Hiking dangers at Yosemite

After I read “Under the Stars or 4 Stars?” [June 24], I felt it necessary to warn your readers that other dangers besides bears roam in Yosemite National Park.

In June 2005, my brother Michael Ficery set out for a weeklong camping and hiking trip in the Hetch-Hetchy area. He has not been seen since. There was an extensive search, but no clues have ever turned up.

My brother had more than 35 years of hiking and camping experience.

Hikers need to be aware that in parts of the park, there are few warning signs that indicate cliffs are close by.

People should never venture outside camps alone; you can become disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings.

I hope that your readers listen to these warnings and that they and their families will never have to endure what my family and my brother’s friends have had to go through.

Robin A. Ficery

Whittier