August 15, 2026 – Inyo County Search & Rescue officials report that on Sunday, August 2, 2026, Inyo SAR received a report of a missing person in the Palisades. His plan had been to complete a long loop from Glacier Lodge to the west side of the Palisades and back to Glacier Lodge, involving many miles of difficult off-trail travel and significant elevation gain and loss. His last known location was an inReach message sent from below Agassiz Col on Saturday evening. Through Garmin’s cooperation with law enforcement officers from the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, SAR was provided with a more recent last known location from the subject’s inReach, placing him between Sam Mack Lake and Sam Mack Meadow.

Inyo SAR planned a deployment for early Monday morning, August 3, 2026, with CHP helicopter H-82 flying from Apple Valley to assist with the search and provide transport support. During the helicopter’s initial reconnaissance flight, the crew located the subject, deceased, above Sam Mack Meadow.

After landing in Bishop, H-82 transported two SAR members to Sam Mack Meadow to reach the subject and assess the scene. It was determined that he had sustained severe injuries consistent with a fall from the cliff. Based on the rescuers’ observations, there was no opportunity for lifesaving intervention.

H-82 then transported the subject to Bishop Airport before returning to retrieve the remaining SAR members.

Mountain travel can be unpredictable, especially during long days in remote and difficult terrain. Plan conservatively, carry adequate warm layers and an emergency bivy bag, and be prepared to adjust plans as conditions change. If darkness approaches or conditions deteriorate, stopping to shelter in place and waiting for daylight may be safer than continuing through unfamiliar or difficult terrain.

Please be respectful in your comments. The victim’s family and friends may be following this post, and comments that may seem harmless to some can be deeply hurtful to those who are grieving. Thank you.

Inyo SAR is an all-volunteer, unpaid professional non-profit 501(c)3 organization in cooperation under the authority of the Inyo County Sheriff's Office.

Source & photo: Inyo County Search & Rescue