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Deceased Man's Backpack?

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hikin_jim:
My father passed away in Acorn Canyon on Jan 16, 2004 a few hundred yards up the canyon from the hiking trail.  He was the subject of a Search and Rescue at the time which ended when his body was found by chance by a hiker on Jan 25, 2004.  His overnight gear was never recovered. 

Has anyone found a blue Jansport external frame overnight backpack and/or other gear stashed in the vicinity of the jct of the Acorn Canyon trail and the PCT on top of Blue Ridge near Wrightwood between Jan '04 and present?  My father cached his overnight gear there expecting to do a day hike from Cajon Jct as part of a PCT section hike.  I've made a couple of searches myself but there's a lot of places one could stash stuff and I'm only one kind of non-local (about an hour away) guy.  Thanks to those of you who I've spoken to on the trail by the way; you've been very sympathetic and supportive.

Bit of a weird question to post on a forum I know, but I thought I'd ask since you are the locals and in the best postion to know. I'm not sure why I care about the gear exactly; I guess it's sort of a closure thing.  Thanks in advance for any help or info you can render, -- Hikin' Jim

RobertW:
I remember the incident well.  Has it been that long?  I've hiked the Acorn Trail a couple of times since then and have seen nothing.  But, as you say your father could have stashed it anywhere.

One of these days somebody will stumble upon it.  I'll be more observant the next time I hike the Acorn trail.

hikin_jim:
Thank you; I appreciate that.  He was intending to camp at the top of the Acorn trail, so it should be somwhere along in there.  If you do see something, please let me know.  --Jim

Nutcracker:
Are you sure it was at the Acorn Trail and PCT junction? About a year ago I was on the upper ridge of Heath Canyon looking for a friends lost binoculars and found an old torn up and faded backpackers first aid kit and the guy I was with thought he saw what looked like it may have been what was left of a sleeping bag poking out from under the dirt on the side of the slide. I always figured someone stopped to rest and lost it over the side. That is a very precarious slide, steep, all loose rocks a very dangerous area to be climbing without proper equipment and training. I could see where someone would have second thoughts about retrieving their gear.

ForestGal:
I'll be on the lookout too, next time I'm up on Blue Ridge - I'm usually up there several times each summer, although not usually via Acorn Trail (it's steeeep, and I'm outta shape... :P).  My nearest cross street is Acorn, so from my house to the top of Blue Ridge, via Acorn St., then the trail, is about 3.4 miles, VERY uphill.  I've done it a few times, but it certainly isn't my favorite hike....

Jim, do you know if your father was planning to camp overnite at Guffy, and if so, would his gear have been stashed closer to there?  I'm sure there are a lot of us who are willing to look out for his gear, and the more info we have, the more chance of coming across it.

By the way,  I'm so sorry about your dad's fatal accident.

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