Missing Hiker on Mt Baldy

“Hey group, after speaking with the Mother of the missing hiker who
disappear on Mt Baldy, at her request I am organizing groups to go
in search of him. We need groups to hike up the Devil's Backbone
Trail to the Summit. (That is the trail he went up initially) and a
group to go up the Bear Flats trail (Because of the missing sign
that marks the Baldy Bowl Trail many people end up on this trail)
And and group to go from Wrightwood up the North/Old Backbone Trail
to the summit of Mt Baldy. (his pack was found 75 feet below the
summit near this trail) I have a group going up the Baldy Bowl Trail
and checking Goode Canyon. The plan is: We will all connect up on
the Summit and have radio contact the main day is Saturday

It is icy up there so you will need to own and know how to use
crampons and an Ice Axe. If you do not, please do not volunteer to
go to the summit. The ice is at 9,000'.
We really need experienced hikers/backpackers/climbers who are
familiar with this area (Mt Baldy) of Wilderness. After speaking
with the Baldy Rangers, and a couple sources we have a good idea
where he is or should be. But as you all know he could be at any of
the locations I have described.

This is not about me or you, nor is it about TT, So Cal Hikers, Hardcore
Hikers, The Outdoors Club, SC Hikers... It is about a Mother who has
a 19 year old son missing in our own backyard.
We are scheduling this search for Friday November 19- Sunday
November 21. But the bulk of the search will be on Saturday the
20th. Even if you can do it as a dayhike on Saturday it would be
good. I will be backpacking in Friday at the Baldy Bowl area.

If you are interested please email me at wld257@m...
and I will give to the radio channel and the whole game plan.

Again for the disclaimer! This is not a sanctioned Hike/trip, nor is
it related to any club/site/group in anyway. If you do not have
health insurance, you might consider not going. You are responsible
for your own safety.
It is not coordinated with SAR nor the Mt Baldy Rangers.
It is simply a group of local
hikers/backpackers/mountaineers/climbers helping the family of the
missing hikers, with the return of their loved one.

Bill Davison
aka WLD
wld257@m...”

“Good luck WLD! It's awsome that you are helping this poor mother the way you are.”

“Thank you Bill. There are scores and scores of folks concerned for the welfare of Eugene (or at this point, his family.)
I wish and pray that your group is safe and that there is success to report at the end of your efforts. I know a great many people are not optomistic as to Eugene's fate, but are all in need of resolution of his "missing" status.
Thank you again...”

“Is there a story you can link?”

“Here you go Dayhiker, second post from Mtn Steve has link to newspaper...

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/34600,1.php”

“Good luck you guys. I will be thinking about the searchers and the family this weekend as you try to find him. I can only imagine what his mother must be going through.”

“http://www.dailybulletin.com/Stories/0,1413,203%257E21481%257E2522447,00.html

This is the reporter I have been in contact with. She coordinated the meeting between Lola the Mother of the missing hiker and myself”

“Is he experienced in the mountains? The article said it was his first trip to California, but maybe other mtn experience? Hopefully he's hunkered down somewhere.”

“Good luck tomorrow WLD....”

“Yes, take care of yourself!”

“My colleagues son Eugene Lushevsky went hiking in Mt.Baldy and has been missing since October 30. Has anyone heard any news about him. What can one do to look for a missing person ?. Please let me know.”

“Have his parent contacted the local police departments? I would suggest trying that first. If he's been missing for that long, I think the police would be willing to help.”

“CLAREMONT, Calif. Authorities are looking for a Pennsylvania man who was visiting a friend at Claremont McKenna College and went missing over the weekend.

He's identified as 19-year-old Evgeniy Lushevskiy (yoo-JEN'-nee loo-SHEVZ'-kee). The young man came to California on vacation with his parents and left the campus Sunday morning. He told his friend he planned to go hiking toward the Mount Baldy foothills, but no one has heard from him since.

Police are looking into a transaction made on Lushevskiy's credit card on Monday to pay for a taxi ride in Claremont, and a call made on his cell phone the same day.

Police say they don't have any reason to believe there's foul play and Lushevskiy did not suffer from mental disability or depression. They say there's a greater possibility that he got lost on a trail and is still lost.”

“What's the date on that article, Mapleleaf?”

“Nitha,
Expand the date range for this thread. A search has been going on since he was first reported missing. The credit card transaction which Mapleleaf cited was legitimate, it was for a cab ride to the trailhead.
ALSO, SEARCH FOR A THREAD TITLED "MISSING LAD" FOR INFO. tHAT HAD LINKS TO NEWSPAPER ARTICLES DEALING WITH THE EARLY SEARCH EFFORTS. (sorry for the caps) I'll bring that thread back towards the top. The official searching has been suspended. An "informal, though extensive search effort continues, spearheaded by the efforts of WLD, a somewhat regular here on this board. I'll find the other thread now...”

“nov 5th
last edited: 12/07/04 10:29:40 AM”

“Nothing new here in Southern California about him. Apparently he's still missing, and the story has dropped from the newsmedia's "radar". His backpack was found on a route that went up to the top of Mt. Baldy about a week after he tried to hike up it, but after that the story died out.”

“said the food in the pack was rancid...and wasn't that only 5 days after?, whats up with that report”

“There has been a lot of snow on Mt. Baldy the last few weeks. Searching for much of the time has probably been impossible. It is probably snowing there right now.

Haven't heard from WLD about it. Perhaps he is communicating on another website.”

“wow, this is sad to hear. I bet his parents are just sick about this and eat up with worry. I'll keep them all in my prayers.

Please keep us posted.

Tex”

“WLD and a crew of his friends are going out every weekend (weather permitting). Yes, weather has been an obstacle. Four-Wheeler clubs are handling getting the searchers as high up as possible. Its truly an amazing selfless effort on the part of many. My hat tips to them all.”

“good luck,hope you find him
last edited: 12/08/04 8:23:45 AM”

“hey crazy, can't you read? They are well past that step.

Try changing "date range" to all. Its right below the red stripe, above”

“FlyGuy5x is correct. We are still searching. Each week we are only hours ahead of each storm. We have covered a lot of area. And our search area is gettng smaller. But each storm brings new snow and new conditions.

It is incredible how many people have jumped in to assist in anyway they can. But we can always use more experienced searchers. The Rubicon Owners of California have provided transportation to remote areas that normal offroad vehicles could not make in the snow. Which helps maximize our daylight hours.
The ground search crews are simply amazing. They work as a team, assisting each other every step of the way. We are experiencing a little resistance from a few of the Rangers and some of the immobile SAR units.
There have been no SAR searches in over a month. Primarily because it is a body recovery search, with threatening weather. Plus, as I have learned, the political issues that haunt SAR teams.
A Ranger named Bill in Lytle Creek told me, after last Saturdays search, "Aw just let his body wash down the mountain" "We will find it in a few years"

But the majority are supportive.
Especially when I tell them I will have the parents of the Eugene the Missing Hiker call them. If we do not get our way.

If your familiar with the area, then you know how icy it gets on Baldy at 10,000'And any information you have I would like to hear.
There are pictures of the Searches, maps and links to other pictures.


We coordinate all the searches on a Yahoo site created for this purpose only

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB/

If you are a member of the search teams, then you can post. If not well, try not to post too much. It is not always easy to keep things coordinated. If you have any suggestions, questions or comments please, email me them to me.

Also keep in mind, Eugenes parents and friends monitor this site hourly if not by the minute. So be sensitive about what you say and how you say it.

Wish us luck! And pray for warm weather!

We do not care who finds him as long as he is found! A day is too long to live thru, not knowing what happened to your child.

Can you imagine if it were years!”

“Wow, WLD and all others searching, I'm in awe of your commitment and humanity.

My thoughts are with you and the missing hiker's family.”

“Thank you all very much.

My colleagues and I would like to know how we can help you in your search effort. We live in PA. So, is there anything you want us to do. For instance, is there someone whom we can get in touch with who is in a position to make things easy for you in dealing with the SAR team and some rangers ?. You can email me at vsnitha55@hotmail.com with the details. Lola is misearable and we want to help her in any way possible. If only you knew Eugene, you will know what a great kid he is and it makes it even more harder for us to accept what has happened. We are praying for each and everyone of you who are in the search team. We are concerned for your safety too.”

“I am not amazed by this response. I have been to many disasters (I was a deputy sheriff for 10 years) and I have never been disappointed by the response of people. I love that about people, it's wonderful.”

“:-(”

“it kinda makes you think that this kid maybe doesn't want to be found?”

“It's such a shame that after almost 4 years, there's still no news. Eugene was a good friend of mine and I miss him dearly.”