People disappearing in Yosemite Park sounds like something out of a mystery movie, but it’s a real thing that keeps happening. The park is massive—over 700,000 acres of wilderness—so it’s easy to get lost if you’re not careful. Sometimes people wander off trails, get injured, or misjudge the weather, and it can be tough for rescuers to find them in such rugged terrain. There are also wild animals, steep cliffs, and fast-moving rivers that can quickly turn dangerous. Some folks believe there’s something more mysterious going on, which fuels all kinds of theories and stories online. But most of the time, it’s a mix of nature’s unpredictability and human error. Credit: Carton Milk: by Akinremi, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, https://skfb.ly/oEYnP food storage: by Cullen328 Jim Heaphy, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bear_resistant_food_storage_canister_1.JPG Animation is created by Bright Side.
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00:00It looks idyllic. A vast green field with granite cliffs in the background and a river flowing through the landscape.
00:08You can see birds flying and people having a picnic. But then, a scream cuts through the laughter.
00:14No, you're not watching some horror movie. This is what happened to a visitor who found a severed hand in Yosemite National Park.
00:22Running into crime scenes in national parks is unfortunately more common than you think.
00:27Yosemite, for example, holds a record of police investigations, making it the second most dangerous park in the U.S.
00:35Not only that, but this is also a pretty huge place, bigger than some countries like Samoa or Luxembourg.
00:42You can see why this is an ideal place for you to become a missing person photo on a milk carton.
00:48Out of everyone who went missing in Yosemite, Patricia Marie Hicks' case is, I think, the most disturbing one.
00:55Remember the hand I mentioned? Well, it was found in 1983 on Summit Meadow by a visitor.
01:02The police tried to find more clues about this crime evidence, but the case eventually went cold.
01:08In 1988, a skull was discovered, but again the case got stuck.
01:13It was only in 2021, with the help of a genetic genealogy test, that the police finally confirmed this was indeed the remains of Patricia, a woman who had been missing since 1982.
01:25However, not every missing person leaves a trace.
01:30This is the case of Sandra Jensen Hughes, last seen in July 2020.
01:36Sandra was camping alone in the nearby Sierra National Forth when she crashed her vehicle.
01:41Passersby offered help, but for some uncanny reason, she refused it.
01:46This was the last time anyone ever saw her.
01:48All her stuff was still at her campsite, except for her sleeping bag, found two and a half miles north of where she crashed her car.
01:57Sandra is not the only person still being searched by the police.
02:01In fact, there are more than 30 cold cases of missing people in Yosemite alone,
02:06including a guy who separated from his group in 2011 at the top of Upper Yosemite Falls,
02:12a man who has been missing since 1972, and even a guy who vanished 116 years ago.
02:21In most cases, people disappear in circumstances less grim than the one involving Patricia Hicks, for example.
02:28But it doesn't make these cases less tragic.
02:31So what are the reasons why people go missing?
02:35First things first, Yosemite Park is the home to nine waterfalls,
02:39including the biggest one in North America, standing at nearly 2,500 feet.
02:44Many people like to visit it to go fishing, kayaking, and hiking.
02:48However, the water stream velocity increases near waterfalls,
02:52and falling from a waterfall is not a woody woodpecker experience.
02:56You'll find yourself stuck in a powerful whirlpool or have an unpleasant meeting with rocks,
03:02most possibly a smashing one.
03:04Another natural reason may be that central California is prone to extreme storms,
03:10which can make the river rise suddenly and even form water spouts.
03:15One more famous attraction in Yosemite National Park are the mountains.
03:19There are more than 10 popular sites, with heights that range from 4,000 feet to 10,850 feet.
03:26Some mountains are so tall, climbers must spend the night in a makeshift camp halfway up the granite wall.
03:34It is quite popular, and even though you need a special permit for these types of rock climbing,
03:39you don't need to be a pro to climb smaller mountains.
03:42This explains why so many people get hurt falling from tall places.
03:46Besides, rock climbing causes permanent damage to the mountains,
03:50and the valley is prone to rock faults.
03:52Now, if you're like me and are terrified of climbing,
03:56the second best option is hiking,
03:58which just so happens to be the number one reason people fall in the first place.
04:03The hikes in Yosemite are some of the hardest hikes in California,
04:06and you can bet even an experienced hiker can make a mistake and get lost.
04:12In 2024, for example,
04:13the body of a former park ranger and pro hiker, Kirk S. Thomas Olson,
04:19was found after he tried to venture along an especially complicated trail.
04:2420-year-old Grace Roloff also lost her life in 2024,
04:28after slipping and falling while descending half-domes climbing cables during a sudden thunderstorm.
04:34And finally, animals.
04:36About 300 distinct species live in Yosemite.
04:39And guess what?
04:41Wild animals are not your pets.
04:44If you're unlucky, you might wander into a mountain lion den,
04:47which is already bad enough,
04:49given that these animals are the type that silently stalk their prey.
04:53Not a fun way to go.
04:55But the ones you really should be afraid of are black bears.
04:58They usually only eat tall grass and berries,
05:01but they will break into your car, tent, or lodge if they smell food.
05:06And unlike mountain lions,
05:08black bears are not afraid of humans.
05:10Now, the National Park Service makes it clear that rescue is not a certainty,
05:16and that you must be prepared to get yourself out of whatever trouble you got yourself into.
05:21But how do I do that?
05:22You might ask.
05:23Well, here are some pro tips to avoid getting caught in a tight spot.
05:27First, try not to do solo trips.
05:32If you really want to have a me time,
05:34then let others know about your plans, like all of them.
05:38Most of those people went missing because their families didn't know about their plans.
05:43Secondly, always pack an emergency supply bag with stuff like a flashlight,
05:47compass, knife, multi-tool, paracord, and a thermal blanket.
05:52Remember, you are not Bear Gryllis,
05:54and real life is not a fun episode of Naked and Afraid.
05:57Although, if not careful, you might just end up like that.
06:02Heat is also a big problem in Yosemite.
06:05So stay hydrated and go for a hike during cooler parts of the day.
06:09Seriously, drink water.
06:11The lack of water and food can lead to disorientation,
06:14a fatal symptom if you are literally in the middle of nowhere.
06:17But I'm visiting Yosemite during the winter.
06:20Well, one more reason to keep your water and food levels up.
06:24Because you burn more calories when hiking in the snow.
06:28Survival expert Jesse Krebs also recommends
06:31always bringing a whistle with you if you need to call for help.
06:35Especially if you haven't planned your trip well, which is a huge mistake.
06:40Wilderness is not a place for much improv, I'm afraid.
06:44Now, when it comes to hikes,
06:46some are so steep they require a cable route to help hikers.
06:49If the cables are down for some reason, avoid these areas.
06:53And do not rely on the internet or phone services to communicate with others
06:57if you find yourself in danger.
06:59Because the connection in parks is usually not particularly good.
07:03Oh, and don't feed or engage with wildlife.
07:07I know bears are friendly-shaped, but unfortunately, they are not your friends.
07:13Learn how to safely store your food,
07:15so wild animals don't bother your camp and do not feed them.
07:19Fail to comply, and the park might give you a $5,000 fine.
07:23Also, be careful of where and how you drive.
07:28Car crashes are the second most common reason
07:31why people need medical assistance in national parks.
07:34So, use tire chains during icy periods,
07:37wear your seatbelts,
07:38and don't go driving around like you're Dominic Toretto.
07:41And just in case I didn't stress this enough,
07:44watch out for the weather.
07:46Not just because water streams are dangerous,
07:49but also because lightning is a common occurrence in Yosemite.
07:52A lightning bolt may not strike you,
07:54but it may strike a tree, causing a fire or making it fall.
07:58A thunderstorm may trigger rock slides or make a climb slippery,
08:02like it happened to Grace Roloff.
08:05And finally, be careful with strangers, okay?
08:08Remember, stranger equals danger, etc.
08:11Well, that surely was fun, light, and not terrifying at all, right?
08:16Well, hopefully now you'll be wary of strangers,
08:19nature, and everything in between.
08:21Stay safe!
08:22Be smart about it and enjoy the park!
08:28That's it for today.
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