A total of 19 search and rescue personnel from four Southern California counties searched Wednesday morning for a 52-year-old Irvine man who went missing while hiking with three other people at Mount Baldy.
Sreenivas “Sree” Mokkapati and his group started hiking from the Village at Bear Flats to the Mt. Baldy Summit on Sunday morning, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. At some point, Mokkapati became separated from the group.
Sheriff’s search and rescue teams from San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern and San Diego counties conducted a coordinated search, with air support. Volunteer search and rescue teams are also deployed on the mountain.
Teams searched in snow covered conditions at elevations of about 7,000 feet and in some higher elevations the snow is waist deep, the department said.
“Mr. Mokkapati is considered an experienced hiker and has hiked Mount Baldy a number of times,” the SBCSD said. “He was prepared for a day hike and has limited supplies.”
Mokkapati was last seen wearing a gray “puffy” jacket and gray pants. Anyone with information about his whereabouts was urged to contact the Fontana Sheriff’s Station at 909-453-5392, or 909-677-9436. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME.