'Experienced' hiker goes missing in Northern California mountains, search begins - Update

Eric Ting
SFGate
Sat, 17 Aug 2019 00:00 UTC

Authorities are searching for a missing hiker in Northern California who hasn't been seen since August 11.

According to the Trinity County Sheriff's Office, 34-year-old Daniel Komins is an "experienced" hiker who embarked on a five-day solo trip to the Trinity Alps, about 75 miles northwest of Redding.

Komins is an emergency medical technician, and was reported missing by his girlfriend on August 14 after failing to return home. Officials said Komins is an EMT, and had a cellphone and GPS tracker with him.

He used his cellphone on August 11 to contact his girlfriend, but the device "has seen no activity" since then. The sheriff's office said his GPS tracker is "not presently operating appropriately" either.

Authorities have been searching for Komins for two days, but have yet to locate him. His unoccupied vehicle was found on Thursday, and other backpackers in the mountains said they saw him on August 11.

Based on the information provided by other backpackers, search teams have expanded their search into additional areas since officials believe Komins may have deviated from his initial itinerary.

Over 40 ground searchers and multiple helicopter teams conducted searches for Komins on Friday, and efforts will continue Saturday.

This story is developing and will be updated as more information is made available.

Comment: Update 8/17/19:

Sadly, Komins remains were found as stated in the following, somewhat vague, report:

According to the Trinity County Sheriff's Office, the body of Daniel Komins, an EMT and volunteer with Blue Lake Fire, was located after a California Highway Patrol helicopter crew spotted what appeared to be a backpack and search efforts narrowed in on the area.

[...]

According to the release, a preliminary investigation indicates that he "may have fallen in the steep and rocky terrain."

"Although this was not the outcome that was wanted, the Trinity County Sheriff's Office as well as family members of Komins, wanted to thank the Search and Rescue members as well as all other volunteers, for assisting in bringing Daniel Komins home," the release states.

Read the Trinity County Sheriff's Office release below:
The Search and Rescue efforts pertaining to Daniel Komins continued throughout the day of August 18, 2019.

The twelve Search and Rescue teams, referenced in previous press releases, began searching their respective areas around first light.

During the late morning, a California Highway Patrol helicopter observed what appeared to be a backpack. The backpack had been off trail, between L Lake and Mirror Lake.

Ground search teams, who were already near the area, went to the location of the backpack in an effort to recover it. The backpack was recovered and later determined to have belonged to Komins.

Search and Rescue members continued to search the area near the backpack, and later located Komins, who was deceased.

Komins' remains were flown from the area via helicopter.

A preliminary investigation appears to indicate that Komins may have fallen in the steep and rocky terrain.

Although this was not the outcome that was wanted, the Trinity County Sheriff's Office as well as family members of Komins, wanted to thank the Search and Rescue members as well as all other volunteers, for assisting in bringing Daniel Komins home.

Once additional information is obtained, further press releases shall be issued.

Persons of Interest:
Daniel Komins, Date of Birth: April 12, 1985

Agencies involved:
Trinity County Sheriff's Office
Trinity County Search and Rescue
Trinity County Sheriff's Auxiliary
Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit
Butte County Search and Rescue
California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
California Highway Patrol
California National Guard
Contra Costa County Search and Rescue
Marin County Search and Rescue
Civil Air Patrol
Shasta County Search and Rescue
United States Forest Service