The Search for Esmin Garmendia
June 8th through 11th, 2008
Glacier Point Area / Illilouette Creek Drainage
On Sunday June 8th, 2008, at about 7:30pm, Yosemite Dispatch received an emergency phone call reporting that the caller’s friend had gone missing from the Washburn Point area at about 3:30pm. A Wawona Ranger responded to begin an investigation and complete a missing person report. The missing subject, Esmin Garmendia, was described as despondent during the past weeks. Garmendia, a citizen of Honoduras, was a resident of Fresno, CA. Garmendia had asked to be alone at Washburn Point to read his Bible; when his friends returned for him, he had disappeared. A hasty search of the Panaroma Trail and Illilouette Ridge was made that night, but no significant clues were found.
On June 9th a full-scale search was initiated, using resources from throughout the park. Ground search teams, dog teams, and the park contract helicopter were deployed into the area where the subject was last seen. Trail blocks were deployed in order to establish perimeter containment of the search area as well as to interview everyone traveling in the area. Although no one saw Garmendia, these interviews were useful to the search effort because they established relevant negatives. The fact that someone hiking in the search area didn’t see anything is important information for search planners to know--knowing where he isn't is a step to finding where he is.
On June 10th California State’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) authorized the deployment of additional resources to assist Yosemite in its search effort. The search operation quickly grew to include over 200 personnel. Participating agencies included Mono Sheriff's Department, Tuolumne Sheriff's Department, San Mateo Sheriff's Department, Marin Sheriff's Department, Santa Clara Sheriff's Department, Ventura Sheriff's Department, Fresno Sheriff's Department, Contra Costa Sheriff's Department, Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department and Sierra Madre Sheriff's Department, as well as the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit, China Lake Search and Rescue, and the California Conservation Corps (CCC). Multiple clues were found, but no significant leads were established. By the end of June 10th, the point last scene (PLS), surrounding areas and creek drainages had been heavily saturated. Helicopter searches had concentrated on cliff band areas surrounding Glacier Point. Investigations were ongoing at this point to confirm that the subject was in fact still in the park.
On Wednesday, June 11th, at 2:15pm the large-scale multi-day search effort for Esmin Garmendia ended successfully when he was found alive and well by helicopter spotters in a rugged area of wilderness near Mt. Starr King. Garmendia was evacuated via helicopter and flown to the Awahnee Meadow for medical evaluation. Further interviews concluded that Garmendia had consciously departed Washburn Point and traveled off trail to the Mt. Star King area. It appeared that Garmendia might have been aware of his location in the backcountry, but was not attempting to be located by searchers nor make his way back to the road. Garmendia had carried no food or other provisions, but was drinking water out of the streams in the area, and appeared physically healthy after three nights without food. Garmendia was taken into medical custody for further evaluation, then released to the custody of the Department of Homeland Security.
The search effort covered 23 square miles. In the end, the subject had traveled over 3 miles from Washburn Point to the eastern boundary of the search area. He traveled entirely cross country, yet crossed over several well traveled trails during the 4 days.
Source: David Pope
Edited by Nate Knight
Final GIS report for the search area. Use of detailed planning maps like this one were an important part of the search's success. Created by Paul Doherty and David Pope.