Fred Comstock was hiking in Yosemite National Park with a female companion and her son whom he had recently met. While at Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, they agreed that Comstock would hike back to Tuolumne Meadows to collect his companion's car and drive it to Yosemite Valley where he would meet with her. Comstock was never seen again and his personal items, including a wallet, were left in the companion's car.