Search for Missing Photographer
September 15 to 17, 2007
Glacier Point Road
On September 15th, 2007 at approximately 5:30 PM the Yosemite National Park Emergency Communications Center received a call from the Corcoran Police Department concerning a person that was unaccounted for and believed to be in Yosemite National Park. Ronald Hoggard of Corcoran, California was thought to have come to Yosemite on Friday September 14th on a single day outing to take pictures, and had not returned.
Missing Person Poster
A park-wide BOLO (lookout) notification was issued. The initial trailhead search located Hoggard’s car in the Sentinel Dome/Taft Point pullout off of the Glacier Point Road, indicating that Hoggard was still in the Park. Later investigation revealed that Hoggard’s plan was to compose sunset photographs in the area. He was not prepared to stay out overnight, and planned to return to his car after only several hours.
Once locating the vehicle, it was quickly determined that the subject was now 30 hours overdue, and a search operation was promptly initiated. Yosemite park assets searched throughout the night on Saturday. The California Office of Emergency Services was contacted and state search assets were requested for a large-scale search operation to commence at first light Sunday morning.
On Sunday 9/16, searchers located a crude shelter that was later confirmed to have been built by Hoggard during the night of 9/15. Numerous footprints were found in the area, which revealed Hoggard's direction of travel.
On Monday 9/17, field efforts were planned to focus on the areas surrounding the clues that were located the previous day. Hoggard was located by search team members at 8:30 AM on Monday the 17th. Hoggard was air lifted from a nearby location in the wilderness for further medical evaluation. He was found to be mildly dehydrated after having spent four days and three nights lost in the wilderness, but was otherwise healthy, in good spirits, and uninjured.
Approximately 120 searchers from counties throughout California, Yosemite and Sequoia-King Canyon National Parks, and DNC Parks and Resorts in Yosemite, Inc. participated in the search effort. Dog teams and helicopters were used as well. Participating search and rescue (SAR) teams included those from Fresno, Madera, Marin, Ventura, Tulare, Mono, Los Angeles, Mariposa, and San Bernardino Counties, along with China Lake SAR and Sierra Madre SAR.
Source: SAR Technician David Pope and Park Ranger Keith Lober
Hoggard Shelter found on 9/16/07 by field searchers. Photo by Greg Enright, Mono County SAR
Footprint suspected to be that of Mr. Hoggard. Photo by Greg Enright, Mono County SAR
A smiling Mr. Hoggard, after being located by a search team on day four. Photo by Marin County SAR Team