The strange disappearance of Harold Drake from Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

January 6, 2018 StrangeOutdoors

Harold Drake, disappeared July 8, 2015, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California.

Revised July 2024

Harold Drake, 76, was last seen on July 8th, 2015, when he told a friend that he was going on a long hike while camping in the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park in Monterey County, California.

Although Harold was retired, he was described as an experienced and physically fit man. He was a high school math professor until he retired.

He took a gallon of water and a small pack containing snacks with him for the hike and planned to return to the campsite that afternoon. But Harold never returned, and his friend reported him missing to authorities at around 10 p.m. that evening.

The search for Harold Drake

The Monterey County Search and Rescue Team (SAR), along with the Monterey County Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR), conducted a search of Pine Ridge Trail and Mt. Manuel Trail, which are the main trails leading out of the park. California State Park Rangers conducted a search of Pfeiffer State Park and adjacent short trails. Another SAR team searched the Big Sur River Gorge, another popular destination leading away from the park.

On August 10th, search and rescue teams from Monterey, Marin, and Santa Cruz County arrived to conduct a further search of the trail. A helicopter from Naval Air Station Lemoore and CHP also assisted with the search.

Harold Drake in his younger days

After an intensive 5-day search by air and ground, the Monterey County Sheriff's search and rescue team called off the effort.

What happened to Harold Drake?

No sign of Harold was found, and to this day, his body remains missing in the wilderness. An acquaintance said Drake was not the kind of hiker to get himself into trouble, having hiked the John Muir Trail, parts of the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Tahoe Rim Trail. But at 76 years old, anything could have happened. It seems unusual that his body was not recovered, given that it would seem unlikely he walked voluntarily off-trail.

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