Missing Lad

“I've just been informed that one of my son's buddies from school is missing in Cali. His backpack was found near Mt Baldy(?) near Claremont California. He was taking a year off before attending MIT on scholarship. Anyone on that coast have any info or heard a peep???
Yes, this is my first serious post.”

“Would it be related to this article?”

“Posted on Sun, Nov. 07, 2004





Calif. searchers find Phila. man's backpack


Searchers in California found a backpack yesterday that belonged to a 19-year-old Philadelphia man who has been missing on Mount Baldy for nearly a week.

Evgeniy Lushevskiy has been missing since the evening of Oct. 30, when he took a cab to Mount Baldy Village and then had a resident drive him to Sierra Hut Trail, said Cindy Beavers, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. He was reported missing the next day by family members, but it took officials until Thursday to determine whether he had started his hike at Mount Baldy.

The first search teams went out Friday, and three helicopters and 30 people were scanning the mountain yesterday. Lushevskiy's family confirmed that a backpack found near the summit was his, Deputy Dan Whitten said.

Lushevskiy, a native of Russia, was visiting a friend at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont when he left for the hike, Beavers said. He was last seen wearing a windbreaker and jogging pants. Officials do not know whether he had a sleeping bag or tent. The taxi driver who took Lushevskiy to Mount Baldy Village told deputies he made several stops to buy food and clothing. Temperatures on the 10,064-foot mountain have been near freezing overnight.- AP”

“Yes.”

“I always thought being "sought by police" meant you were in legal trouble of some sort.

"Missing man sought by police" Whew, what a headline.”

“Limpy - It was all over the news here last night. Searchers are optimistic since he had stopped to pick up food and clothing. He hiked up the "Ski Hut Trail" to the summit of Mt. Baldy (officially: Mt. San Antonio). Mt. Baldy is 10,000 ft and currently covered with snow.

Haven't heard anything today yet.”

“Thanks Phil and Mtnsteve, I'm sure you'll post something if you hear anything”

“Limpy,
I hope your son's buddy is found safe and sound...”

“They had to call off searching on Sunday due to weather but were going to resume today (Monday). I haven't heard the news today yet for any updates.”

“Thanks Phil. I did see from the site that mtnsteve cited that the search had been suspended. I'll check back in late this evening from home to see if there are developments. Thanks Phil and Mtnsteve for keeping this thread in your hearts.
(My son is starting to panic (and I'm kinda freaked too))”

“I heard about this yesterday. I hadn't guessed there would be a TT connection.

My thoughts and prayers are with your son's friend.”

“bump (sorry)”

“Any more news?

Hopefully, his friend sought shelter somewhere and is okay! :-(”

“Wow, good luck.”

“Hey Baldy is my traing grounds. I know that Mountain Range. I live by it! I will call the Rangers and see what is up?”

“I just talk to the Rangers, those who are involved email me at wld257@msn.com”

“WLD, you've got mail.”

“http://www.dailybulletin.com/Stories/0,1413,203%257E21481%257E2529408,00.html#

so sad...”

“Good thoughts and prayers to all involved.

Don't give up hope, like was mentioned in the story, I've been fooled in the past on searches.”

“I am so sorry Limpy.”

“Keep hoping and praying.”

“Any news?”

“The formal search and rescue has apparently stopped. His mother is coming out here to organize some people to continue the search. WLD has agreed to organize some experienced SoCal hikers to help. Not much in the news anymore.”

“Damn.”

“I'm sorry to hear that.

Thanks to WLD for handling a very difficult task. My heart and prayers go out to all.”

“Still no news, but valient efforts continue in the search, often hampered by snow and ice...”

“I'll keep praying.”

“There's a local boy missing in the Andes c. 150 km south of Lima. His dad, an interpretor and a couple of mountaineers left to-day for Peru.”

“Thanks man, for continuing the search. You are a hearty (sic) bunch out there.
Best wishes to you and all your pals who are committing so much of your time and of yourselves.
Bill”

“Did they ever find the kid?”

“Bill and his bunch continue...... Thanks guys.

Subject: [MOB] Search Results and other Wandering Thoughts...
>Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 05:28:55 -0000
>
>Well, I arrived at trailhead at 6:30am Saturday (7/16) and found
>nobody waiting. Lots of cars, but none from MOB group. Hit the trail
>@ 7:00am & got to bottom of Summit switchbacks by 9:15. Skirted the
>South and East sides of the summit basin...may have found location
>of Eugene's last image, but not 100% sure. However, this spot is in
>direct line with tree where pack was found.
>From there, crossed snowfield and located "footprint rock". Looks
>much different...wasn't even sure that it was the correct rock,
>until I couldn't find another one of similar size...and I knew I was
>in the right area.
>Climbed to the top of the rock & looked around, & the enormity of
>the search hit me. It'll be difficult for a brigade of searchers to
>find Eugene, let alone one person. In order for us to have a
>reasonable chance of success, we are going to have to have an army
>of people at our disposal. We need a group that is large enough to
>comb the mountain efficiently and in an organized fashion. We should
>probably establish grids, and assign sections at a time. Relying on
>pure serendipity will not give us much of a chance.
>I did not see the 20-25 person team that Lola said would be
>searching the North side...it's possible they were there, but I did
>not see them.
>If anyone knows anyone in the military, we could use some help.
>Pilots need hours, and we could use a lift to the summit so we can
>preserve our energy and not lose 4-5 hours of time hiking up and
>down the mountain. If anyone has contacts with Congressmen, Senators
>or the like, now would be the time to take advantage of them.
>I may be able to go back up again this coming weekend (7/23-24), but
>for sure I'm not available again until mid-August after that.
>Certainly, I don't think it makes any sense to go again unless it's
>a coordinated group effort.
>- Bob Oppermann”

“Civil Air Patrol is always a good resource for search and rescue efforts. They've got local squadrons all over the country just brimming with enthusiastic young men and women (and not so young too, lol) waiting for an opportunity to help. They are not only trained in ground search, but also have pilots (and planes!!) at their disposal. Because they are an auxillary group and not military, they are more like to assist with these things if brought to their attention.

Maybe they can help look for your friend?

www.cap.gov”

“Damn, its been a whole year.”

“So nothing so far?
No leads or anything at all?”

“Was there ever anything new learned or found from all the search efforts?”

“NADA”

“$5000 reward offered for missing hiker information
After Evgeniy Lushevskiy went missing more than a year ago near the summit of Mt. Baldy, police found his backpack and a video camera that proved the hiker survived at least one night on the mountain. But besides that evidence, there was no trace of the 19-year-old Philadelphia native.

"Since this incident happened there hasn't been any break in the case at all," said Claremont Police Agent Eric Huizar, who is spearheading the department's investigation.

Authorities are now seeking the public's help to find the young man. The Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation is offering a $5000 reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the location of Mr. Lushevskiy.

Mr. Lushevskiy was visiting a friend at the Claremont Colleges when he decided to take a solo hike on Mt. Baldy in late October 2004. He was reported missing on November 1 after he did not return from the hike. Police recovered some of his belongings, but more than 100 search and rescue teams since then have not been able to find him.”

“Thanks for the update.

WLD was looking for him. I wonder if knows more.”

“I came across this story when I heard about another missing hiker that just went missing today, but hearing this was so sad, what ever transpired??”

“Man went missing in '04
Jannise Johnson, Staff Writer
Created: 02/20/2011 07:01:37 AM PST


CLAREMONT - A hiker who went missing more than six years ago has been identified.
Skeletal fragments examined by the California Department of Justice were confirmed last week as belonging to Evgeniy Lushevskiy, 19.

Lushevskiy went missing Oct. 31, 2004.

His remains were found in October in the Mt. Baldy area, said Sandy Fatland, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County coroner's department.

"As soon as we found out, we notified Claremont police, and they notified the family," Fatland said.

Lushevskiy went missing in 2004 after taking a taxi up to a popular hiking trail in Mt. Baldy.

The Russian-born man visited Southern California while on vacation with his parents.

He had been visiting a friend at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont on the day he went missing.

During the initial search, team members located Lushevskiy's borrowed backpack about 100 feet from the summit of Mt. Baldy.

The bag appeared to have slid down about 100 feet, where Lushevskiy may have dropped it, officials said.

Inside, authorities found a knife and a small amount of food.

During earlier interviews, Lusehskiy's family told investigators the boy had been a Boy Scout, so he had some survival skills.

Lushevskiy did go into the mountains without proper clothing and equipment for the conditions at the time.”

“At least the family now has some sense of closure...

'32oz”

“Very sad.”

“Very sad. Closure for the family and for the thread.

Thanks for stopping in Fly!”

“Damn, I'm sorry to hear that Limpy. At least y'all know.

Peace be with you.”

“Tragic. Hope he didn't suffer.”