Missing Dutchman Hunter - Jesse Capen

[SuperstitionGuy]

The following article is about a man missing since November 22, 2009 whose camp was found December 20, 2009 near the old Tortilla Ranch. Has he perhaps asked questions on HAZ prior to his trip and/or have any of you while hiking the Superstitions met a man that meets his description? The Maricopa County Shriff's office is in charge of the search if you have info.

Colo. man missing in search for Lost Dutchman gold mine

1 comment Jan. 17, 2010 02:15 PM
Associated Press

PHOENIX - Arizona
authorities are searching for a Colorado man whose mother says disappeared while searching for the storied Lost Dutchman gold mine.

The Marcicopa County Sheriff's Office has been organizing searches for 35-year-old Jesse Capen since hikers discovered his Jeep near Old Tortilla Ranch on Dec. 20 but have found no trace of him in the desert near the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix.

"It's a pretty desolate area. It looks like you stepped on the moon," said Don Roughan, a sheriff's deputy.

The hikers who found Capen's Jeep said his wallet, backpack, cellphone, food and sleeping bag were also in a tent nearby. About 100 people, dogs and helicopters searched for Capen on Saturday and have covered a 10-mile radius near his tent.

Capen's mother, Cynthia Burnett, said her son was obsessed with the Lost Dutchman mine and had more than 100 books and maps about it. He arrived in Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, on Nov. 22 to begin looking for the mine, Burnett said.

"This is beyond obsessed," she said.

Burnett said she fears her son may have been bitten by a rattlesnake or injured in a fall and then attacked by a bear. She described her son as a "gentle giant" - about 6-foot-4 and more than 200 pounds - who went into the desert unarmed in search of the gold mine, which has been the subject of movies.

She said her son planned to return to Denver by Christmas.

Capen had been working as a bellhop at a hotel in downtown Denver for the past 11 years.

[SuperstitionGuy]

Here's as close as I came Owen, the water was ridiculously high, fast, and cold.

http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?GPS=7431

Yes, I am familiar with where you dropped down off the mesa as well as where it empties into Fish Creek. Have always wanted to go up or down that route but just never took the time. Judging by the route on the mesa you probably walked within a hundred feet or so of those old broken radio parts that I found.

Where you entered Fish Creek is about halfway between the bridge and where Lost Dutch Canyon enters Fish Creek. And yes since you were doing this in January I do believe that the water was really high and moving fast!!!!

[SuperstitionGuy]

Kevin, use this route and description if you do go:
"You can read about that route here thanks to AZLOT69" - http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=2031

The only change I would make is that after you pass through that missing gate at the top of the knoll is to keep going east and not to the right (south) to the little valley between the knolls. There are new cairns that will lead you to the old trail that used to start in that litle valley between the knolls. Also take along a stout hiking staff to push away any catclaw or cactus that has overgrown the old horse trail.

If your unable to do this route before I return I will be walking it from highway 88 and yes it will be at least a 12 mile hike round trip.

[Grasshopper]

Be sure to use your GPS to locate the cave as it is very easy to pass by it because of the trees and other vegetation that exists between the stream bed and the cave.

Owen, I am attaching a .jpg pic here of where you had previously noted where that cave is located. I mapped it out on Natl Geo Topo well over a year ago, but never make it there, so the GPS way point is noted on the attached map (Fish Creek Cave at N33 30.026 W-111 16.177), but I don't have or know of a posted GPS Route down to the creek from the top.

Fish Creek CAVE for 02.24.10.jpg.tpo

(4.39 KiB) Downloaded 180 times

I do not know anyone specifically that has been to the cave, "guarantee" was a poor choice of words on my part. Based on the location I simply think the odds are extremely probable. I hope someone can get out there and verify it.

Owen and Kat have been to the cave (see Kat's old triplog..maybe Q1-2009?). Kat took some pics of the cave and included this above cave way point in her triplog (from Owen). This is where I got the way point from- Kat's hike/triplog there with Owen.

[joebartels]

Been to the cave since Jesse has been missing...

Once again...
http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?L ... 111.269617

[kevinweitzel75]

Owen, I am attaching a .jpg pic here of where you had previously noted where that cave is located. I mapped it out on Natl Geo Topo well over a year ago, but never make it there, so the GPS way point is noted on the attached map (Fish Creek Cave at N33 30.026 W-111 16.177), but I don't have or know of a posted GPS Route down to the creek from the top.

Yea, thats were it shows the cave at on my map. Same program. Just need to get State Series of AZ so I can export maps to my Magellan Triton 400.

[SuperstitionGuy]

10:45 PM Thursday the 6th. Sups Guy has returned to Arizona. Heading out very very early Monday morning to search for Jesse up Fish Creek and Fish Creek Cave. Are there any volunteers out there that would like to experience this trip?

Just a side note. I drove through the Flagstaff 89 Mesa fire this afternoon. Sometime after it jumped highway 89 the Highway Patrol began to lead us through behind a "follow me vehicle". The grass, wood piles and duff under the trees was still ablaze. Lots of smoke, fire vehicles and fire personnell on hand. Off course lots of media as well....

Back fires on the east side stopped the blaze...

[kevinweitzel75]

Owen, would love to go, but I finally got a full time job starting on Mon.

[azbackpackr]

Owen, would love to go, but I finally got a full time job starting on Mon.

Oh, no! Your life of leisure is over! That's terrible! I feel so sorry for you! ;)

Seriously, I hope you like the job.

Sorry Sups guy, for, hijacking the thread, I just couldn't help teasing ol' Kevin.

Wish I had time join you on your search, although by now it is probably too hot down there for this mountain girl.

[kevinweitzel75]

Oh, no! Your life of leisure is over! That's terrible! I feel so sorry for you!

Yea, what do I do!? I have to work now and have to wait for the weekends to hike! I'll get over it. I'm just glad to be back in the work force and not the unemployed.

[johnlp]

I'm interested in going out Monday morning. Are your uniforms standard issue? PM me with details.

[SuperstitionGuy]

I'm interested in going out Monday morning. Are your uniforms standard issue? PM me with details.

PM sent Friday 5:30 PM

Are there any others out there that would like to search Monday morning as well?

[SuperstitionGuy]

Joe B., Johnlp and I hiked up Fish Creek this morning to check out the Fish Creek Cave. Weather was perfect for this trip but there was no sign of Jesse or of his having been up Fish Creek or at the cave. The next trip, weather and resources permitting is to check out Trap Canyon.
Are there any volunteers out there, like someone with a helicopter? ;) :whistle:

[kevinweitzel75]

Sure wish I could have made it Owen. I looked off to the Supes today thinking about you guys. I just spoke to my Brother about the horses. He said everyone that he asked that knew the area declined as soon as he mentioned Trap Canyon. I don't think that you can even get a horse into there can you? (Never seen it). I have taken horses on some pretty rough stuff up in the pan handle if Idaho, but from the way HAZ members have talked about Trap, sounds impossible. Would be nice to have some to cover more ground. Will continue to work on it.

[SuperstitionGuy]

The horses are only needed to get us from the trailhead to the east entrance of Trap Canyon. No way would we take horses into that canyon!

I am game to hike to there and back this week if the weather remains as cool as it is. But I would hike it in the dark from Peters Trailhead to where Jesse camped and then in the early morning light to Trap Canyon. I would then stay overnight and hike back out very early the next morning returning to Peters Trailhead using the same route. Unless of course I had access to a helicopter or at least a horse.

[sneakySASQUATCH]

Are there any volunteers out there, like someone with a helicopter?

Don't have one(helicopter), but if you can get access I'll fly you in. Unfortunately, I'm stuck flying them for another 1 1/2 weeks to pay bills this month before I get to come home and hike :sorrry: Maybe you could rope the Fulton Homes Owner guy into it? Doesn't he volunteer himself and his personal helicopter for Search and Rescue in Phoenix?

[kevinweitzel75]

I acually worked for Fulton Homes for about two years. The owner's (Ira Fulton) son flies. His name is Doug Fulton. Most of my contacts over there have been laid off like most superintendents. I will make a phone call tomarrow. I doubt anything will come of it, but it won't hurt to try. The Fultons do donate a crap load of money, mostly to ASU.

[big_load]

I'll be available for a few days after the 22nd, but I assume it will be too hot by then.

[SuperstitionGuy]

I attended the SSAR monthly meeting last night and discovered that there has been very little if any ground searching south of Jesse's campsite. This includes the entrance to Trap Canyon which is south south-east maybe a mile and a half away or less from his campsite. The reason being that both the MCSO and various search organizations have been working on the assumption that Jesse was interested in the old prospects in and around Tortilla Mtn. which is north of his campsite.

With the increasing temperatures and lack of four wheel drive transportation I will not be going out the rest of this week or for the rest of the summer. My wife and I will also most likely be absent from the U.S. the next two years to serve an L.D.S. mission overseas. Therefore if any of you can in the near or far future examine carefully the east entrance to Trap Canyon and find the trap and check it out, it would be very helpful. If you accomplish this search please pass on to Robert Cooper of Superstition Search and Rescue that you have done so as well.

You can reach SSAR through their website at: http://www.superstition-sar.org/
:thanx:

[te_wa]

http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?ZTN=1289&M=6
i might suggest looking into upper Peters with an emphasis on Cottonwood canyon. ive just had a hunch about cottonwood, that is all.

[nonot]

Wait a minute, they think Jesse climbed to the top of the big hill just to go back to the bottom to search for gold??? By the looks of it he was a pretty big fellow who probably doesn't like climbing hills.

I'll likely be out in the Supes late fall, there's a couple of things I want to check out in that area anyways.

Te-wa, I want to check that out too, but it seems a long shot to look that far for Jesse, I figure if he went all the way to Cottonwood, he'd take his tent with him. Wasn't the dead motorcycle guy found 100ft from his bike, and noone saw him for a week with heavy searching.