On the afternoon of Thursday, May 1st, the park received a report that a 21-year-old man had gotten separated from his group while on an extended trip in the park wilderness and was missing. The Sierra Institute, an extension of Humboldt State University, was conducting a seven-day-long wilderness skills course in the Redwood Meadow area of Sequoia National Park. On the afternoon of April 30th, Matthew Gleason became separated from his group. The other members of the group conducted a search for him that day; when that proved unsuccessful, two members hiked out to get help. A helicopter from the California Highway Patrol conducted an aerial search for Gleason with no success. Rangers hiked in and met with the rest of Gleason’s group. They were escorted out of the backcountry while other rangers began an investigation. The search continued on Friday, with three teams of rangers searching on the ground, including a search dog and handler. A helicopter contracted by the National Park Service searched the area and located Gleason along the drainage of a creek just after noon. After confirming his identity, they dropped food and water to him because there was no safe landing site in the area. Rangers hiked to Gleason’s location, reaching him around 4 p.m. Gleason was in good condition. He’d lost a boot while crossing a stream and was therefore unable to hike out. Rangers had the helicopter drop a pair of boots and additional supplies. They then hiked out with him, arriving at the trailhead at 9 p.m.
