Band of Brothers (and Sisters): Local Fire and Medical Community Gather to Search for Missing Hiker

Daniel Komins sent this photo to his girlfriend Sunday. It shows two of the three other hikers that he met on the trail. The hikers are unidentified. [Photo used with permission of Carli Hollis]

Daniel Komins sent this photo to his girlfriend Sunday from the top of Thompson Peak in northern Trinity County. The last time he was seen was on Monday morning as he headed to L Lake. [Photo  from the Trinity County Sheriff’s Department]

Daniel Komins, a hiker currently missing in the Trinity Alps, is part of the tight-knit group of volunteer firefighters. He gives time when he’s free from his paying job as an EMT to Blue Lake Volunteer Fire Department. He has gone on strike teams sent from Humboldt County to fight large fires in other areas. When news began leaking out that he had gone missing after hiking in the Canyon Creek area, crews across Humboldt County started reaching out to each other and discussing ways to help.

“When you are out of county on these strike teams, you bond with those you are there with…Because it is one of our brothers, we rallied the troops and headed [to join the search],” explained Diana Totten, a well-known member of Briceland Fire and Southern Humboldt County Technical Rescue. “The first team that showed up this morning from our fire /medical people was seven people…They are already on the trail.” Another eight of the missing hiker’s volunteer community are at the command post in Weaverville this afternoon preparing to head out.

Totten wanted to stress that these are not just anyone setting out to search without a plan. These are volunteers with a lot of training who are communicating not only with each other but with the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office who is in charge of the search. “These people have training and everyone is working with communications within the Incident Command system,” Totten told us. “We have to go through the proper channels and we have to keep track of our people really well. Everyone that is going is very strong in the mountain skills. [They have] a lot of training.”

She and her teammate, Aurora Studebaker, who is also in Weaverville for the search are particularly known for their tracking skills. They have found missing people that others have given up on.

Daniel Komins on Thompson Peak

Missing man, Daniel Komins, is to the right in this group of hikers on Thompson Peak this last Sunday. [Photo used with permission of Arjun Mukerji]

Totten said the plan is to search through the weekend. “We will stay through Sunday if needed,” she said. “A lot of our people know the area real well and know Dan.”

The group will be keeping in contact as much as possible with each other. “We do have communications links among ourselves,” Totten explained. “Some of the members have a GPS tracker that you can text on. They are texting every six hours…There is a lot of coordination that has to happen.”

She added, “I’ve been in touch with the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office. I don’t know what [our] assignment is or if there is any. But, as fire fighting family, we will be going.”

She paused, then said, “[We] are out to try to help Dan, because he would do the same for all of us.”

Komins is 34 years old, about 5’9″, about 150 pounds and wears glasses. He was carrying a blue backpack.

If you have any information, please call the Trinity County Sheriff’s Department at (530) 623-2611.

UPDATE: This Morning, Teams Prepare to Search Trinity Alps In Area Where Hiker Went Missing

Final Update: Missing Blue Lake Hiker Found Dead

Earlier Chapters with more information:

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19 Comments
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Erik
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Erik
4 years ago

I just saw the Trinity County Search and Rescue Rig towing a small trailer heading north on Hwy 3 by the airport about 4 pm or so.

Ullr Rover
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Ullr Rover
4 years ago
Reply to  Erik

Maybe going up Stuart Fork or Coffee creek (Big Bar TH to Caribou lakes) to Sapphire…?

Andrew Nowakowski
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Andrew Nowakowski
4 years ago

Thank you for following this story. And thanks to everyone that’s out looking for Daniel.

EASY RIDER
Guest
EASY RIDER
4 years ago

i really do hope they find this guy — there was a guy missing a few years ago over in the east side of the trinity alps — he was on a church group hike to the billys peak area — group got broke up , the guy climbed billys peak solo , and they didn’t find him for several years — i think his wife had to pay for private copters , searchers after the government people gave up — he had fallen down the south face of billys peak and that’s where they finally found the body — R.I.P. —- BREAKING NEWS — HUMBOLDT COUNTY COUNTER- CULTURE HERO PETER FONDA HAS DIED — AGE 79 — NEWS , PICTURES AT 11 !!

Marie Campbell
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Marie Campbell
4 years ago

Praying they find him safe & that all who are looking stay safe.

Poster formerly known as Matt
Guest
Poster formerly known as Matt
4 years ago

I’m not qualified for the search and rescue efforts but I backpack up there enough that I am willing to volunteer carrying food to Lower or Upper Canyon Creek lake for the searchers. If that is something that is needed, let me know on here how to make arrangements.

Memi
Guest
Memi
4 years ago

So awesome to read this.
Diana and Aurora and all the so hum folks are amazing. These two women are the best around, really beyond amazing!!!!
If anyone can find him they will.

Please let us know how we can support the searchers.
Hoping he just twisted an ankle or something. He knows how they will search for him and is hopefully planning accordingly.
Dan theyre coming hoping you hear thru the ethers how many love you.

T
Guest
T
4 years ago
Reply to  Memi

Agreed! We’re so lucky to have Diana Totten as part of our community! I hope all the other volunteers stay safe and hydrated too.

Lost Croat Outburst
Guest
Lost Croat Outburst
4 years ago

Good wishes to all the volunteers and pro’s and especially to Mr. Komins.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

~prayers up to these extra-fine rescuers, volunteers, and Daniel Komins.

Now, if the hell-o-cops circling my place late after noon – 8 times, low and loud rattling windows, would head over and help search, they might really be of some good use.

GooseBumps
Guest
GooseBumps
4 years ago

How can a hiker be missing from a group?
Was there no caring ???
Did everyone just look the other way ? Or gawking and while mesmerized didn’t notice someone slipping off to pee. (over a cliff) ?????????

Zach Komins
Guest
Zach Komins
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

The people who Dan met up with were unknown to him, it was not a planned meet up. They just happened to summit Thompson Peak the same day as Dan. And Dan absolutely loves hiking all over Alps, often solo, and eager to share that experience with anyone else, hence the pics at Thompson that look like a group of hiking buddies, but are actually a chance encounter.

Silverlining
Guest
Silverlining
4 years ago

If the Sheriff could get a Blackhawk helicopter they might find him.
But I guess this is not as important as suppressing illegal weed.

Cathy Steen
Guest
Cathy Steen
4 years ago

Please be mindful on what you say because his family & girlfriend maybe reading these replies. I pray God will comfort & give strength to Daniel, his parents, family & girlfriend. God please guide him safely home

Zach Komins
Guest
Zach Komins
4 years ago

Thanks for writing this and providing updates. It’s a truly amazing amount of effort being put out there by volunteers and search teams. We are blessed that there is this much support.

And the last line of the article is an accurate description of Dan. He would absolutely be out there on the rescue team searching if he had the reverse opportunity.

Z
Guest
Z
4 years ago

This helps renew my faith in humanity. I wish for the best & healthiest outcomes for all involved & of course, Dan.

irene
Guest
irene
4 years ago

Rest in peace, his body was found

Debra S.
Guest
Debra S.
4 years ago

May the family find peace. Dan’s mom is a friend of mine. My heartfelt prayers and support for the family during this very difficult time.
Thank you to all that searched and found. Definitely restores faith in humanity and community.