Search-and-rescue missions in the National Park System are stressful. The clock is always ticking, the landscapes to be searched varied and dangerous at times, and the outcome never assured. Two SARs this past weekend in the parks, one in Denali National Park and one in Sequoia National Park, ended with two very different outcomes.

At Denali, a 42-year-old California man who separated from his companion to find a less demanding route back to the Teklanika Campground was found Sunday night after a two-day search. At Sequoia, the outcome was solemn, as the body of 68-year-old John Lee, of Mentone, California, was found on the southwest slope of Mount Whitney at an elevation of about 12,500 feet.

Last Monday, Mr. Lee and some friends set out from Whitney Portal for the summit of 14,505-foot Mount Whitney and planned to return to their vehicle at the trailhead by the end of the day. The group intended to follow the Mountaineer’s Route. They didn't make as much progress as they had hoped, though, and stopped that night about a half-mile from the summit. On Tuesday three members of the party decided to abandon the hike to the summit, while Mr. Lee, it later was determined, went in search for an easier way down the mountain, according to a Park Service release.

"Lee’s hiking companions saw his pack 'hanging' on a granite ledge. The hiking party waited for Lee for several hours. When Lee did not return, the rest of his group believed they would meet Lee at the car and left the area. They descended with the assistance of several experienced hikers they met along the way. They returned to the Whitney Portal trailhead around 10 p.m.," the release said. 

The following day an air search was organized by the Inyo County (California) Sheriff’s Office. The following day SAR ground crews were flown to search areas above and below the Mountaineer’s Route on Mount Whitney.

"Inyo County started to search in the area of Whitney-Russell Pass based upon initial information. More search-and-rescue members arrived to continue the search in the Mount Russell area, Iceberg Lake area, and Arctic Lakes Basin," the park release continued. "The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office notified Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks about the missing hiker. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks provided aircraft support for Inyo County’s search-and-rescue operation. Additional support was provided by: Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, Inyo County Search and Rescue, China Lake Mountain Rescue Group, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Cal OES, and CHP H-80."

On Friday, search efforts continued both in the Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Park.

"A backpack was located north of the Mountaineer's Route on a rocky outcropping. The pack was positively identified as belonging to Lee," park officials said. "Additional search-and-rescue members arrived to expand search efforts in the Mt. Russell area, Iceberg Lake area, and Arctic Lakes Basin."

On Saturday officials were told by one of Mr. Lee's companions "that Lee realized the route he had taken with his hiking companions was difficult and that he had departed from his hiking party to find a safe route for the party to descend. Previous reports indicated that Lee wanted to continue to summit Mt. Whitney."

Finally, on Sunday shortly after 1:30 p.m., Mr. Lee's body was spotted by helicopter in Sequoia National Park at the base of the southwest slope of Mount Whitney (approximately 12,500 feet in elevation). The cause of death is under investigation, a park release said.

Up at Denali, the outcome was a successful SAR as Mukunda Egen was located by a helicopter crew at approximately 7:45 p.m. Sunday. The California man was spotted in the headwaters of Sanctuary River, about six miles from where he was last seen Friday night, a park release said. "He was in good condition and was transported to park headquarters where he was evaluated by park rangers and medical personnel."

Egen and a friend were camping at Teklanika Campground and started a day hike from the campground on Friday afternoon. The pair separated at about 11 p.m. when Egen, who had earlier complained of knee pain, chose a less steep route than his hiking companion. Soon after, the pair lost sight of each other in the fog. Egen’s companion tried to retrace their route looking for Egen before reaching the campground at 4 a.m. Saturday. She then contacted park rangers, the release said.