Avalanches, weather delay search for Marine

The search for a missing Marine from Connecticut through avalanche prone areas of California has been put on “limited continuous mode,” according to search officials.

Multiple agencies including Marines from his unit have been searching the mountains of Central Sierra Nevada, California, since First Lt. Matthew Kraft was reported missing March 4.

The 24-year-old Washington native was commissioned as a Marine Corps officer in 2016. He was well trained for the 195-mile hike through California that he started on Feb. 24, said authorities from the Inyo County Sheriff's Office, which is one of the agencies conducting the search.

His father reported him missing March 4, the day he was scheduled to conclude his hike, authorities said.

Search and rescue efforts, by air and ground, have been hampered by avalanches and bad weather, Inyo County authorities said.

His car was found March 8, but no other sign of Kraft has been spotted during a week-long search by air and ground, authorities said in an update posted Saturday.

“Backcountry snow instability and weather issues, including high winds, have been a significant challenge for search crews,” according to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Service. “Both aerial and ground searches have identified avalanche activity, cornices, and snow bridges throughout the wilderness, including along the Sierra High Route” which Kraft had planned on hiking.

The search zone is larger than the state of Rhode Island and not only includes Kraft’s hiking route but multiple points where he

could have exited, the parks service said.

Searches by air with thermal imaging cameras have hit on animal activity, but none have led to any idea where the missing Marine could be, officials said.

“Search and rescue authorities have been unable to locate evidence of Kraft’s location along his planned route,” the parks service said. “The Marine Corps, along with the other assisting agencies, will continue to stand by and support Kraft's family, friends, and Marines during

this difficult time.”

The agency said no other updates on the search for Kraft would be provided unless new information becomes available.

Kraft’s family started a GoFundMe campaign last week to aid in the search but has since suspended the account since the agencies involved cannot accept payments for their work. The family is now encouraging people to donate directly to the volunteer agencies who have aided in the search including the Inyo County Search and Rescue at https://inyosar.com/.

Contributed photo First Lt. Matthew Kraft was reported missing March 4.