As well as the elements and exposure to those elements?

Again, sorry if asking such makes me sound “ignorant” to some extent...it just seems (IMO) when a person is reported missing after being in a location like such, their outcome is bleak if not found fairly quickly.

 

[10ofRods]

It's not ignorant at all, @mlhenn.

In fact, it is really hard to imagine Yosemite (or any of the Sierra Nevada parks) if you haven't been there - and even if you have, it's super hard to imagine how vast it is. Even Grand Canyon (which has almost no trees and few bodies of water) is hard to navigate on a search. It can take weeks or months to find people in such an environment.

But I think Yosemite has the most missing people of any national park, IIRC. There's a great book called "Off the Wall: Deaths in Yosemite," and of course, falling is a leading cause of death. There are enormous boulders with other boulders around and on top of them, so many crevasses and so many creeks where remains end up scattered over 3000 foot cliffs.

The number of people who fall into a creek or river and drown up there is astonishing (leading cause of death in Sequoia National Park - as many as 10-15 people in some years; some of them still missing). Bodies get trapped underwater, in branches of big trees, in rock piles, etc.

Sadly, a lot of people don't stay on trail, they decide to try and get a particular picture or take a short cut. In a. case like Mr. Elliot's, where he apparently went up to the top of Yosemite Falls, he would have thousands of acres to get lost in, before ever encountering a road - or another person. Unfortunately, he was up there when Yosemite Creek was running at its highest of the season, and although it looks like you can cross it, it's deeper, colder and swifter than most realize.

You can go to youtube and watch videos on, say Tioga Road, to get an idea of how close cliff areas are to parking lots. There's a man missing in the Grand Tetons, as well, (experienced hiker, had no backpack, probably had one water bottle) and they've scaled that search back because it's just too big of an area - even with drones, etc.

 

[mlhenn]

@10ofRods thanks for responding!

Also, thanks for the book and video suggestions..I’ll be sure to check them out!

 

[lindamichelle1]

Couldn't find any updates. Bumping for Ralph

 

[lindamichelle1]

Obituary for Ralph: Obituary for Ralph M. Elliott at Wilson Family Funeral Chapel