SoCal Hiker Still Lost On Mount Baldy, Day 3 Of Search

IRVINE, CA — It's been three days since a 52-year-old Irvine man was last seen in the Bear Flats area of Mount Baldy, heading toward the summit. The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department, along with multiple search and rescue units from across southern California, is back at work seeking the lost hiker somewhere on the icy mountain.

Search and Rescue volunteers from Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties continue to scour the snow-covered slopes, while two helicopters search from above. Some rescue teams will be inserted on specific areas of the mountain, a sheriff's department spokesperson said. All seek any sign of Sreenivas "Sree" Mokkapati and his direction of travel, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department reported.

Early Sunday, Mokkapati became split from his four-person hiking group. His fellow hikers reported him missing after he failed to return to his car.

He was last seen wearing a gray "puffy" jacket and gray pants and has not been seen or heard from since. Multiple notes, some left in plastic bags to protect them from the rain and snow, remain tucked under the vehicle's windshield wipers. Each letter shows the concern of his fellow hikers and family, all still waiting for word and hoping for the best—that crews will find him safe somewhere on the mountain.

West Valley Search and Rescue teams are working with the sheriff's department to coordinate the problematic mission: to determine which trails he could have taken and the best chance for finding him.

"(He) is considered an experienced hiker and has hiked Mount Baldy a number of times," Sgt. Al Huff said. Still, he was prepared for a day hike, only, and had limited supplies.

On Wednesday, the search will take place at an elevation of about 7000-7500 feet.

In some areas, the snow is waist-deep. Slopes are covered with snow and ice, with searchers traversing waterfalls and avalanche debris fields, a spokesperson for the Montrose Search and Rescue team described.

Though Mokkapati remains unfound, Tuesday's search and rescue teams found two other hikers, in need of rescue.

"One hiker fell off a trail near the summit," and his fellow hiker also required rescue, a spokesperson from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department reported. Two helicopters hoist-rescue the pair from the mountain.