GRANDVIEW CAMPGROUND, CA. July 15, 2019 – On day four of a massive multiagency search, missing hiker Sheryl Powell was located alive by ground search team members near the Montenegro Springs area (below where her dog was located earlier that same day). Powell and her small 5-pound dog were reported missing by her husband on July 12 from the Grandview Campground in the Bristlecone Pine Forest area. After selecting a remote campsite, Sheryl Powell (a 60 year old woman from Huntington Beach) exited the vehicle to take the dog out for a bathroom break while Mr. Powell re-positioned their Jeep. Mr. Powell could not locate Mrs. Powell or their dog once he parked the Jeep. After searching for almost an hour, Mr. Powell alerted law enforcement through his satellite device.
Inyo Search and Rescue and Inyo Sheriff began searching immediately after receiving the notification on July 12. Searching continued on July 13 and 14 with trained search and rescue teams assisting from throughout California*. In addition to ground search teams, dog teams have also been deployed to the area, and aerial reconnaissance has been provided Naval Air out of Lemoore, CHP-Inland Division Air Operations (equipped with a FLIR device in order to detect thermal imaging), CHP-Central Division Air Operations, and California National Guard.
Challenges included multiple gullies, shale slopes, low shade, direct sun, and rattlesnakes. Grandview Campground is located at 8,600 feet and is the closest campground to the ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.
The investigations portion of the Powell search continues.