I got an email today that really tore at my heart so I felt it only fitting that I write this post.
It’s been almost two years since Martha Claassens husband, Fred, disappeared while on a short, two day backpacking trip in the Hoover Wilderness by the northeastern corner of Yosemite.
On July 31, 2003 Fred Claassen entered the Hoover Wilderness from Twin Lakes. He had planned on taking photos of the Sawtooth Ridge area. His plan was to hike into Crown Lake over Mule and Burro passes and return to Twin Lakes cross-country via Matterhorn Pass and the Horse Creek drainage.
Claassen was last seen on August 1st 2003 at Crown Lake.
If you should come across anything believed to belong to Fred Claassen or have seen anything we urge you to contact the Mono County Sheriff’s Department at 760-932-7549 or Yosemite National Park at 209-379-1992.
The search area includes Robinson Creek drainage (Barney, Peeler, Robinson, Crown, and Snow lakes), Horse Creek Drainage, and the northeastern part of Yosemite National Park between Mule Pass, Burro Pass, and the Matterhorn.
Claassen typically carried:
- a black Dana Designs Astroplane pack with the Sierra Club Centennial Patch on the lid
- Blue nylon GoLite day-pack containing photo equipment and a tripod
- Portable Sony tape recorder in plastic bag, microphones, and tapes in plastic box
- CD player, CD wallet, gold trekking pole with wood handle
- Sage green GoLite tent, teal-green down sleeping bag, blue Luxury Thermarest sleeping pad
- Black Garcia Bear-Resistant food container, MSR stove, red fuel bottle
- Red down jacket, navy Marmot Precip rain jacket and pants, Teva leather sandals
If you happen to be entering that area, please, report any stray articles of clothing, unattended equipment, unusual odors, or anything you believe might be useful no matter how small. Small clues can help.
Here’s a picture of Claassen in his typical gear.
If you should be planning on backpacking in the Twin Lakes to Crown Lake area please print and carry one of the fliers with you.
Remember, any little bit of information you can supply helps. Once again you can call the Mono County Sheriff’s Department at 760-932-7549 or Yosemite National Park at 209-379-1992.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Martha and Fred’s family.
Comments
One response to “Family Of Missing Hiker Asks For Help”
I’m interested in backpacking in this area, where Claassen was planning to go. So I want to help keep an eye out for any clues. There’s one place on his itinerary I cannot find on my maps though: “Matterhorn Pass.” Does this refer to the saddle that is between Matterhorn Peak and Twin Peaks, just north of the headwaters of Spiller Creek?
Thanks,
Lee