Author Topic: Deceased Man's Backpack?  (Read 34194 times)

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Offline ChattyCathy

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Re: Deceased Man's Backpack?
« Reply #20 on: Aug 20, 07, 12:52:05 PM »
What an incredible story!  Kind of like finding a needle in a haystack.  I'm glad this gave you some closure, hikin jim.

Hillbillies

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Re: Deceased Man's Backpack?
« Reply #21 on: Aug 20, 07, 02:07:38 PM »
Glad to hear you have a sense of closure.  And how cool to have a great group of people here in Wrightwood that care.

Breezymtns

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Re: Deceased Man's Backpack?
« Reply #22 on: Aug 20, 07, 02:59:42 PM »
Hi Jim,

I am so happy for you!  I am glad that while one of your "chapters" has closed... you have opened another & are out hiking & keeping your Dad's memory alive!!!  ;)

hikin_jim

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Re: Deceased Man's Backpack?
« Reply #23 on: Aug 21, 07, 11:17:08 AM »
Thank you all.  "Closure" is the right word for it.  Odd how a few scraps of battered outdoor equipment carry a significance in and of their own to my family and me.

It does feel good that "my dad hikes with me still" as I carry some of my his equipment with me.

Wildman

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Re: Deceased Man's Backpack?
« Reply #24 on: Aug 21, 07, 01:37:00 PM »
What a wonderful thought...."that he hikes with me still"!  I am so glad you found the pack you had been seeking for such a long time.

I often remember how important it was to me to talk with the Fire Department paramedics who worked on my Dad when he died.  Even though he died of a stroke and never said another word, I had to hear from each member of the crew how they found him and how they tried to help.  As a rookie firefighter at the time, it gave me great solace to know he was in such good hands as that LA County crew. 

I still have his old Sierra cup that hangs on my original Kelty pack that goes back to the very early 60's.  It goes with me on every trip to the Sierras.

Offline superMom

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Re: Deceased Man's Backpack?
« Reply #25 on: Aug 21, 07, 09:49:52 PM »
It's funny how camping gear that belonged to family member can be such a cherished possession, so I am very glad you were able to locate the pack.  I still have my grandfather's old canvas telephone bags that we pack our basecamping gear in, and it brings back such good memories whenever we use them.

hill okie

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Re: Deceased Man's Backpack?
« Reply #26 on: Aug 22, 07, 01:40:37 PM »
With all of the negative press that our town has received of late it's good that you have put things back in proper perspective! Our town is GOOD as are the majority of it's people! Hikin jim, bless you and your father!

hikin_jim

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Re: Deceased Man's Backpack?
« Reply #27 on: Aug 24, 07, 05:36:17 PM »
I'm smiling right now.   :)  I'm glad that you guys get it.  It's just a neat feeling for me to be able to sustain my father's memory every time I pull out an old piece of his equipment.

With all of the negative press that our town has received of late it's good that you have put things back in proper perspective! Our town is GOOD as are the majority of it's people! Hikin jim, bless you and your father!

Thank you for your blessing, and may God do the same for Wrightwood.

Jim

Offline RobertW

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Re: Deceased Man's Backpack?
« Reply #28 on: Aug 24, 07, 09:12:40 PM »
Jim,

Where exactly was your father's pack found?  Was it up near the top of Acorn trail as you suspected, or closer to the bottom?

hikin_jim

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Re: Deceased Man's Backpack?
« Reply #29 on: Aug 28, 07, 05:44:20 PM »
His backpack was much nearer to the bottom.  Apparently the snow/ice forced him to change his plans.  His pack was maybe 100 - 150 yards above where his body was discovered, up the east side of Acorn Canyon, in a thicket of trees. 

He never got very far on this trip.  He parked near the corner of Finch & Acorn, walked up Acorn to the trailhead, left the trail where it crosses Acorn Canyon, proceded not more than .25 mile up the creek bed, hid his pack up the side of the canyon, and, when walking back, slipped, striking his head, which resulted in his death.  It is an ironic end for a man who had done multiple 14,000+ foot peaks in the Sierra and innumerable backpacks to die five or so minutes from a road after a perhaps 20 minute walk.  :(

Offline Joe Schmoe

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Re: Deceased Man's Backpack?
« Reply #30 on: Aug 31, 21, 08:20:01 PM »
Bumping this thread to the top.  Found it while searching.  What a cool story.

Offline tt2468

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Re: Deceased Man's Backpack?
« Reply #31 on: Sep 01, 21, 04:17:54 AM »
Thanks for the bump Joe. As a much newer Wrightwood resident, stories like these fascinate me.

Offline tcaarabians

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Re: Deceased Man's Backpack?
« Reply #32 on: Sep 01, 21, 08:37:02 AM »
What an amazing story.  Glad you bumped it Joe.  Where did all the folks that participated back then go?  Facebook?  Just walked away from social media?  I am so glad this group is still active in our emergencies.  Thanks to everyone that makes it possible.  Now, I guess we're going to figure out what that big thing was that was being transported on the 15 last night.

hikin_Jim -  Hope you're still hiking with your Dad's gear and this group helped you find it.  cheryl o7o

Offline SkierBob

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Re: Deceased Man's Backpack?
« Reply #33 on: Nov 06, 21, 11:11:30 AM »
Bumping this thread to the top.  Found it while searching.  What a cool story.

Never seen this before.. good read.