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Forecast Mormon Grove & Peeley

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

SuperstitionGuy wrote:Search for $$$ as opposed to closure for the families?

Exactly... Yes, there are times where financial motivation may be in order but in my opinion this is not one of those times.

SuperstitionGuy wrote:#1 It would probably bring out the inexperienced risk takers and increase the need for more searches.

X 2

SuperstitionGuy wrote:#2 They would also not necessarily have the outdoor ethics and leave the wilderness trashed like our southern border.

X 10
So far I've not seen trash in the search area but in my off-trail hikes over the last few months I cannot say the same.

SuperstitionGuy wrote:#3 However I could use the reward to pay for the required training, certifications and other costs of having been a SAR nut.

So when will you be flying back to join in? ;)

RE: Motivation...
While I like to believe my conscious motivation hopes to aid in bringing closure, especially those close to Joe, I have this sense that unconsciously, a less-altruistic motivation is lurking. The motivation of pride... receiving a big pat on the back for a job well done. Unfortunately there's a wavy gray borderline between the positive and the darker side of our human psyche, which is why I sometimes struggle with the question what is my true motivation here?

However, now that I'm officially retired (though far from 'financially secure') and have plenty of time for searches I'll set aside motivation concerns and simply get on with it. Thankfully I'm no longer hobbled with the physical issues of early last year so it's just a matter of finding room in the budget to fuel the $40 round-trips to the Peeley TH.

Interesting observations. Having been a member of a small SAR team/youth group/Explorer Post, I have to say that getting called out in the middle of the night is exciting, an adrenaline rush. That type of excitement does motivate people. I know quite a few people in Eagar-Springerville who are EMTs and run ambulance for WMAS, or are members of one of our two excellent volunteer fire departments. They also enjoy what they do, sometimes call themselves "adrenaline junkies," etc. Anyway, they receive good training and they do the job our community expects them to do, and they are in fact, very proud of what they do. If their motivations include the adrenaline factor or pride, rather than pure altruism, I don't really see a problem with that, as long as they get the job done.

However, I have to respectfully disagree with putting forth a reward. In that country, in that particular setting where GPS Joe is lost, especially. You'd end up with a lot more people lost or hurt, because then it wouldn't just be the hunters and hikers who know the region who are out there. You'd also attract other people to go out there who have no business being anywhere but on the receiving end of a couch.

:

I was asked, so when will you be flying back to join in?

I will be returning in late June but will be traveling to visit children and grandchildren for a few months. Once the weather moderates some I will visit the trailhead, do a few solo exploratory hikes and maybe join others in the search but because of age and a bum knee won't be able to get to far from the trailhead.

I have always searched with the motivation for rescue and closure not $$$ but I will admit the cost to search does hurt my pocketbook. Think fixed income and shrinking investments.

Adrenaline rush with SAR techs?

Not me, as an uncontrolled adrenaline rush can get a searcher in trouble very quickly. I.E. take no risks and do not put your fellow searchers at risk either. I was never asked to perform beyond my capabilities except by one of the idiot SAR untrained PCSO Deputies (The same Deputy that now runs the current Pinal County Sheriff's Office SAR team).

P.S. Maybe the Sammy driver and I can split the cost of fuel on future trips. ;)
The shared ride may be worth it just to swap stories and lies.

Probably not an "uncontrolled" adrenaline rush. More like a sense of excitement. You've trained, you get called out so seldom, but you keep training for it at your weekly meetings, and now you finally get to go.

Jim Lyding wrote:
Re: Sunflower Fire

Postby Jim Lyding » May 16 2012 10:35 pm
This makes me unbelievably sad. I've grown misty-eyed reading about this fire. The Mazatzals are one of my all-time favorite places in Arizona, and it's so sad to realize that it's going to hell. Literally.
My only hopes are that the brave men and women fighting the fire get it under control, and that it burns in a mosaic pattern that spares certain areas. It surprises me that I'm having such a tough time keeping my composure. The Mazatzals are one of the places in AZ that I miss the most. Bearing Down on this pumpkin thing being quickly tamed.
My mom can clearly see the smoke billowing off of the mountain from her house near Stoney Mountain in the Phx Mountain Preserve, and she told me that she has thought about Joe even though she has only heard me talk about the tragedy that befell him and his family. While I share the sorrow others feel about this fire probably ruining any chance of finding Joe, I have no doubt that he would rather this place be spared than his own remains be found. I never met Joe, and interacted with him only a few times, but I was a big fan of what he shared with us, and have no doubt that he would feel that way. I only hope that I would think the same if it came down to it. Many many blessings to Joe and especially his family because I'll never forget.

http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=117614

You & 5 members like this... unlike it

I wanted to bring HAZ up to date on some goings on behind the scenes regarding this Sunflower Fire related to our GPSjoe missing in this area since Nov 8, 2010:
Many of us have voiced concerns related to what this Sunflower Fire aftermath will mean for future "search for clue efforts" related to locating our GPSjoe (Joseph S. Domin). This past week, HAZ-Outdoor Lover (Pam) contacted me and had an excellent idea related to us attempting to communicate to the responsible Forest Service/Fire Fighting entity- GPSjoe's missing person status. The thought being that if we could communicate this to the responsible Sunflower Fire Incident Commander, then maybe many of his team who might have plans to be on the ground in and around the Mount Peeley and Sheep Mountain areas could now be aware that we still have a missing person in this Mazatzal Wilderness area. On Saturday-5/26/12, Pam and I (with our GPSjoe Missing Person Posters) took a drive up Hwy 87 and were able to gain the attention and confidence of two responsible and concerned Sunflower Fire incident team members the need to make our GPSjoe missing person poster information available to their Incident Commander. On Sat-5/26pm, I received a personal phone call from the Sunflower Fire Public Relations Officer whom accepted more information from me related to our GPSjoe's missing person case and has now issued on 5/28/12 (see below attachment) their Sunflower Fire inciweb.org News Release both internal and external (to public media and gov-state & local legislatures,etc..) which now includes some specific Joe Domin missing person details for all to now be aware of. For internal and external circulation they also now have our official GPSjoe Missing Person Information Poster. Now with the Sunflower Fire Public Relations Officer, the ongoing Tonto National Forest-Mesa Ranger District office and local media involved, we now have a re-opening of interest in our GPSjoe missing person case.
Also see: http://www.azfamily.com/news/cruz/Sunfl ... 01075.html

Also Google or Bing: Sunflower Fire Joseph Domin
(other media outlets have also recently published news releases)

That was a good idea.

I drove by the area yesterday on my way back from White Mountains & I remembered Joe as I looked up at the peaks....Great to hear folks that are out in those mountains in the aftermath of the fires are now in the know.

Saw a update on channel 3 news this morning stating that he was still missing and that the fire fighters have been informed and had an interview with a girl.. (not sure who she was) think was one of his hiking partners...

Dschur wrote:Saw a update on channel 3 news this morning stating that he was still missing and that the fire fighters have been informed and had an interview with a girl.. (not sure who she was) think was one of his hiking partners...

Here is the link to the story: http://www.azfamily.com/video/?id=15520 ... sec=998613

@Grasshopper
Holy cow Hank!!! This response has gone way beyond what I could have possibly hoped for! My highest possible hope was that the Incident Commander would actually take the time to brief the crews. Now just to hope and pray that somewhere out there, someone sees something that will finally bring this fellow HAZer and friend, home.....

@tibber
thanks for the link

@Outdoor Lover@Grasshopper
great idea

also a mention in the az republic this morning:

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepubli ... ather.html

nice work getting the word out, hank and pam

I never met GPSJoe but had a wonderful backpacking trip on the Barbershop trails thanks to him. I think of him every time I drive by the exit. Hopefully something good will come out of the fire in the area.

Wow, that is incredible, you guys. I didn't know Joe, either, but watching one of those videos from one of the major news networks and knowing that even more people are searching is touching.

My boss's husband is on the BAER team for this fire. She told him that Joe was part of a hiking group I belong to, so he sent her the poster to give to me that they have been handing out. She didn't email it to me, she printed it, so I took a photo of it:

This is probably not an original thought, but looking at the list of items, it occurs to me that he was carrying a fair amount of metal. So, has anyone searched with a metal detector? Just an idea, and not sure if if the ground has enough ore in that it would interfere with any readings, or what kind of range the detectors have ...

@kingsnakeI have used a metal detector frequently for work.
Given my experience, using a metal detector to find small items is not very feasible over large areas. Although they are extremely sensitive, the detection distance is very short. You would need a well-defined area to search.

Ref: the below captured from HAZ- Outlander's 10/19/12 "triplog / comments" http://hikearizona.com/triplog=81119 :
(Sheep Mountain Peak 6996 - Mazatzal)

Outlander wrote:North of the Sheep Mountain/Peeley ridge line did not burn, except a few acres that broke past the fire line, which was later contained. There are nice pine trees on the north side; perhaps he jumped off the Mazatzal Divide Trail, took the pine forest (easier walking than chaparral) up to the north face. He was looking for a break in the Manzanita hedge, that route would fit the bill. It is hard to say, really. I know once a person gets deep in the hedge, you are committed, and things sometimes get dicey. We will find him eventually.

Not sure why now after almost two years of GPSjoe's disappearance that I'm reminded of something I've not previously mentioned in this thread that GPSjoe said to me (at one of the Thicket Springs Trail #95 high points with views toward Sheep Mountain) on our 4/30/10 hike together, but your above just reminded me of Joe's comment: He pointed at the SE ridges/ravines below Sheep Mountain and commented to me that the very dense Manzanita in this entire section prohibited his ability to find a workable off trail route to Sheep Mountain Peak 6996 and that another option up to avoid some of the dense vegetation that slowed his progress were the rocky ledge routes.

One of GPSjoe's 2010 Sheep Mtn summit attempt dates in via the Mount Peeley route (the actual date escapes my memory at the moment) we know that he "bailed-out" down one of the ravines from Peak 6910 where he ended up spending an unplanned night and next morning before finally reaching the Mount Peeley TH. Even though many HAZ members and others have spent a considerable amount of search effort within most all these SE draining ridges and ravines "without any clues found", I would now conclude that GPSjoe would not have (and especially after his difficult unplanned overnight) again attempt any of these SE ridge/ravine routes. It is also a fact that a considerable amount of search time and effort has been expended by many HAZ members and others via the numerous north approach routes to reach Sheep Mtn summit with also "no clues found" to date

Outlander wrote:perhaps he jumped off the Mazatzal Divide Trail, took the pine forest (easier walking than chaparral) up to the north face

That has always been my thinking...mostly based on his "Last Chance" route that he had drawn up shortly before he went missing. Based on the few number of points on it though...there were sections that he wouldn't have been able to follow do to natures obstacles. I consider myself fairly fearless when it comes to climbing and I had to deviate from it more than once. The North side is very rugged in a diferent way depending on the route..you can easily get into class 4 climbing in sections. Thanks for the update.

Hank thanks for posting in this thread....

rlrjamy wrote:That has always been my thinking...mostly based on his "Last Chance" route that he had drawn up shortly before he went missing. Based on the few number of points on it though...there were sections that he wouldn't have been able to follow do to natures obstacles. I consider myself fairly fearless when it comes to climbing and I had to deviate from it more than once. The North side is very rugged in a different way depending on the route..you can easily get into class 4 climbing in sections.

I too felt Joe's "Last Chance" route was our best clue from the outset, and I agree with Bob that with so few waypoints it wasn't very realistic due to areas of impassable terrain along the way.
On my last search back in late April I followed the first half mile of it as well as two more segments of it about a few hundred yards each north and below the ridge nearer to Sheep summit and planned on returning to cover more of the areas in between.
I've had plans for more searching northwest and below the ridge since just before the fire but am holding off until the road to the Peeley TH is open again, which unfortunately may be quite some time yet.