Summer SAR Training 8/24-8/27 by Matt Pope | Sep 1, 2020 | Events Summer SAR Training focused its efforts this year on the continued search for missing person Matthew Kraft. Kraft, a platoon leader with the 1st Battalion/7th Marines at Twentynine Palms, part of the 1st Marine Division based at Camp Pendleton, disappeared after taking leave from the Marine Corps for a two-week backcountry ski trip starting Feb. 24th, 2019. His journey would take him from Independence CA, 190 miles to Bridgeport CA. His plan was to crosscountry ski along the High Sierra Route which is deep into the backcountry. Often times in areas topping more than 11,000 feet. The winter weather had been mild up until the point Kraft departed, however, record breaking snowfall began shortly after. With relentless storms and overwhelming adversites, Kraft never made it to his destination and still to this day is listed as missing.
