The search is underway for Tom Gerbier, a hiker who has not been seen since embarking on a day-trip trek up Mount Whitney on October 17th, 2023. The Inyo County Search and Rescue team released details about Gerbier in a Facebook post, describing him as a French-speaking individual with blonde hair and blue eyes, standing at 6 feet 2 inches, and weighing about 180 pounds.
Rescue teams have made a public plea for assistance. Hikers who summited Mount Whitney are encouraged to inspect their summit register photos for any indication of Gerbier’s name. Additionally, the team requested that those who traversed any trail on the mountain on Tuesday review their photographs, hoping to identify Tom in the backdrop.
At 14,494 feet, Mount Whitney is the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states. Nestled in the vast Sierra Nevada mountain range, which extends 430 miles across eastern California, Mount Whitney is a popular trekking destination. The most frequented route to the summit is a 10.7-mile hike, park officials confirmed. While climbers are advised to employ ice axes and crampons during spring and early summer, such precautions are not customary for early October ventures.
Those with any information regarding Gerbier’s location or well-being are urged to contact the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department at 760-878-0383.
