What!? No SPOT?

[hikeaz]

LAKE MONTEZUMA, AZ -- Four hikers were found Monday after getting stranded near Wet Beaver Creek in Northern Arizona over the weekend.

Officials with the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said they received a report of four overdue hikers in the Waldroup Canyon, Wet Beaver Creek wilderness area on Sunday morning.

The man reporting the missing hikers, whose son was one of those missing, said the group arrived at the area on Friday morning and were expected back on Saturday evening.

YCSO said the four hikers, identified as 28-year-old Steven Smith and his 21-year-old wife Megan Smith of Glendale, and their friends, 27-year-old Jeremy Borie and his 24-year-old wife Alana Borie of Phoenix, were reportedly experienced hikers and climbers.

The group had camping gear on hand as well as food and other supplies and was prepared to spend the night if necessary.

Forest patrol deputies said they were able to locate a vehicle belonging the group parked in a trailhead area.

But due to the ages of the hikers, and their reported preparedness for the hike, rescue operations were delayed until Monday morning. Deputies were assisted with aerial search operations by Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue.

YCSO officials said the group was found a little after 10 a.m. on Monday and flown to safety.

The hikers reported that they had not expected the extreme rock climbing and boulder hopping conditions, not to mention the number of deep pools that required swimming and flotation of gear. (OK - so you have and have read SOME of the guidebook, but chose to ignore the MANY DEEP POOLS, and "lots of swimming" parts?)

They told officials a 'canyoneering' guide indicated the hike could be completed in about 16 hours, but rescue personnel said the hike should be allowed at least two to three days to complete.

I believe that the 'guidebook' says "TIME NEEDED: This loophike is about 35km but it's hot and dry on the
mesa top, then lots of swimming back down in the canyon.. Strong fast (well, i guess that they will never consider themselves THAT) hikers can do it in 2 days, but 3 days may be best for some.
MAIN ATTRACTIONS: .... MANY DEEP SWIMMING POOLS

AUTHOR'S EXPERIENCE: With an early morning start he went up the Apache Maid Trail #15, but had to explore in the heat of the day to reach Waldroup Place. Then into the canyon and out the bottom in 2 FULL DAYS with a total walk time of 16 HOURS.



Well.... at least they are publishing their names, so we'll beware.

[joebartels]

Glad they're okay. The kicker isn't the time it's the time frame. This is an early summer (pre-monsoon) jaunt. Granted a wetsuit puts it in the doable column.

Don't hike books, Hike Arizona! Free advice may hurt your ego but it'll likely save your life!

[BobP]

I was planning on doing this one (Wet Beaver Loop) in the spring..maybe I'll wait until early summer. I'm gonna give Apache Maid a second chance as a usefull hike. Gotta love a.....

[hikeaz]

.... Don't hike books, Hike Arizona!

:bigth:

[Jeffshadows]

Since this topic is conducive to doing so, let me just serve as an object lesson to anyone wise enough to listen: Constantly trying to race against a "record" or "personal best" or beat-out what others have posted as guidelines for hiking or climbing times will ONLY get you injured or worse. When used sparingly, these kinds of motivators are quite positive and will help us overcome basic limitations or become more fit. I use my time up a certain trail that I know inside and out to gauge where I am compared to years prior, but will never again hit a trail new to me and laugh at the average time a person experienced with that route has left as a guideline. If you live your life thinking you know better or can do it faster - your outdoor life will suck...or worse. Just look where I've been this entire year...injury after injury.

[BobP]

If it really wasn't doable...I wouldn't say it was :wist: except this one time when it really wasn't but it became.

Good points Jeff.

[hikeaz]

If they would have done the simplest of checking, on Todd's website they would have found...

"En route to Wet Beaver Creek you will have to negotiate 7 drop offs: 1) trail around on the left, 2) trail around on the left, 3) trail around on the right, 4) nasty bush whacking trail around on the left which begins a little ways back from the drop off, 5) climb down on the left, 6) climb down on the right using a large fallen tree, 7) climb down next to a tree on the left, then another climb on the rock on the right. You may want to pass packs for the # 5, 6, 7 climbs. Shortly after the 7th climb you will hit the confluence with Wet Beaver Creek (there is a small tent site on the rocks above the creek). Turn right and start walking down the dry rocky creek bed. After 15 minutes water will appear and the first of many swims. The first two of which occur in quick succession. This is followed by a long dry section, before reaching a series of swims.
The 9 mile hike between Waldroup Canyon and Bell Crossing consist of rock hopping and bush whacking. When you come to a pool you simply wade in one end, maybe swim in the middle, then wade out the far end. Rocks submerged in the water are coated with a film of algae and are extremely slippery. This will slow your progress to less than 1 mph in sections. When possible, forsake the creek bed itself for look for dry boulder fields on the side of the stream since they make for easier traveling."

Of course they would have had to HEED the cautions too.

[dysfunction]

In response to Jeff MacE:
This has been a hard-learned lesson as I've aged

[Jeffshadows]

In response to Jeff MacE:
This has been a hard-learned lesson as I've aged

The sad thing is that I had learned it once before about fifteen years ago and let it slip from memory... ;)

[joebartels]

on Todd's website they would have found...

Hey what happened to his trademark phrase "Hike fast, take chances"

[JoelHazelton]

Well, they didn't do all the necessary research for this particular hike, but at least they were prepared to stay overnight. I'm just wondering why they didn't climb back out and hike back to the trailhead? Never having been in a situation like this, I guess I can't judge too much.

[BobP]

"Hike fast, take chances"

I remember a t-shirt that said "Hike faster I Hear Banjos"

[joebartels]

That wasn't a t-shirt, that was your childhood

(paddle faster)

[BobP]

That wasn't a t-shirt, that was your childhood

I grew up in the east not in...Where are you from again?

[dysfunction]

That wasn't a t-shirt, that was your childhood

I grew up in the east not in...Where are you from again?

Wasn't that in West Virgina anyway?

[BobP]

Wasn't that in West Virgina anyway?

No it was like Oklahoma or Nebraska .

[PaleoRob]

It was in North Carolina, I think.

[BobP]

It was in North Carolina, I think

I actually takes place on a fictional river in North Georgia. The movie pretty much followed the novel.

The Oklahoma/Nebraksa was just a guess...not really

[Jeffshadows]

1_74.jpg

Wasn't that in West Virgina anyway?

No it was like Oklahoma or Nebraska .

[joebartels]

Yeah yeah, ha ha
Paddling down the Illinois in Oklahoma will make you wish you were on some fictional river in Georgia or Bama with the good ol' boys!