Found Deceased CA - Sreenivas "Sree" Mokkapati, 52, hiker, Mount Baldy, 8 Dec 2019 *SAR member died*

[mesnowmom123]

Are you renting snow shoes? Sounds like a lot of fun, if so. I lived in NM for a few years and one thing I'll say is that while it does snow and obviously, there's ice, the snow is drier than what I've experienced in California mountains. Makes for much easier going, IMO.



What I'm not getting is why 3 people in his group turned back without him (and AFAIK, they did not discuss this as a group). Did he get way out ahead in his quest to reach the summit? That's so common in missing hiker cases. People keep telling me that they think he probably slid or plummeted off either the Bowl area or Devil's Backbone (and yes, it does happen every year - people step off onto what they think is "solid snow" and end up 10-15 lower than the trail with no way back (or worse).

Californians in general are not very snow savvy. I feel lucky that I survived my youth.

I won't let any of my hikers leave the group, especially in these conditions. Occasionally, I get a very stubborn one who decides that I'm not his/her mother, and that's fine. That person is not invited back. I've learned to love smaller groups, with people who care about each other a little bit more than they care about reaching the summit. Works well. ;-)

I still hope that he meandered away from the trail, didn't make it to the top, and is somewhere holed up (or slipped, as you described, and can't get back to the main trail). Unfortunately, I did see a SAR video taken on Wednesday and it appears they already searched the area I describe.

 

[zecats]

I won't let any of my hikers leave the group, especially in these conditions. Occasionally, I get a very stubborn one who decides that I'm not his/her mother, and that's fine. That person is not invited back. I've learned to love smaller groups, with people who care about each other a little bit more than they care about reaching the summit. Works well. ;-)

I still hope that he meandered away from the trail, didn't make it to the top, and is somewhere holed up (or slipped, as you described, and can't get back to the main trail). Unfortunately, I did see a SAR video taken on Wednesday and it appears they already searched the area I describe.

The photos and description of the trail and the hike posted upthread do state that it becomes difficult at the top to stay on the correct trail, that there is at least one side trail that can be confusing. It especially emphasized that finding the way down that was originally taken up can be a challenge.. I imagine even more so in snowy conditions. Possibly he made it up and then ended up going down a different and incorrect trail. That makes for quite a large area to search, IMO

 

[Seajay]

The photos and description of the trail and the hike posted upthread do state that it becomes difficult at the top to stay on the correct trail, that there is at least one side trail that can be confusing. It especially emphasized that finding the way down that was originally taken up can be a challenge.. I imagine even more so in snowy conditions. Possibly he made it up and then ended up going down a different and incorrect trail. That makes for quite a large area to search, IMO

That would make it almost impossible to find him. Different route coming down from the summit, if there was an accident or he had to get off the trail because it got so bad, he had to shelter. There are so many variables that trying to anticipate his moves and decisions is so hard. I sincerely hope he is found soon but it’s been 5 days now. And he was prepared for a day hike, not overnight for almost a week. IMO

 

[zecats]

That would make it almost impossible to find him. Different route coming down from the summit, if there was an accident or he had to get off the trail because it got so bad, he had to shelter. There are so many variables that trying to anticipate his moves and decisions is so hard. I sincerely hope he is found soon but it’s been 5 days now. And he was prepared for a day hike, not overnight for almost a week. IMO

You are so right. Sounds like there are quite a few different trails that lead to the summit and if he went down the wrong way, that would take a ton of searching in not such great conditions. Strange he didn't find the conditions too tough to continue and turn around himself.

 

[carbuff]

Had he climbed this particular mountain before?

 

[rainynights]

Sreenivas “Sree” Mokkapati, 52, and three others went on a hike to Mt. Baldy Summit early last Sunday & on that hike, Mr. Mokkapati separated from the group and hasn’t been seen since. We appreciate your continued support for our volunteers and Mr. Mokkapati’s family.

West Valley SAR on Twitter
West Valley SAR (@WestValleySAR) | Twitter
9:14 AM (PST) · Dec 14, 2019

 

[zecats]

Had he climbed this particular mountain before?

“Mokkapati is considered an experienced hiker and has hiked Mount Baldy a number of times,” deputies wrote in an earlier update. “He was prepared for a day hike and has limited supplies.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.sacbee.com/news/california/article238322193.html

 

[carbuff]

“Mokkapati is considered an experienced hiker and has hiked Mount Baldy a number of times,” deputies wrote in an earlier update. “He was prepared for a day hike and has limited supplies.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.sacbee.com/news/california/article238322193.html

Thanks.

In my experience, familiarity can make many a hiker underestimate the severity of conditions.

 

[zecats]

Thanks.

In my experience, familiarity can make many a hiker underestimate the severity of conditions.

True. Curious though if he’d hiked this particular trail before. Seems there are several to the summit. I think you’re right that he felt comfortable enough to go on alone. Me, I’d be right behind my friends if they all turned around.

 

[10ofRods]

A SAR volunteer has died during the search. Few details at this point.

 

[rainynights]

Rescuer Dies Looking For Missing Mount Baldy Hiker

UPDATE: Mt. Baldy search and rescue. During today’s search a SBSD-Search and Rescue team member became separated from his partner. An air search located the team member unresponsive on ice and snow. A medic was lowered to the SAR member and discovered him deceased.
San Bernardino County Sheriff on Twitter

The cause and circumstances surrounding this incident are unknown and investigators are working to determine exactly what occurred. ALL search operations for Mr. Mokkapoti are suspended: SAR crews are being recalled from the mountain and search operations are being re-evaluated.
San Bernardino County Sheriff on Twitter

UPDATE: Sheriff McMahon will be holding press conference at 6:30pm to provide information on the situation involving our search and rescue member as well overall search operations. LOCATION: 2433 N. Euclid Ave. Upland, CA
San Bernardino County Sheriff on Twitter

 

[Teche]

Rescuer Dies Looking For Missing Mount Baldy Hiker

UPDATE: Mt. Baldy search and rescue. During today’s search a SBSD-Search and Rescue team member became separated from his partner. An air search located the team member unresponsive on ice and snow. A medic was lowered to the SAR member and discovered him deceased.
San Bernardino County Sheriff on Twitter

The cause and circumstances surrounding this incident are unknown and investigators are working to determine exactly what occurred. ALL search operations for Mr. Mokkapoti are suspended: SAR crews are being recalled from the mountain and search operations are being re-evaluated.
San Bernardino County Sheriff on Twitter

UPDATE: Sheriff McMahon will be holding press conference at 6:30pm to provide information on the situation involving our search and rescue member as well overall search operations. LOCATION: 2433 N. Euclid Ave. Upland, CA
San Bernardino County Sheriff on Twitter

So sad for this individual and his/her family.

 

[Seajay]

[URL="https://abc7.com/crew-member-found-dead-amid-search-for-missing-irvine-hiker-in-mount-baldy/5749931/"]Search and rescue crew member found dead amid search for missing Irvine hiker in Mount Baldy[/URL]

A rescue worker has died trying to search for Sree. He got separated from his partner.

 

[zecats]

Search and rescue crew member found dead amid search for missing Irvine hiker in Mount Baldy

A rescue worker has died trying to search for Sree. He got separated from his partner.

This is very upsetting. A searcher loses his/her life trying to save another one.
Wonder how the two SAR partners became separated. Possibly due to conditions on the mountain and or weather. Sure shows how difficult it is up there when a trained individual runs into trouble. I'm so sorry for this searcher and the partner(s). And the family.

 

[Seajay]

This is very upsetting. A searcher loses his/her life trying to save another one.
Wonder how the two SAR partners became separated. Possibly due to conditions on the mountain and or weather. Sure shows how difficult it is up there when a trained individual runs into trouble. I'm so sorry for this searcher and the partner(s). And the family.

I know! How disconcerting that this brave soul cared about others to the extent of losing their life. Bless them and rest their soul. The conditions have o be horrendous. He/she was experienced and didn’t survive.

 

[GraceG]

So sorry to hear of the death of a SAR volunteer. Conditions on the mountain are treacherous yet they braved it to find this man.

 

[happyday]

Wow this is terrible about the death of SAR worker. The conditions up there must be very dangerous. So sad.

 

[Cryptic]

Are you renting snow shoes? Sounds like a lot of fun, if so. I lived in NM for a few years and one thing I'll say is that while it does snow and obviously, there's ice, the snow is drier than what I've experienced in California mountains. Makes for much easier going, IMO.

Thanks for the observations about the snow in New Mexico. I am thinking about buying a pair of the modern plastic snow shoes. I won't use them often, maybe only once (though I hope that is not the case).

But I did not see any for rent at the ski resort (outside of Los Alamos) where the cross country skiing / snow shoes trail starts. If I buy snow shoes, what should I look for?

 

[10ofRods]

Conditions up there, where they were looking, are tough (like a giant bowl of ice covered with snow). The volunteers are all snow and ice certified, from 5 different counties. I believe the search was scaled back on Wednesday morning. A lot of people went to the base of the mountain and held a candlelight vigil, begging volunteers to return, which was then allowed (but only if the volunteers had the right training). So of course the SAR people came. LA Times is not saying much about his identity but local TV station KTLA is reporting that the deceased volunteer is a 36 year old teacher from San Bernardino County.

IMO, it's been a recovery operation for a couple of days, but I guess there's always hope.

Mr Mokkapati was paired with one person in a group of 4. His partner reports that conditions became dangerous as they hiked, and he and the other two turned back, but Mokkapati kept walking. No word on whether they shouted after him or tried to reason with him (sounds like the missing man did not take seriously the rule that people should remain with their partners).

Whole set of circumstances is very sad, and I hope no one else is lost on Baldy this winter. SO many people are trying to go up, it's so close to dense urban cities, it's become an instagram thing to do, etc. No more snow or rain for a few days, but very high winds are predicted for today and into tonight.

Just found a digital article about the volunteer (who fell down an ice chute):

Volunteer Rescuer Dies While on Search for Missing Hiker on Mount Baldy

 

[rainynights]

It is with heavy hearts we report the tragic death of @WestValleySAR member Timothy Staples. Tim was one of many brave volunteers searching areas of Mt. Baldy for a missing hiker. https://local.nixle.com/alert/7704276/
San Bernardino County Sheriff on Twitter

Thank God for Tim and people like him. I’ve always been incredibly grateful for @sbcountysheriff volunteers and impressed with their selflessness. Today is evidence of the extreme danger Search & Rescue members face in hopes of saving another.
Robert Warrick on Twitter

Search Remains Suspended For Missing Hiker After Rescuer Dies