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

Morning Briefing for the missing Hiker.

Search teams gather to look for Daniel Komins, a hiker last heard from on Monday. [Photo from Diana Totten]

This morning, searchers from BAMRU (the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit) and other volunteer organizations are gathered in Trinity County to look for Daniel Komins, a hiker who was last heard from Monday morning when he passed through a camp of other hikers on his way to L Lake and Sapphire Lake beyond.

Carli Hollis, girlfriend of the missing hiker was at the morning briefing of the searchers. She told us that she spoke to those preparing to head out, giving them an idea of where Daniel would likely hike.

Today she says, the search will be concentrated in the area of “Canyon Creek Lakes and the L Lake” and past that towards Sapphire Lake. “We don’t know how far he made it past Canyon Creek Lakes,” she explained.

Yesterday, she said, around seven people were inserted into the mountains by helicopter but brought back out in the evening. Today though, she explained, “We know there is going to be some overnight crews being dropped.”

Carli said she was told that a helicopter took a crew out to establish a radio base this morning that will improve communications. There is also a Black Hawk helicopter that will be inserting overnight teams.

National Guard Helicopter

Black Hawk helicopter. [Photo by Diana Totten]

Several of Daniel’s paramedic friends will be hiking the area also as will members of Southern Humboldt County Technical Rescue and other firefighters from Humboldt County who bonded with Daniel when he volunteered on strike teams that fought fire across northern California.

The paramedic crew went in on the Stewart Fork Trailhead, according to Carli. “Their focus will be Sawtooth. Then they will be headed towards Sapphire.” They have been staying in the area and searching.

These teams are staying in contact and coordinating.

A GoFundMe has been set up by Daniel’s family. “The idea with that was to donate to any the volunteer rescue teams,” Carli explained. “The Sheriff’s Dept can’t take donations.”

If anyone would like to help, click here to go to the Fundraiser.  Nearly, $5000 has been raised already, blowing past the initial $1000 goal.

Earlier Chapters with more information:

 

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31 Comments
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Trinity boy
Guest
Trinity boy
4 years ago

What happened to all those posts and comments he was found?

Sandwich 911
Guest
Sandwich 911
4 years ago
Reply to  Trinity boy

Someone had mistakenly posted in a Facebook comment on the Trinity County Community group that he was found. She later deleted her comment after realizing she was incorrect but unfortunately it did start the false spread of him being found.

laura Rodger
Guest
laura Rodger
4 years ago
Reply to  Trinity boy

There is still hope that he will be found alive, maybe he slipped and broke a bone, slipped and fell & not able to get out, struck by lightening, who knows, I hope we find him as I solo hike the trinity alps quite often.

Willie Caos-mayham
Guest
4 years ago

🕯🌳Just did a big search and nothing coming back saying he was found, but information around here can be slow. Except on RHBB.🌝👍🏽

Martin
Guest
Martin
4 years ago

May God bless all of those first responders searching for Daniel. I hope and pray that they will find him alive.

HOJ in Training
Guest
HOJ in Training
4 years ago

They will find him, but not alive. Oh well.

Daniel's friend
Guest
Daniel's friend
4 years ago

Sounds like you throw in the towel pretty quickly. Take your negative bullshit elsewhere.

HOJ in Training
Guest
HOJ in Training
4 years ago

Negative bullshit? It’s called a predictable outcome that was far more likely than any other. Sorry it didn’t end the way you were hoping it would, but if you’re telling me I should not voice my opinion because it doesn’t match yours 100%, well then I would call that negative bullshit.

HOJ in Training
Guest
HOJ in Training
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

My apologies to those offended.

I guess I should have used quotation marks and capitol letters as I was referring to the Fleetwood Mac song with the same title. It just seemed to fit the situation…”Don’t ask me what I think of you, I might not give the answer that you want me to.” As experienced as he was, he knew the danger and willfully accepted it.

Sid Vicious
Guest
Sid Vicious
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

“don’t be surprised if people have opinions about your opinion.”

That makes sense

Silverlining
Guest
Silverlining
4 years ago

I was being sarcastic when I said they should get a Blackhawk up like for pot surveillance and they actually have one up.
Praying he is found.
I’m proud SoHum Technical Rescue is there as they are very good.
The area is not that large really and this many people should make a difference.

Seth
Guest
Seth
4 years ago
Reply to  Silverlining

I expect, as organized as they are that they have a couple dogs along to help out. So many good folks willing to move out and help. The best part of people.

K
Guest
K
4 years ago

This is where a BULL HORN, may come in handy. Let’s hope they have a few.

FarNorCal
Guest
FarNorCal
4 years ago

Wilderness travel – especially cross country solo – has inherent risks. Prayers he’s found safe and sound

J
Guest
J
4 years ago
Reply to  FarNorCal

About 140 hikers die per year as opposed to 30,000 people dying and vehicle crashes per year. Do you go around posting about how dangerous driving is every time someone’s injured? Do you talk about how dangerous it is Everytime you see someone getting into a car? How is that helpful?

Going on a solo hike is far safer than walking or driving through Humboldt towns solo or otherwise.

msknowitall
Guest
msknowitall
4 years ago
Reply to  J

These kinds of comparisons are misleading. Opportunity has a lot to do with your odds. It’s highly unlikely, for example, that I will die on a solo hike in the Trinity Alps because I am old and out-of-shape and I won’t go for a solo hike (or even with a party of experienced hikers) in steep, dangerous, high-altitude terrain. I could be killed driving since I drive almost every day, so J’s comparison applies to me. But what if I’m an avid hiker and spend more time in the mountains than on the road? We often hear false comparisons such as people have more chance of dying from a bee sting than from a shark attack. But if you’re not allergic to bees, and you surf frequently, your chances of being killed by a shark are much greater than your chances of being killed by a bee. I do hope they find this man, and soon — and that he is well.

Craig
Guest
Craig
4 years ago
Reply to  J

It’s not so much the danger of hiking solo, but having other individuals as backup in case you are immobilized due to an injury, as well as the redundancy of fellow hikers having cell phones, GPS trackers, along with maps and compasses.

Whistles
Guest
Whistles
4 years ago

I put a PE style shrill whistle in all our cars&backpacks. That sound is familiar to us all and not a favorite of wild critters. They do not like the sound.

Hoping dans found fine soon. He did all the “right” prep stuff. He knows how to deal with injuries. He knows those hills. Hes in an element he loves.
May the alps protect him.
Tho many say the alps are unforgiving, which parts are, there are spots that are just the opposite.

Government Cheese
Guest
Government Cheese
4 years ago
Reply to  Whistles

I carry a firearm when I hike into the wilderness. Three shots is a hunters method of alerting your in trouble. It can be heard for miles, especially in the mountains. Also if your injured it will fend off those pesky bears n mountian loins!

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
4 years ago

looked it up. very good info

Prayers
Guest
Prayers
4 years ago

I was hiking with a group of young women some yrs back in the Trinity Alps and we made it up to the top of the summit. On our way back down we were taking pics by granite lake and bullets started whizzing past us. Apparently some careless men had taken small donkeys up and had been drinking and then they started shooting and barely missed our group. It was very scary and could have been a very serious situation. There are very steep canyons and the trail is overgrown in places and we saw a few bear up there, especially where the thick blackberries grow by the meadows. You could be walking through grass as tall as you in certain places so to come upon a bear is likely and you wouldn’t have even seen him or vise versa. This is no area to play with and to be out there alone is something a little crazy but I pray with all my heart no harm has come to him and he is found alive and in good spirits. It is truly so gorgeous up there one could be lost in bliss maybe.

Craig
Guest
Craig
4 years ago

My goal is to make sure that this much manpower and equipment will not have to be called to look for me.

Memi
Guest
Memi
4 years ago

It can happen to anyone.
Dont jinx yourself.
Accidents happen be they in the woods or in town.
Theres very little in life we really have any control over.

May Dan be found soon.

Craig
Guest
Craig
4 years ago
Reply to  Memi

I have no intentions of jinxing myself, and why I always liked hiking with a group of experienced hikers, and in case a major incident occurred, there’s immediate help being close at hand.

Olivia Estetter
Guest
4 years ago

Yes solo wilderness travel is ill-advised in my book. Hopefully hes ok though:/

Craig
Guest
Craig
4 years ago

In this one article, even back in the day, solo travel in the wilderness was generally avoided.

“Contrary to the common image of the lonely trapper, the mountain men usually traveled in brigades of 40 to 60, including camp tenders and meat hunters. From the brigade base camps, they would fan out to trap in parties of two or three.”

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Mtmen/lifestyle.html

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Craig

There are those who prefer being alone in the back country. So much so that they finds the rewards of being in solitude outweigh the risks. They even enjoy the challenge of it. Choosing that does not make them responsible for what other people do afterwards. This search is so large because of this man’s connection to friends who specialize in search and rescue.

Robin
Guest
Robin
4 years ago

So sad. RIP Sending prayers to your family and friends