Hiker missing in the Supes

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Aug 19 2002 7:53 pm

I just saw this story about a hiker missing in the Superstitions. Anyone seen an update on this story?

azhiker96 · Post by **azhiker96** » Aug 20 2002 7:04 am

It does seem strange that she abandoned her cell phone unless the batteries went dead. Then it would just be extra weight. Just a thought, if you take a cell phone with you, turn it off. That way you conserve the batteries in case you happen to need the phone. Or, I did see solar rechargeable batteries for cell phones in Skymall. I think they were about $60 and available for several popular models of phone.

GTG_AZH · Post by **GTG_AZH** » Aug 20 2002 1:29 pm

They found her today around noon, alive and well. Why she left her stuff behind who knows. No word on what book yet either.

GTG

joebartels · Post by **joebartels** » Aug 20 2002 1:35 pm

That's amazing!!!

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Aug 20 2002 1:43 pm

GTG wrote:They found her today around noon, alive and well. Why she left her stuff behind who knows. No word on what book yet either.

GTG

Good news!! Thanks for the update!

Wiz · Post by **Wiz** » Aug 20 2002 2:32 pm

I saw a movie just like this, where she had actually been replaced by an alien pod that grew into human form, looking to feast on human brains (cooked, with fava beans)! They better keep an eye on her for awhile!

Keep watching the skies!

Nighthiker · Post by **Nighthiker** » Aug 20 2002 2:48 pm

Wish they would provide additional information as to intended destination, location of equipment found and where she was located. As I write this, Electra Glide in Blue is on and Willie is rambling about being in the Superstition Mts. Good news (at this point) and I appreciate all of the work the people have done during the search.

azhiker96 · Post by **azhiker96** » Aug 20 2002 5:37 pm

Glad she's okay. One of the guys on the news said the cell phone dropped out of her fanny pack. They did a poor job of pointing out where she was from a helicopter. I think she was about one ridge West of Weaver's Needle. Hopefully one of the newspapers will put a map in an article.
It's a good idea to let someone know where you're going and when to expect you back. I give my wife a time which is way past when I really expect to get back. That way if something comes up or I see something interesting I have time to investigate. How much extra time depends on the length of the trip. You have to balance out your need for security with your longing for adventure. One trip my return was delayed a few hours while I waited for a flash flood to dissapate. I'd hate to have to rush crossing something like that just to make sure that searchers weren't called out. I was safe, high and dry and eating chocolate pudding while I waited out the water. I just didn't have cell phone signal.
I would not want to see a signout/signin area on this website. I don't want anyone to get lost or left in the wilderness but I also don't want to keep tabs on everybody. I think it's good enough to let a friend or relative know where you're going. BTW, did anyone hear more about the 27 yr old Scottsdale man they found dead during this search? Did he live alone? Have any next of kin been found?

RU Kidding · Post by **RU Kidding** » Aug 20 2002 6:20 pm

I'll bet she survived on rimberries!! :P

azhiker96 · Post by **azhiker96** » Aug 20 2002 6:29 pm

...after she wrestled them away from the bears!!

joebartels · Post by **joebartels** » Aug 20 2002 6:31 pm

I gotta admit I'm impressed. She looked better after two days then I usually look after four hours in the Sups!

azhiker96 · Post by **azhiker96** » Aug 20 2002 6:35 pm

It sounds like she reacted well to her situation. They reported that she drank water from the recent monsoons and that she stayed in the shade of a tree. So basically, once she realized she was lost, she stayed near a water source, put out markers and conserved her energy.

Daryl · Post by **Daryl** » Aug 21 2002 11:38 am

I was out there searching the last few days.

She probably threw the phone. I almost threw mine. The only place I could get mine to work was parker pass. My wife got hers to work on freemont saddle but dead everywhere else. The clothes and book were not hers.

Superstition Search and rescue was out there sunday evening and searched through the night. My search team came in Monday morning at 5am.

Here's what lesson should be learned. The SOS was found Sunday night. At the point she made that she knew she was lost and in trouble. Where she made the SOS there was water and plenty of shade. Had she stayed there she would have been found sunday night.
Apparently she climbed to the top of a mesa, and left the trail. We concentrate the search on the trails.
Two things. Do not move, and do not leave the trail. We probably had evey inch of trail covered by monday afternoon. Had she been on the trail and not moving we would have found her by then.
If you do leave the trail, leave something on the trail so we will find you. a hat, a bra, a shirt... leave a note in rocks or write in the dirt...

It was a long hard two days but finding her alive was worth every bit or effort.

joebartels · Post by **joebartels** » Aug 21 2002 12:01 pm

It all seems a little odd to me.

Weren't there mini camps set up at major intersections Monday night with some sort of light? How could all this activity go on and she not notice anybody?

What mesa did she climb? Bluff Spings Mtn, Music, Hermans, Picacho, Coffee...??

How in the world can you be up there and not happen to notice all the activity below???

I realize the second you go away from the edge of the mesa all sound below drowns out. It's just tough to believe anybody lost, that is hearty enough to survive in the desert, could be so unaware of their surroundings.

Gee, I must be cranky today

I really am glad it all turned out good!

Nighthiker · Post by **Nighthiker** » Aug 21 2002 3:35 pm

Why did the Sheriff's close Peralta Road during the search ? Ruined a nighthike Monday night.

ck_1 · Post by **ck_1** » Aug 21 2002 4:08 pm

I agree Joe...She did look good....and all she wanted was a DIET PEPSI!!!! I'm sure you can relate.

I wouldn't want a sign out/sign in sheet on HAZ either, but I will send in a sample itinerary sheet that others could model and use with their own friends and family...

Three days lost in the sups and she wants Diet Pepsi...I told you guys...it is the necter of the gods..

Daryl · Post by **Daryl** » Aug 21 2002 4:31 pm

Obviously the entire area was closed to prevent everybody and their brother from going in there. Sorry if it ruined your hike.

As for how she didn't see us, that's a question to ask her. We were there. I spent monday night at the dutchman/bull pass intersection. I didn't have a light on when I slept, but I slept on the trail so she'd have to trip over me to get by. I also had a space blanket, and with the moon light as bright as it was, I was pretty visable.
My guess is, she climbed up the mesa sunday evening before all the trail runners were out. From the mesa she couldn't see us on the trails and we couldn't see her. I don't know what mesa she was on. She said she realized the helecoptors weren't noticing her up there so she came down on tuesday morning. Once she was back on the trail she was easily visable in an area people were looking and they found her.
This can't be understated. If they are looking for you, the very first thing they do is run all the trails. Stay on the trail and don't move, they will find you. Plus, you will live longer if you are not moving and climbing. Find a spot on the trail with shade and a near by water source. If you leave the trail for any reason, leave something on the trail that identifies you.

Thankfully she's alive and well.

azhiker96 · Post by **azhiker96** » Aug 22 2002 7:51 am

Great advice Daryl!!

As a side note, I'm also happy she didn't light a forest fire as a signal.

ck_1 · Post by **ck_1** » Aug 22 2002 9:19 am

There's an article on page B9 of today's Republican, sorry, Republic about the hiker, but moreso about being smart and safe. On of the people interviewed called Camelback/Squaw "playgrounds" campared to the sups...

I thought it was a good quote

Nighthiker · Post by **Nighthiker** » Aug 25 2002 8:46 pm

The Arizona Republic (Sunday August 25th Section V page one) article Seven Questions You need answered was asked to the lady lost in the Superstitions. She stated she was on trail 104 came to a tral junction with 104 and according to Lela Frizzell the sign said trail 104 one way and Southby Springs the other. She headed off down the trail to Southby Springs thinking it was a shortcut whereupon it became a three day ordeal.

Fritzski · Post by **Fritzski** » Aug 26 2002 11:43 am

Does anybody know which trailhead she went in on, or where exactly she was found? I doubt she had gone that far - given her age, being alone, the heat, equipped as she was, and the fact that she came to this "intersection" at only 11:30AM.

I have never heard of a "Southby Springs" or anything like it. The closest would be "Second Water Springs", but if she was on #104 out of First Water TH, I believe the signs do not say "Springs", but only Second Water TRAIL. There would be a "Bluff Springs Trail" intersection with #104, but that is basically right at the Peralta parking lot. The two trails do not merge again till way up at the SE corner of Bluff Springs Mt. Then there is a Whiskey Springs Trail intersection off #104, but that hardly sounds anything like "Southby".

BTW According to the experts, trying to get water out of a barrel cactus is not a good idea. There is no water, but only a pulp or astringent milky liquid that can make you sick and vomiting will only worsen dehydration. I also keep reading where certain individuals have resorted to drinking their own urine. This, too, has the effect of only worsening a bad situation.

Hiker missing in the Supes

Hiker missing in the Supes

Found

Re: Found