Irvine man missing after being separated from group during hike to Mt. Baldy summit
Crews continued searching Monday for an Irvine man who went missing while hiking to the Mt. Baldy summit on Sunday.
Sreenivas “Sree” Mokkapati, 52, started his hike with three other people from the Village at Bear Flats to the Mt. Baldy Summit early on Sunday, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. During that hike, Mokkapati was separated from the group.
Searchers from as far away as Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego have joined the search in winter conditions. #LASD https://t.co/Svreseh87y
— L.A. County Sheriff’s Altadena Station (@ALDLASD) December 10, 2019
When the people he was hiking with got back to their car, they called the Sheriff’s Department, officials said.
The Sheriff’s Department said search for Mokkapati started on Sunday and continued throughout the night. Volunteer search and rescue teams were also assisting in the area. Mokkapati was last seen wearing a gray puffy jacket and gray pants.
The hike from the Village at Bear Flats to the Mt. Baldy Summit is approximately an 11-mile trail that is for very experienced hikers, according to AllTrails, a social media website for hikers.
Mokkapati is an experienced hiker who had previously traversed trails with the people in Sunday’s hiking group, according to his friend Ajay Chava.
A blurb about the trail on AllTrails reads – “This trail is primary used for hiking, trail running and bird watching and is best used from June until October.”
“You’ll ascend roughly 6,000 feet in six-and-a-half miles,” according to an AllTrails user who traversed the trail two months ago. “It’s a steep and relentless climb.”
Chava said search crews found fresh footprints on Monday in the area where Mokkapati was last seen.
“We are feeling hopeful because of the experience the Sheriff’s Department has in searching for people,” Chava said. “We believe that he is mobile and just lost at the moment.”
Anyone with information on Mokkapati’s whereabouts can contact the Sheriff’s Department at 909-453-5392 or 909-677-9436. Those who want to remain anonymous can call We Tip at 800-782-7463.