Help needed finding missing hiker in Inyo County

The search for a 44-year-old hiker named Ric DeVan, who went missing while hiking in the Bishop Pass / Treasure Lakes area of Inyo County, entered its fifth day today.

DeVan's last known location was the summit of Mt. Goode, where he signed the register book on Friday. In the book, DeVan said he would be traveling to Mt. Johnson, following a route that authorities describe as "treacherous and extremely unstable." The search began after DeVan failed to rendezvous with his family at Treasure Lakes later that day.

Putting a human face on the unfolding drama, DeVan family friend Noella Bishop reached out to the Southern California outdoors community with an e-mailed plea for experienced hikers, climbers and helicopter pilots to help keep the search going. "I am begging for any help you may be able to give," Bishop said.

An experienced mountaineer, DeVan was last seen wearing "a yellow shirt with black side panels, tan pants, light-colored backpack, gray jacket with black trim, a beige or green ball cap and an orange, gold and purple National Geographic bandanna."

Anyone with information on DeVan's whereabouts should contact the Inyo County Sheriff's Department at (760) 878-0383.

Further information is available here.

--Liam Gowing

Comments

[MG]

To the family:

Please do not give up hope. My son went missing last month, we thought he had gotten tired at the wheel and had driven off the cliffs on Hwy 1 somewhere between Cambria and Monterey. He was found safely by law enforcement in the mountains. Please call the military for help. They will assist but you have to ask them. China Lake Naval Air Station is in Inyo County. Navy jets fly over the Sierras all the time and have infrared equipment. Please call them to help you.

All the best to each of you.