Dana M. Dierkes
Public Affairs/Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Inyo County Sheriff’s Office and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are still conducting a multi-faceted search and rescue operation in/around the Mount Whitney area.

Three people have been rescued from Mount Whitney. However, the search and rescue operation has been expanded to include two additional missing men.

(Use arrows above to view more photos)

Three men, Phillip Michael Abraham, 34, Stevan James Filips, 43, and Dale Clymens, 45, all from the Omaha, Neb. area, were rescued from Mount Whitney at approximately 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21.

The group had originally planned a day hike to Mount Whitney on Monday, Oct. 18, but had been trapped in the Mount Whitney Hut in a snowstorm since then.

Three National Park Service (NPS) search and rescue personnel hiked in to the site. Both the NPS staff and a California National Guard helicopter reached the men at approximately the same time. All three men were able to walk and move around during a quick general health assessment by park personnel.

Various parties assisted with this search and rescue operation, including California National Guard and Yosemite Search and Rescue.

Two additional hikers, a father and son who were not part of the previously missing group, had planned a three-day, 36-mile cross-country loop in/around the Mount Whitney area starting, ending at the Whitney Portal.

The group planned to return on Tuesday, Oct. 19. Missing is Sinh Baghsohi, 27, about 6’5” tall and 287 lbs. His father, Baghsohi, Sr., first name unknown, 6’ tall and 180 lbs., is also missing. Both men are originally from Iran, but their current city/state is unknown. No photos of the men are available yet.

The two men had hiked in with a friend. The friend became ill and hiked out alone.

If you have seen or come in contact with either of the two missing individuals, please call the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Incident Command Post at 559-565-3117.

Approximately 45 people have been assigned to the two search and rescue incidents. Search operations are still being hampered by snow with accumulations between 1-3 feet.