Joel Thomazin Missing in Yosemite
We have limited information on the disappearance of Joel Thomazin. If you have verifiable updates—search details, sightings, or recovered items—please email site″at”vanished.us.
A Possible Link to Stanislaus State University
This is a recent case, and normally, I avoid adding fresh disappearances until more information is available. But this one stands out.
My research suggests a direct connection to another missing person in the same region.
- James Youngblom, a professor at Stanislaus State, was found dead on June 25th, 2021 at LeConte Falls.
- LeConte Falls is only a few miles from where Joel Thomazin was last seen.
- Joel’s LinkedIn profile lists him as a Sonora Union High graduate and a Stanislaus State alumnus.
Two people. Same university. Same region of Yosemite. Three months apart.
Coincidence? Maybe. But it’s enough to raise eyebrows.
Joel Thomazin Missing in Yosemite
Joel Thomazin was hiking solo in Yosemite National Park. He was last seen on September 6th, 2021, beginning his hike in the Hetch Hetchy area. He planned to hike from Hetch Hetchy to Lake Eleanor.
Joel was:
- 5'10"
- brown hair
- physically fit
- experienced outdoors
He carried:
- a Kelty yellow/gray backpack
- a green sleeping bag
- a bright red inflatable kayak
- a blue/green hammock
- tan or blue zip‑off pants
Joel was married to Amanda Thomazin.
The Search
At least 16 National Park SAR members searched for Joel, along with:
- a search dog
- Tuolumne County SAR
- a helicopter
- kayaks
- a boat
Despite the scale of the operation, none of Joel’s personal items have ever been found.
No backpack. No kayak. No hammock. No clothing. Nothing.
The search remains active in a limited, continuous capacity.
Vanished.us Says
This case is unsettling.
Joel had a bright red inflatable kayak—the kind of item that should be visible from the air. He had a hammock, a sleeping bag, a backpack, clothing, and gear. None of it has surfaced.
Not a scrap.
And then there’s the proximity to LeConte Falls, where another Stanislaus State figure died just months earlier. Two people connected to the same university disappearing or dying in the same remote corridor of Yosemite within a short timeframe is… unusual.
Joel’s disappearance fits the Yosemite pattern:
- experienced hiker
- remote area
- solo
- last seen on a trail
- massive search
- no trace