Search for Missing Hiker in Sierra Mountains Enters 8th Day

Aerial searches are expected to continue Wednesday in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains for a missing hiker from Pacific Palisades. Ground teams have been removed from the area and search assignments have been completed. 

According to Dana Dierkes, spokesperson for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Service, 35 staff members from their office, Kern County Sheriff's Office, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue and Yosemite National Park spent Tuesday aggressively combing the wilderness for Larry Conn, 53.

So far, no clues have lead to Conn's location since he was last seen by another hiker near his vehicle on Oct. 19. 

Dierkes said six ground teams and two contract helicopters focused on specific travel corridors and camping locations around Taboose Pass, Pinchot Pass and Split Mountain. The search remains challenging since a blanket of snow is covering the ground. Temperatures have hovered in the mid-40s during daytime low 20s at night.

"One thing that makes it so challenging is the conditions," Dierkes said Tuesday. "The freezing and rethawing masks the [foot]prints. Your prints may not look the same. We’re lookin for movement - a fire, a tent, a person - all of those things included."

There were 45 staff members involved in Monday's search, including a canine search and rescue team.  

Sierra Madre SAR team members were called back to Los Angeles, Sheriff's Reserve Chief Mike Leum told Patch Wednesday. The Montrose team was not called to the search, he said. 

If you have seen or contacted Conn or have more information, call Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks' Dispatch at (559) 565-3195 or the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department at (760) 878-0383.