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Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Nov 16 2010 2:04 pm
by Dschur
Hike Arizona urges anyone interested in searching to post or join an event.
If you go out, please track your hike on a GPS and post it for the benefit of future searches. Simply post it upon return. (if you need help ask the webmaster) Hike Arizona will see that it gets linked to a master map. If you have multiple variations in your group, please post all tracks. As more info is posted the map will evolve and the overlaps will be removed.
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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
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 8:23 am
by SUN_HIKER
oldguy wrote:An idea I had to search for Joe is to get high resolution pictures of the whole area. This should not be with a point-and-shoot camera but
rather a good quality SLR with a big sensor. It may take several flights to get optimal light for various areas; I think you would want
minimal shadows. The pictures would be big files so probably would have to be shared on DVDs but they could be shared with dozens
of people and all could zoom in and at least search the areas not covered by brush or trees. This could be a much more thorough search
than that done from an aircraft, even a slow moving helicopter. Perhaps this has already been done with no success.
Art, I think that would be great. At this point we are always looking for new thoughts in order to help us find Joe. It sure is frustrating not to have a shred of a clue where to look at this point. Will you be there Friday when a group of us will make another search? We'd love to have you join us, especially from the sound of it you must know that area very well.
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 10:23 am
by Grasshopper
oldguy wrote:I met Joe Domin for the first and only time on 23 November,2009. I was taking a break next to trail on my way out after clearing
and saw him walking back
oldguy wrote:He told me he was trying to get out to Sheep Mountain but I don't think he said anything about his all night bailout the previous week. That
I would have remembered.
Less than a week ago I confirmed from his files what route he was attempting on 11/23/09..
http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?QX=174 (the
black GPS track), the
red track was his horrid overnight bailout attempt (11/16-17/09) and was
only one week prior. Gotta love him for his persistence and unyielding determination to summit his Sheep Mountain!
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 10:29 am
by oldguy
@Grasshopper
Hank, I joined this site as oldguy. Please give me a call if you get the chance.
Art Christiansen
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 10:43 am
by Grasshopper
@oldguy
Art, send me a PM from this HAZ site and I will try to reply back.
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 10:57 am
by PaleoRob
I wonder if we could change the name of the unnamed peak nearby to honor Joe...
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 11:06 am
by azbackpackr
How does that happen? Do you petition the Forest Service, or? That would be a lasting tribute for sure.
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 11:08 am
by PaleoRob
Arizona has a department of of names (or something like that) - I think they and the USGS are in charge of place names. The Squaw/Piestewa peak change is my only experience with that...
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 11:22 am
by joebartels
oldguy wrote:He did say he had a cell phone.
If he didn't have a heart attack or fall into an unconsciousness state he may have headed for higher ground once in trouble. Especially if he was
lost.
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 12:46 pm
by Tough_Boots
joe bartels wrote:Especially if he was
lost.
I could see getting lost coming off the north side but if he headed down the ridge the other way to Thicket Springs, I find it hard to imagine someone with his experience not knowing where to go. In most places its almost as simple as heading down with your compass until you hit the trail. After spending some time there, even as a novice at off-trail hiking, I think I'd be pretty comfortable finding that trail coming off the ridge if I had to (except for that crappy terrain). There must have been an injury or medical complication.
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 12:57 pm
by SuperstitionGuy
Tough_Boots wrote:joe bartels wrote:Especially if he was
lost.
I could see getting lost coming off the north side but if he headed down the ridge the other way to Thicket Springs, I find it hard to imagine someone with his experience not knowing where to go.
In most places its almost as simple as heading down with your compass until you hit the trail. After spending some time there, even as a novice at off-trail hiking, I think I'd be pretty comfortable finding that trail coming off the ridge if I had to (except for that crappy terrain). .
If he was coming down after dark he may have crossed the trail without knowing it and continued on down to where he is today. While searching for a missing Boy Scout on the Terrapin Trail one night in the rain I had one section of the trail that I missed three times and I knew that trail very very well. It can happen to the best of us in adverse conditions. Therefore do we need to search below a trail or trails that we think he may have crossed on the way down from where ever?
Just a thought from an old retired SAR guy.....
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 1:35 pm
by SUN_HIKER
joe bartels wrote:oldguy wrote:He did say he had a cell phone.
If he didn't have a heart attack or fall into an unconsciousness state he may have headed for higher ground once in trouble. Especially if he was
lost.
I just don't see that (lost) happening to Joe. He always has his GPS and carries spare batteries. He also has it on a retractable leash, same one as I, so it can never fall and be left behind. But, then again, it's anyone's guess at the moment...
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 3:06 pm
by maxpower
SUN_HIKER wrote:I just don't see that (lost) happening to Joe. He always has his GPS and carries spare batteries. He also has it on a retractable leash, same one as I, so it can never fall and be left behind. But, then again, it's anyone's guess at the moment...
Which would lead me to believe it might have been a medical problem. I'm a few years short of Joe's age, but once you reach 60, it's definitely in your mind. Having heart or respiratory issues would certainly drive me to "the quickest way out" even if it meant leaving a trail or logical route to do so.
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 3:14 pm
by fotogirl53
Where did Joe keep the keys to his truck? Maybe he lost his keys and started walking out......
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 4:25 pm
by SUN_HIKER
fotogirl53 wrote:Where did Joe keep the keys to his truck? Maybe he lost his keys and started walking out......
Joe always carried two sets of keys on him. One in his pocket and one in his backpack.
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 4:31 pm
by fotogirl53
I hoped you would know! Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 8:08 pm
by nonot
Sun Hiker,
Just to be sure - can you reply when they got Joe's vehicle off the TH, his vehicle started, right...it didn't have a dead battery (or some other reason it wouldn't start?)
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 8:14 pm
by SUN_HIKER
nonot wrote:Sun Hiker,
Just to be sure - can you reply when they got Joe's vehicle off the TH, his vehicle started, right...it didn't have a dead battery (or some other reason it wouldn't start?)
Started with no problem. Also Joe has one of these battery emergency starters that also inflates tires. He has that in his trunk.
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 8:41 pm
by suzaz
SUN_HIKER wrote:Will you be there Friday when a group of us will make another search? We'd love to have you join us, especially from the sound of it you must know that area very well.
Great idea! The more eyes the better.
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 8:44 pm
by snakemarks
I don't think I know anyone who is more prepared for unexpected problems than Joe.
This is a real wake up call.
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Posted: Dec 02 2010 8:50 pm
by PaleoRob
snakemarks wrote:This is a real wake up call.
Indeed! I know that I have been thinking about my personal safety on the trail more often now over the past (almost) month.