[pct-l] Story of dead hiker

Sun Jul 23 19:00:57 CDT 2006

One of the "fools" (your term, not mine) was Jackie Harris, a gentleman who
fits the description in the article and was one of the contributors to the
post about desert hiking.  He's been through here about three times in July,
and the dates he came through this year would have coincided with this
tragedy.  Jeff hosted him while I was hiking.  When we heard this news in
Mammoth, we called the Kern County Coroner to learn, happily, that it wasn't
Jackie.  I've never seen the deceased guy's name on the post, so I don't
think is was one who had written any messages about hot weather desert
hiking.

L-Rod

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Dust
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 11:33 PM
To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Story of dead hiker

There were a bunch of fools on here last month yapping about hiking through
the desert in July.   Wonder if it was one of them. 

Kent Spring <kjssail at yahoo.com> wrote:

 Here is the post, please note this news article is
from Sat 7/15 and it has not been updated in the paper
since... 

Man found dead on trail with empty water containers
BY STEVE E. SWENSON, Californian staff writer
e-mail: sswenson at bakersfield.com | Saturday, Jul 15
2006 8:40 PM 
Last Updated: Saturday, Jul 15 2006 8:44 PM

A man who appeared to be in his mid-40s was found dead
on the Pacific Crest Trail northeast of Sand Canyon,
Kern County sheriff's deputies reported Saturday.

 The man who had identification that indicated he
lived in another state had two empty water containers
in his backpack, Sgt. Mike Kirkland said.

The man's identity has not been confirmed and the
cause of his death is pending an autopsy, Kirkland
said.

He was found Friday at about 5 p.m. right on the
Pacific Crest Trail, a popular hiking trail that
stretches from Mexico to Canada, Kirkland said. 

But the trail is less used in the desert-like Kern
County section, he said. It appeared the man may have
been dead on the trail for two days or more, Kirkland
said.

The body was about four or five miles north of Highway
58 near Cache Peak, the sergeant said.

A small group of off-road motorcyclists and quad
runners discovered the body and then reported the find
to sheriff's deputies.

The trail was among hilly desert brush and small
trees, Kirkland said. It is not unusual for
backpackers to spend days, weeks or months on the
trail -- veering off to get supplies from stores along
the way, Kirkland said.

"Hikers who go alone love it," Kirkland said. "They
are really passionate about it."

Deputies had not yet had a chance to check with stores
to determine when the man was last seen alive, he
said. He thought there was a creek within a couple
miles of the body, but he wasn't sure if it had water
in it, the sergeant said.

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