HikeArizona.COM

Posted: **Dec 12 2010 12:29 am**

Setting up a sign-up sheet for continued search for Joe this coming weekend. It sounds like folks want to coordinate a heavy search of the south side of Mt. Peeley. We'll see what happens with the searchers during the week and also how the weather holds up-- it looks like possible rain at the end of the week. I'll be out there Saturday (weather permitting) and possibly Sunday. Also, if anyone's willing to carpool to the TH that would be awesome. My ride won't make it so I'd love to cram in with someone else. Meet at the TH at 7-ish.

Posted: **Dec 14 2010 8:57 pm**

suzaz wrote:
s1.jpg
IN MY OPINION YOU GUYS TRYING TO TAKE ON ALL ON THIS MAP IS JUST TOO MUCH FOR 12/18-19. YOUR FIRST MAP POSTED, THAT I PREVIOUSLY REFERENCED MAKES MORE SENSE.
Lots of good ideas still coming from everyone for search options.
1) Search the ‘smell area YES
2) Joe’s ’09 bail out area really has not been thoroughly searched in the ravine. PROBABLY NOT, BUT I SUGGEST NOT FOR THE 12/18-19 SEARCH
3) Peak#2 area is the one where there is high risk of losing footage-- resulting in a fall. YES AND THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO THE TRSAR KEY WAYPOINT#006 FROM JUST SOUTH BELOW THE SHEEP RIDGE THEN HEADING TOWARDS SHEEP MTN STAYING AT THE UPPER BLUFFS SECTION. UNLESS SOME DARING AND VERY QUALIFIED HIKER-SEARCHER WANTS TO TRY THIS ONE ( VAPORMAN AND/OR ?), THEN I WOULD SUGGEST WE SAVE THIS ONE FOR ANOTHER SEARCH DATE BY SOME.

Got this image today from Gabriele. We thought it would be worth while to toss out for discussion as possible areas of focus for the coming weekend. I suspect there will be a few others showing up to help search that are not HAZ members, best to get our plan flushed out. Fingers crossed that the weather holds out.

Quick question---Hank have you or Gabriele actually been able to review the Sheep Mt. summit log with your own personal eyes? would that be worthwhile?
THAT SUMMIT LOG HAS ALREADY BEEN CONFIRMED ON 11/17 TO HAVE HAD NO PAPER SIGN UP SHEET IN IT, ONLY A RUSTED TIN CAN..THERE IS A PIC OF THIS CAN IN ONE OF THE 11/19 PIC SETS.

Was there water in Sheep Creek or was it dry?

What about Joe's file called the "last chance" route? Do we feel that has been significantly covered? YES, IT HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY SEARCH-HIKED BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW TO DATE..Did anyone tackle that large cliffy wall of rocks shown in his pictures? I can't find the place that had the route and the pictures geocoded.

Desertgirl---hiked in my regular hiking clothes--even sleeveless through much of the day, spent a good amount of my time in a manzanita maze and came home without a scratch, bruise or tear. (maybe I was just lucky)

As we consider making a plan for this weekend should we review what we know?
1. His car was found at the Mt. Peeley Trailhead.

Posted: **Dec 14 2010 9:15 pm**

I can make it on Sunday, if there will be others out on that day! I'm hopeful that you all will find him on Saturday though!

Posted: **Dec 14 2010 9:22 pm**

MountainRocker wrote:by MountainRocker » Nov 22 2010 11:19 am
Good morning folks, I'm one of the TRSAR rescuers that participated in the search for your friend / fellow hiker Joe, I just wanted to drop in and give all of you my warmest regards. As your search efforts continue, please feel free to keep me posted as to when your group/s will be in the area, perhaps I will get out there with some of you if I'm not called out. As always, please be extremely careful.
Sincerely.
Ernest

MountainRocker Profile page: http://www.hikearizona.com/dex2/profile.php?u=54043

I have brought this up before, but just another reminder that "this offer to help" from Ernest, an experienced and trained TRSAR person should be a big asset to the now planned HAZ/AZH 12/18-19 search efforts. I know it is only ~3 days until Sat-12/18, but if someone that is now signed up for this weekend search effort agrees with me and is willing to coordinate with him for answering his questions, etc. (other than the initial PM invite, you then most likely only need to link him into this HAZ forum thread) then please attempt to contact him by PM and then post here so we all know you have done so. :thanx:

Posted: **Dec 14 2010 11:30 pm**

Grasshopper wrote:please attempt to contact him by PM and then post here so we all know you have done so.

PM'd. We'll see if he's available.

Grasshopper wrote:Lots of good ideas still coming from everyone for search options.
1) Search the ‘smell area YES
2) Joe’s ’09 bail out area really has not been thoroughly searched in the ravine. PROBABLY NOT, BUT I SUGGEST NOT FOR THE 12/18-19 SEARCH
3) Peak#2 area is the one where there is high risk of losing footage-- resulting in a fall. YES AND THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO THE TRSAR KEY WAYPOINT#006 FROM JUST SOUTH BELOW THE SHEEP RIDGE THEN HEADING TOWARDS SHEEP MTN STAYING AT THE UPPER BLUFFS SECTION. UNLESS SOME DARING AND VERY QUALIFIED HIKER-SEARCHER WANTS TO TRY THIS ONE ( VAPORMAN AND/OR ?), THEN I WOULD SUGGEST WE SAVE THIS ONE FOR ANOTHER SEARCH DATE BY SOME.

Hank, why are you not so keen on the '09 bailout for this search? If it hasn't been explored much, then it seems like a good spot to try. I'm kind of leaning towards this and the "smell area" as two areas to hit. Curious as to your thoughts on that.

Posted: **Dec 15 2010 4:59 am**

Tough_Boots wrote: Hank, why are you not so keen on the '09 bailout for this search? If it hasn't been explored much, then it seems like a good spot to try. I'm kind of leaning towards this and the "smell area" as two areas to hit. Curious as to your thoughts on that.

Having recently done ravine #4, I of course hope you know that a thrash straight down ravine #7 will be time & energy consuming.

Posted: **Dec 15 2010 7:00 am**

Might consider pairing up and have each group assigned specific waypoints to check out.

Download or edit/save here...
http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?QX=215 (patience, may take slower computers a good minute to load)

A - Moderate
B - Most difficult
C - Difficult
D - Difficult
E - Moderate
F - Moderate

Then if there is enough, send Brian to Ravine #7

Posted: **Dec 15 2010 9:05 am**

Tough_Boots wrote: Grasshopper wrote:Lots of good ideas still coming from everyone for search options.
1) Search the ‘smell area YES
2) Joe’s ’09 bail out area really has not been thoroughly searched in the ravine. PROBABLY NOT, BUT I SUGGEST NOT FOR THE 12/18-19 SEARCH
3) Peak#2 area is the one where there is high risk of losing footage-- resulting in a fall. YES AND THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO THE TRSAR KEY WAYPOINT#006 FROM JUST SOUTH BELOW THE SHEEP RIDGE THEN HEADING TOWARDS SHEEP MTN STAYING AT THE UPPER BLUFFS SECTION. UNLESS SOME DARING AND VERY QUALIFIED HIKER-SEARCHER WANTS TO TRY THIS ONE ( VAPORMAN AND/OR ?), THEN I WOULD SUGGEST WE SAVE THIS ONE FOR ANOTHER SEARCH DATE BY SOME.

Hank, why are you not so keen on the '09 bailout for this search? If it hasn't been explored much, then it seems like a good spot to try. I'm kind of leaning towards this and the "smell area" as two areas to hit. Curious as to your thoughts on that.

Sorry, I had my inner thoughts going on for my reply, but forgot you can't read my mind

: I was just thinking that to date this South and SE section of ridges and ravines down from the Sheep Mtn ridgeline has had concentrated HAZ/AZH search efforts with not that much dedicated search efforts to date in the large, rugged area between the two odor/smell waypoints up to Mt. Peeley Summit and up to the MDT#23 switchback area.. between the "red diamond" waypoints here-->
http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?QX=216 . My assumption was that even with the present number of HAZ/AZH members signed up for the 12/18-19, that it will take at least that number to adequately "clear" this search area. I am no expert at this, just my conclusion, so once you guys get better organized and everyone knows what grid area they will be dedicating there efforts, you may decide that some should search the South and SE ridges and ravines. Also, please don't forget that the search area between Mt. Peeley Summit west to the Sheep Mountain ridgeline still needs more search attention due to numerous possible fall areas in this rugged section.

Posted: **Dec 15 2010 1:25 pm**

For those of you that will be searching for the source of the odor keep in mind that some plants often emit their own depending upon the season. Learn to identify the odor of the emitting plants as you search and keep in mind that some of them may be quite disgusting as well. Once these disgusting odorous plants are indentified help others learn to recognize them so they will not waste their search time on them.

This also goes for rotting vegetation in a spring seep as well. GPS it and report it so others later do not waste time searching for the same source of the odor.

I wish you well on this search, be careful out there and good luck to all of you. :thanx:

Posted: **Dec 15 2010 4:51 pm**

Hey folks, as Saturday is coming close we're working on a more formal game plan. SUN_HIKER will be partnering with me to coordinate all of this. She'll be a good go-to person as well.

Something we need to make sure of is that everyone will either be paired with someone with GPS skills and a radio or have one themselves. We would appreciate it if each of you signed up would give us via PM a quick statement about whether you have GPS, how comfortable you are with it, if you have a radio and/or an extra one for someone else to use on Saturday. SUN_HIKER and I will have all this information and help facilitate teams.

And here's a formal thanks to everyone getting involved! This has gotten much more response than I had thought it would and I'm glad so many people are coming out. I'm not especially experienced in this type of thing and would rather be seen as helping to coordinate and organize. If anyone has any special skills and experience that they think might be valuable to this team effort, please let SUN_HIKER and myself know. We have a lot of folks this weekends and want to use this resource as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Posted: **Dec 15 2010 5:27 pm**

From what I understand we are looking to meet at the TH between 7:30-7:45AM on Saturday. Ill be going past Fountain Hill, so if anyone needs a ride please PM me.

All I can say this hiking community is amazing. Joe was a quiet man and would not believe how popular he is. I know with this dedication from all of you we will bring Joe home. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

Posted: **Dec 15 2010 7:04 pm**

I'm in. I'm going to need a lift to the Trail Head. I'm coming from the East Valley.

Posted: **Dec 16 2010 11:11 am**

Hey folks,
Just an update-- we're working on grouping together waypoints for teams on Saturday to search. This will look similar to the set that Joe Bartels put up the other day. We'll have these ready for download either late tonight or early Friday. Everyone with GPS will need to have these. Thanks!

Posted: **Dec 16 2010 2:57 pm**

I just returned from searching in the area of Waypoint F area. I had planned on being out long enough to cover every part of the Waypoint F area, but even with two full sets of clothes there was just too much rain to do any more than one long sweep out as far as a gap in the area I had searched on 12/13, drop down a ways then return on a longer leg. While that area was considered "Moderate", and it was for part of the way, most of it was BRUTAL! Especially in a downpour. While I had no lack of energy to continue, when the rain got heavier, the temp started to drop and the wind picked up, being soaked to the bone from head to toe I was getting close to hypothermia so decided to call it a day. And wouldn't you know it, I found nothing but a Bud Light can... empty of course :-({|=

I posted the GPS track so we can cut out some of the Waypoint F area on Saturday, freeing up people to search elsewhere.
BTW, after 4 hours of steady rain the road was getting pretty slick so let's home the rain lets up and it clears Friday to dry it up.

I'll post a triplog with details as soon as I get warmed up. Two finger tips are still numb even 4-1/2 hours after getting back to my vehicle and heading for home!

Legend on map:
Green = Liz on 12/8
Dark Cyan = Bob on 12/8
Red = CannondaleKid on 12/13
Yellow = CannondaleKid on 12/16 in Waypoint F area

Posted: **Dec 16 2010 4:39 pm**

CannondaleKid wrote:
I posted the GPS track so we can cut out some of the Waypoint F area on Saturday, freeing up people to search elsewhere.
BTW, after 4 hours of steady rain the road was getting pretty slick so let's home the rain lets up and it clears Friday to dry it up.

You are amazing. You did most of Saturday's search! Glad you decided to go home when you did. I'm concerned about the making it safely to the TH on Sat.

Thank you for all you did today!

Posted: **Dec 16 2010 5:35 pm**

Finally got my fingers working well enough to type up the triplog... more like an Epic Trek log. For lack of any better place I put it under Cornucopia/Thicket Spring Loop. As long as there is still searching going on, maybe an official HAZ "GPSJoe Search" hike is in order?.

BTW, on my drive out from the TH I met a guy (almost head-on!) who was going in to hike to Peeley summit. He gave me his card and I was going to call him tonight to find out how bad the road is when he returned. It was a bit greasy when I left, but if there isn't much traffic and it doesn't rain tomorrow, I think it should be ok for Saturday. Let's hope there's no rain on Saturday or I'll have to buy a wet suit!

Posted: **Dec 16 2010 5:55 pm**

As you can see, I missed way points F02, F08 & F09.

My thoughts to finish clearing Waypoint F area on Saturday:
1. One group (3-4?) to zigzag between my track and the Thicket Spring Trail all the way into the area I missed on Monday (the red on the map three posts up) and possibly wind upward and loop back down to Thicket Spring Trail in the open area inside the red loop
2. One small group (2?) do a quick loop in the area around F02, continue between my yellow tracks, then turn back up and cut across the slope between my (yellow track) and Bob's (dark cyan) 12/8 track over into the uncovered red loop area and either cover the loop above Bob & Liz's tracks or help finish in the lower red loop and meet up with group #1.

If that can be done using 5-6 people that would leave another half dozen open to search other areas.

Again.. just my thoughts... I have absolutely no problem deferring to SUN_HIKER/Tough_Boots for the Saturday planning.

Posted: **Dec 16 2010 6:14 pm**

Unfortunately, I have to work on Saturday~~~no way out of it......

Trish

Posted: **Dec 16 2010 6:30 pm**

Sorry, but I won't be able to make it this weekend. I'm needed as a babysitter for the grandbaby. My thoughts and prayers will be with each of you. May the areas search this weekend bring Joe home.
Bless you all for what you're doing.
Linda (beckett)

Posted: **Dec 16 2010 6:44 pm**

Looks like only 10-20% chance of rain up there this weekend, but we'll have to watch it and hope it doesn't increase and that the clouds don't drop low and soak in the mountains with fog. ;)

Posted: **Dec 16 2010 7:20 pm**

There was fog or low clouds on the way home tonight (it was raining also ) from about 1/2 way up the Mt Ord pass from Sunflower all the way down to almost Slade Creeek. The Payson weather report had rain today and tonight in the forcast clearing tomorrow night. Can't see much up the hill at 615 in the morning or evening so can't give a report on the hill... Payson weather had snow level dropping to 6800 ft tonight...

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