Three hikers who were stranded by a snowstorm on Mount Whitney in Sequoia National Park were rescued Thursday, but two other hikers were reported missing, according to park officials.
The three hikers missing since Monday -- Phillip Michael Abraham, age 34; Stevan James Filips, age 43; and Dale Clymens, age 45, all from the Omaha, Nebraska area -- managed to hole up in the Mount Whitney Hut when the storm dumped 1-3 feet of snow on the 14,505-foot mountain, park officials said. They were rescued about noon Thursday by three National Park Service personnel who hiked in to the hut, while a California National Guard helicopter reached the area about the same time.
All three men, who had planned a day hike to the summit of Whitney, were able to walk and move around during a quick general health assessment by park personnel.
Meanwhile, a father and son who had planned a three-day, 36-mile cross-country loop in/around the Mount Whitney area starting and ending at the Whitney Portal, were reported missing. The two had planned to return on Tuesday. The missing men were identified as Sinh Baghsohi, who is 27 and approximately 6’5” tall and 287 pounds, and his father, Baghsohi, Sr., first name unknown, who is approximately 6’ tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds, the park said in a release.
Both men are originally from Iran, but their current city/state is unknown. No photos of the men were immediately available. The two had hiked in with a friend, who 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.
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