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Crews looking for missing hiker
By Alexis Bechman

November 16, 2010
Tonto Rim Search and Rescue volunteers and Gila County Sheriff officers are currently searching for an overdue hiker.

The man, whose name has not been released, was last heard from nine days ago and is believed to be hiking near the Mt. Peeley trail or Sheep Mountain, off Forest Road 201, southwest of Payson.

The Gila County Sheriff’s Office first received a call that the man was overdue Monday, Nov. 15 about 9 p.m.

“The hiker has not been heard from since Nov. 7 and frequents the Mazatzal Mountain Wilderness area,” according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

The missing hiker’s vehicle was located at the Mt. Peeley trailhead.



Six TRSAR volunteers are currently searching the ground. Earlier Tuesday, a Department of Public Safety Ranger helicopter did an aerial search of the area, but found no signs of the man

Mike Mattes and I will be at the Hwy87 Command Post early Saturday morning to help out wherever we can. With much of the search reports centered on the assumption that Joe was making a summit hike, curious if any effort has been made checking out the local abandoned mines. I’ve known Joe to have an interest in ghost towns and abandoned mines. Anyone know if the Cornucopia Mine/Sunflower Mine corridor has been covered by the Joe Domin search teams?

http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=122328

If anyone from Flagstaff is going down to help with the search, I'm offering the use of my SPOT. We can set it up with the relevant email and phone numbers. PM me so we can meet up.

Just a thought, I have a big 10' x 14' cabin tent that could be used for anything. I'm not a very experienced hiker and have alot of things happening this weekend, but at the same time I feel I have to help in some way. If this can be used, PM me. I will be checking every hour or so.

Randal Schulhauser wrote:Anyone know if the Cornucopia Mine/Sunflower Mine corridor has been covered by the Joe Domin search teams?

I corresponded with Joe a few weeks ago about a hike I was taking to those mines. He told me the Cornucopia mine wasn't worth making the trip to so I doubt he headed down that way. The Sunflower Mine would be pretty far to head to from that TH if he was just doing a dayhike.

GTG_AZH has volunteered his truck for use as a shuttle. With that in mind I would be willing to drive shuttle freeing Todd up for hiking. Thank you Cabel and Thoreau for volunteering to take lead roles in this effort. I do hope that seeing these efforts we can put the SAR groups more at ease that we have no wishes to get in the way, but only want to help. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help. I too am willing to hike but thought I may be more help as a shuttle driver since this is a strong need at this point.

I see we also have another volunteer (Michelle) over on AZH offering to drive shuttle. I will go where I am most needed.

I can help out with shuttle on sunday if needed or do what ever else is needed at the command post

From today's Payson Roundup newspaper

Search is ongoing for 68-year-old hiker missing since Nov. 15
November 19, 2010
http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2010/ ... ng-nov-15/

“The hiker has not been heard from since Nov. 7 and frequents the Mazatzal Mountain Wilderness area,” according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

The missing hiker’s vehicle was located Monday at the Mt. Peeley trailhead. TRSAR volunteers, Gila County and Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies and search and rescue crews are currently searching the ground. On Tuesday, a Department of Public Safety Ranger helicopter did an aerial search of the area, but found no signs of the man. Horses were also brought in, but because of the rough terrain, were pulled out. A helicopter is being used to drop searchers and dogs in on various parts of the mountain; however, no sign of the man has been found.

“You think it would be impossible to have so many people and not find a track, but it is just so rugged,” Pitterle said.

Alrighty folks, heading home from work to get started packing for tomorrow. We'll be getting out there as early as we can to try and get things set up as best as possible.

*fingers crossed*

Cabel and I will be monitoring GMRS channel 15 while out there (no privacy code) as we get things started.

Tortoise HIker and I followed the AZT segment all the way north to Peeley, via Thicket Spring and Cornucopia, looked carefully for signs someone had been trying to get to the trail and found none. Honestly, the bush is SOOOOOO thick between the closest parts of that trail and Peeley that it would have taken a monumental effort to do it. Even the trail was bushwhack in the section near Sheep Mtn.

Am praying for good results this weekend!!! All things are possible!

I don't mean to upset the apple cart just hours before every one heads out there but I don't understand the logic in setting up the volunteer "cammand post" more than ten miles away from the trail head. I know we don't want to be at the TH so as to stay out of the way of SAR but if hikers finish an area and want to come back out for a new assignment wouldn't it be better to set up closer to the TH like at spot number 1,2 0r 3 on the posted map? Perhaps I am just not understanding what is actually going to happen at this command post or perhaps we will have a way of communicating between the TH and the command post which would eleviate the need to report back in but efficiency seems to demand that the command post be closer than 1.2 miles off of 87....Or is this just the meeting spot prior to driving into the command post.... can some one help me understand?

Doh, wish I hadn't called it a command post. Sounds way too authoritarian =) Maybe 'base' or 'rally point' is more fittng...

I think the location will be something that may very well change after getting out there and seeing everything first hand.

The main reason initially for having it right by the highway was to try and make sure that everyone coming out there could 'check in' (last thing we want is another person to go missing or not be able to make headcount) and get/share information before heading out onto the trails. It was also to help make sure that cars could get to it, and thus have some coordination on shuttling in vehicles that can handle the rest of the road. If we can get a good plan set up for handling that though, i can certainly see good reasn to move inland too.

One other thing that may or may not factor in is cell phone coverage (if any) and getting a good high spot for radio coverage too.

I wouldn't think anything is set in stone, and I also think we *should* definitely change the plans if a better method exists =)

Thoreau wrote:Maybe 'base' or 'rally point' is more fittng...

Yeah, I took it more as a meet-up point to figure out our numbers, get them to the action, and how to proceed.

Thank you! I understand a little better now. Sorry if I sounded .....dense but I just needed a little clarification.

HELP WITH MT. PEELEY SEARCH
Mountain Rescue has been receiving many generous offers from the public to assist for the search of Joe, including from people with strong hiking and emergency medicine backgrounds.

Mountain Rescue appreciates these offers of assistance, but our major hurdles in this search have been challenging terrain and dense vegetation. We are not in the position of requiring human resources from the general public. We have many field-deployable rescuers within our unit who are highly trained to affect searches in these conditions and who have the ability to judge conditions and avoid overly hazardous situations. There are also SAR teams in our area which we can call upon if resources are needed.

The addition of outside resources will compromise the ability of our search dogs to ascertain a scent and possibly destroy any remaining clues or evidence in the area.

It is understandable that many feel that they need to help with this search, however this will only impede any efforts of our trained resources.

Additionally, mountain rescue is a hazardous endeavor which requires specific skills and training. Teams must be cohesive, trained on the same standards, and know each others abilities and limitations.

Mountain Rescue has a rigorous application and training program to ensure that our rescuers are as safe as possible. Taking members of the general public or climbing community into the field without specific mountain rescue training creates a greater risk to all rescuers and the potential of more accidents on the mountain.

Those having strong mountaineering skills wishing to participate in mountain rescue on a long-term basis should follow our standard application process, posted on our website at: http://www.mountainrescue.org

Those wishing to help mountain rescue, but who do not have mountaineering skills, are encouraged to donate to their local mountain rescue teams.

Central Arizona Mountain Rescue is a 501c3 entirely volunteer rescue organization with no paid employees. As with many other mountain rescue organizations, we exist solely to “save lives through rescue and mountain safety education.”

Any questions can be directed to us at: info@mountainrescue.org

Lastly, Mountain Rescue would like to thank the community and everyone who has offered their support on this difficult search.

David Bremson
Operations Chief, WEMT
Mountain Rescue

Xiled1 wrote:My wife and I hiked the Little Saddle Mtn trail last weekend in to Saddle Mtn trail and back. We did not come across anything to report.

From which trailhead did you start?

hikngrl wrote:I see we also have another volunteer (Michelle) over on AZH offering to drive shuttle. I will go where I am most needed.

Having more than one shuttle driver in the morning and evening will be valuable, it is over an hour round trip.

hikngrl wrote:I don't mean to upset the apple cart just hours before every one heads out there but I don't understand the logic in setting up the volunteer "cammand post" more than ten miles away from the trail head. I know we don't want to be at the TH so as to stay out of the way of SAR but if hikers finish an area and want to come back out for a new assignment wouldn't it be better to set up closer to the TH like at spot number 1,2 0r 3 on the posted map? Perhaps I am just not understanding what is actually going to happen at this command post or perhaps we will have a way of communicating between the TH and the command post which would eleviate the need to report back in but efficiency seems to demand that the command post be closer than 1.2 miles off of 87....Or is this just the meeting spot prior to driving into the command post.... can some one help me understand?

There is simply not much room on FR201 to accomodate more than a handful of vehicles in any of these spots. Plus those without high clearance can get to the TH faster with a shuttle, the rd is doable in a car, but I scraped twice, it is not an easy rd for a car.

Hello

A group of HAZ members spent the SAR down Friday following Joes route to the summit. All 5 of the hikers made the summit by 1230 with a start about 730.

Sadly we found no sign of Joe anywhere along the route. SAR has covered this same area as evidenced by their markers.

Two hikers also spent time on Peely looking for signs, looking for a summit log (none found) and observing the ridge route.

This group had strong and experienced hikers (except for me who is the same age group of Joe and thus a pretty good gauge of what it is like for him)

In short, this is a very rugged hike with the portion from Peely to the base of sheep mountain a labyrinth of brush and rocky false peaks. We had an advantage over joe in that the brush had been worked over by the SAR folks so we had some inkling of where to go. This is a rough section and is the most likely place for Joe to have had a fall resulting in a slide down the mountain 50 plus feet. He would then be hidden from view by the brush. Searching this area around the obvious fall zones is dificult job for the mountain rescue professionals being brought in for the weekend.

Our alternate hypothesis bears some investigation as well. Joe may have used up all his daylight and supplies making the summit (though there was only 1 page of SAR folks in the registry can). In that case he may have opted to head down the drainage on the SE to the obvious spring at the end of the canyon. This would be a big bushwhack but about the same as returning on the ridge. In making this retreate, he would have opportunities to fall and be hidden in the brush.

We briefed Hank and Gabriela at the trail head on what we found who will pass it on to SAR

John

Paintninaz wrote:

Al_HikesAZ wrote: I understand your conflict. Yes, the trained teams can spot clues, etc. and as you say, if Joe found water, he can survive without food for 2 weeks...that would all be great if we were talking about a person 48 hours overdue. But the reality of the situation is Joe will have been missing 12 days on Saturday. SAR, from what they've told us, hasn't found any signs him. They've checked the waypoints provided. Even tomorrow or Saturday, a second or third pair of extra eyes can never hurt. That only leaves outside areas which haven't been combed...detours, other slopes, drainages Joe may have entered to reduce time back to his truck. Heck, for all we know he opted to bushwack a new route to add to his collection of attempts to the summit, that we aren't even aware of!

I think, this late in the game...the more eyes the better wins over. I know the hikers heading out are quite capable and they also know their limitations, the last thing anyone wants to do is become an added burden. I believe they will search carefully, and keep David's points in mind (because they are valid concerns) yes, a broken branch on Saturday may make it harder next Tuesday to put pieces together, but if it means potentially finding Joe on Saturday, I think at this point it's worth the risk (just my opinion)

If SAR gives direction to these volunteers, I know they are willing to search anywhere. This is a vast rugged area, Joe's been out there for almost 2 weeks, he needs help, the more people searching the better. We need to bring Joe home.

Well said!