Another Mssing Sierra BPer

“I haven't noticed any discussion of this on TT but thought y'all should know about this story. I heard the prognosis is pretty poor at this point, he's been missing since Thursday & they've found his pack, less a few items.

Let's all hope for the best for this guy, and, as the Police Chief on an old TV show I used to watch used to tell his charges every day before they left for patrol... "Hey...Let's be careful out there"!


Search continues for Yosemite hiker

Published: June 28, 2005



By SCOTT JASON


The daybreak-to-dusk search continued yesterday for a Santa Barbara hiker who has been missing in Yosemite National Park for a week.

Michael Ficery, 51, was reported missing Tuesday after his wilderness permit expired. His backpack — missing a topographical map, a camera and a bottle of water — was found Wednesday near Tilltill Mountain. But there have been no new clues since, said Karen Caldwell, a park spokeswoman.

A helicopter, scent-sniffing dogs and a 42-person search and rescue team has been gradually expanding the search from where the backpack was found, she said.

"The commitment of resources has been outstanding," she said.

The terrain where Ficery's backpack was found is extremely rugged and hazardous, she said. The climate ranges from snow to bogs, depending on the elevation, she said.

A light search began Wednesday and escalated to a full search Thursday.

Ficery was last seen on June 15 on the trail to Tilltill Valley, near the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

Ficery is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighing about 165 pounds. He has gray shoulder-length hair. He often hikes in a T-shirt with the sleeves ripped-off and a torn pink scarf.

Kori Ficery, Michael's sister, said he had been hiking for years by himself. There are a couple theories surrounding his disappearance, she said.

"He either became disoriented and got lost or got hurt or both," she said.

Kori said she has been pleased with the search efforts.

"I can't help but see that these guys are amazing at what they do," she said.

Anyone who has hiked with Ficery in the past is urged to call the Hetch Hetchy Ranger Station at 379-1928 to give them information about his hiking habits. Also, rangers want anyone who was in the area when Ficery disappeared to call.

Contact Scott Jason at sjason@uniondemocrat.com or 588-4530.”

“OOPS, that's missing, not mssing. I'm using a USB Keyboard plugged into a tablet PC, keyboard really sucks but I guess that belongs in "Gear" category :(

Let's still hope they find this guy.”

“Thanks for the update, wanderer. I have included this missing hiker in my prayers.”

“ditto to what Buck wrote. I hope they find him.

Thanks for letting us know about a fellow hiker, wanderer.”

“This is the same guy, right? Too bad. :(

I just found this in a website someone posted on another thread just now. Here it is:Sierra casualties
Posted: Jun 29, 2005 8:05 PM Reply


51 year old solo hiker missing in the Hetch Hetchy area. 180 people looking for him.

Body fished out of Evolution Lake. Looks like somebody didn't realize what was under the snow.

Be careful out there. That's all.

here's the urlhttp://forums.backpacker.com/thread.jspa?threadID=65663&tstart=1”

“oh that's sad, but at least they did find him.

While Ruby and me was hiking up at Cottonwood Lakes I was wondering too...what's under that damn snow....We did hit the edge of the lake a couple times, at least we thought we did.”

“Is there an Evolution Lake in the Hetch Hetchy area?”