Timothy Barnes Vanished in Yosemite
Timothy “Tim” Barnes went missing in Yosemite National Park in 1988, in the same general region where Stacy Ann Arras disappeared in 1981, and Jeff Estes vanished in 1976. Stacy vanished near Sunrise Lakes—an area not far from where Timothy would later disappear. Three people, three different years, one small section of Yosemite.
Timothy was 24 years old, born on 21st September 1963. He stood 6'4", weighed around 180 lbs, and had several identifiable features: a blue discolouration on his upper lip, a wart on the right side of his nose, greyish‑colored teeth, and an orthopaedic pin in his left ankle.
Timothy Barnes Goes Missing in Yosemite
On 5 July 1988, Timothy was dropped off at the Murphy Creek Trailhead. His plan was to hike the trail up to Polly Dome Lakes, a roughly three‑mile route. Polly Dome itself rises 1,640 feet above Tenaya Lake—a massive granite formation dominating the landscape.
That detail is worth noting. Granite and water appear again and again in Yosemite disappearance cases. This area has a history.
Timothy was expected back by 4:30 PM. He never returned.
The next day, Timothy’s friends reported him missing to park officials. An extensive search of the surrounding area turned up nothing. Ground teams, aerial support, and repeated sweeps of the trail system all failed to produce a single clue. On 19 July 1990, two years after his disappearance, Timothy Barnes was declared legally dead. His body has never been found, nor has any of his gear or personal effects.
Vanished.us Says
This hike shouldn’t have been a problem. The weather was good, the trail is straightforward, and if you look at the area on Google Earth, it’s relatively open. Yes, there are trees—but it’s not a cliffside scramble or a maze of canyons. There are simply not many places to vanish.
And yet, somewhere between the parking lot at Tenaya Lake and Polly Dome Lakes, Timothy disappeared.
If he stuck to his plan, he’s clearly not on the trail. That suggests he reached the top section—the only part of the route that requires going off‑trail to reach Polly Dome Lakes. If Timothy is still up there, the only things likely to remain now are the orthopaedic plate and pin in his ankle, and perhaps fragments of the rubber from his shoes.
Keep a lookout, people.