Climbing
On Saturday, November 11, 2023, at about 8:53 p.m., Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call for an overdue mountaineer. Marc Rockwell-Pate was reported overdue by his family after not returning from a climb of Mt. Agassiz. Mt. Agassiz is a 13,899-foot peak near Bishop Pass in the southern Sierra Nevada, California.
Mr. Rockwell-Pate called his father-in-law from the summit at 12:30 p.m. and said he would descend and return to the trailhead, where he planned to meet his wife. Mr. Rockwell-Pate was described as an experienced and fit hiker and climber with extensive survival training from his time in the United States Navy.
A search of the area was planned for first light Sunday morning (11/12). CHP Central Division Air Operations Helicopter H-40 from Fresno was requested to assist with the search. H-40 conducted several aerial searches between the summit of Mt. Agassiz and the trailhead. H-40 was unable to locate Mr. Rockwell-Pate or any clues. Concurrently, the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) team was dispatched to the trail and performed a ground search for several hours. This search was conducted between the trailhead and Mt. Agassiz. SAR was unable to locate Mr. Rockwell-Pate or any clues.
Ground search efforts were suspended until the following day because of nightfall. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) requested a high-altitude infrared and thermal imaging plane, which provided over two hours of nighttime aerial searching but could not locate any clues.
Additional resources were requested through Cal OES, including a Chinook Helicopter from the California Army National Guard in Sacramento. The Chinook was requested for the morning of Monday, November 13. Extensive ground and aerial searches were planned for first light.
On Sunday, at about 11:00 p.m., a hiker reported finding a deceased person on the west face of Mt. Agassiz at about 12,800 feet. On the morning of November 13, SAR and CHP Inland Air Operations Division Helicopter H-82 were dispatched to the area. Ground teams began hiking the trail toward Mt. Agassiz. China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station Rescue Helicopter VX-31 also assisted with another rescue on Mt. Whitney with Inyo SAR. Once that mission was completed, VX-31 responded and assisted by inserting SAR members above Bishop Pass.
Inyo SAR climbed up the west slope of Mt. Agassiz and arrived at the deceased person, whose identity was later confirmed as Marc Rockwell-Pate. H-82 assisted Inyo SAR by hoisting the decedent and transporting them to the Inyo County Coroner’s Office.
Marc Rockwell-Pate served in the US Navy for over 17 years as a photographer, media specialist, and public affairs officer. He was well-known for his passion for mountaineering and photography, and those who admired his adventurous spirit knew of his hobbies.
We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the Rockwell-Pate family and his friends. We want to thank the California Highway Patrol, China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, California Army National Guard, and Cal OES for their assistance with this mission.
Inyo SAR is an all-volunteer, unpaid, professional non-profit 501(c)3 organization that works in cooperation with and under the authority of the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office. Thanks to donations, Inyo SAR can provide search and rescue services to Inyo County and its visitors: Inyosar.com/donate.
