By Mary O’KEEFE

The search and rescue community is mourning the loss of Timothy Staples, 32, whose body was found on Mt. Baldy on Saturday afternoon, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s social media post.

Staples had been a volunteer with the West Valley Search and Rescue for nine years. In his “day job” he was a member of the faculty at Damien High School. He also, reportedly, was a cross-country coach at the school.

Staples was part of the search and rescue effort for missing hiker Sreenivas “Sree” Mokkapati, 52, of Irvine who was last seen on Dec. 8.

“It is always a tragedy when you lose someone, especially someone you have worked with,” said Sgt. John Gilbert, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept.-Crescenta Valley Station.

Montrose Search and Rescue team members had joined the search for Mokkapati earlier in the week, prior to Staples death, working in conditions similar to those that Staples encountered. They had been near the area where Staples lost his life.

“We had team members in the general area on Tuesday, [Dec. 10] and Friday, [Dec. 13],” Gilbert added.

They worked alongside more than 100 search and rescue team members from all over the state. 

“The trail near Mt. Baldy is steep, rocky and narrow,” Gilbert explained.

With the addition of ice and snow, the trails can become extremely dangerous.

“Once you start falling and, if you can’t get an ice axe into the first 10 to 15 feet, it can be devastating,” he said.

Mokkapati has been described as a well-versed hiker; however, with the weather conditions on Mt. Baldy no one is immune to its dangers, not even a trained search and rescue responder.

“[Staples] was a seasoned veteran with West Valley,” Gilbert said. “He was Type 1 certified.”

Type 1 certified is when a member is trained in snow and ice searches, including being able to camp overnight in frigid conditions.

“Type 1 is one of the highest trained team members,” he said. “When it comes to mountaineering, anything can happen.”

According to reports, Staples’ partner was separated from him, which the partner reported to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dept. A search of the area was made by LA County Sheriff’s air support that discovered Staples’ body. He was unresponsive.

“Tim was an exceptional human who gave his life serving others,” San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dept. stated in a post.

In the meantime, the search for Mokkapati has been called off.

“Our team is saddened on both fronts – for the family of the missing hiker [which does not] have closure,” Gilbert said, “and for the tragic loss of team member [Staples].”

Gilbert said MSAR members are supporting each other and learning what they can from this search and its tragic consequences.

“Any season when our search and rescue teams get deployed they are taking a risk,” he said. “Even during moderate [weather] there are still risks.”

Search and rescue teams are composed of volunteers who go through constant training. They work within their area and often, like in the case of the Mokkapati, join other search and rescue teams from California and other states. The loss of a search and rescue member is felt throughout their community.

  Mary Okeefe