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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
Dawn
--On the loose to climb a mountain, on the loose where I am free. On the loose to live my life the way I think my life should be...For we only have a moment and a whole world yet to see...I'll be looking for tomorrow on the loose. ---unknown--
mazatzal wrote:Nice route down West Fork - it's good to clear that cos Joe could have done something other than Sheep. There is an old trail down the ridge from Peeeley TH that I've thought about clearing too.
In the past I've not wanted to accept that Joe may have had a destination "other than Sheep Mtn" on his last Mon-11/8/10 hike in from the Mount Peeley TH, but maybe so. What could he have seen "to and from" just three days prior (on his Fri-11/5 recon hike via his named "Last Chance Route") that was important enough to bring him back only three days later on Mon-11/8?? We do have a picset from him for his 11/5/10--> http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=13341andhttp://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=13407
@Grasshopper
I still think based on all the evidence we have that Joe's plan was Sheep Mtn (plus I made two attempts in the late 90's because I was so drawn to it). I've tried to think a lot about what else... upper Deer Creek exploration but seems unlikely, Mt Catherine or a shorter trip down to Thicket or...?
There just doesn't seem anything else that was higher priority than Sheep.
There is a good place to camp at point 33. 98624 N 111.50168 W. It has a flowing spring in there and some oak trees that survived the burn...plenty of firewood, nice flat area off to the right.
The Forest Service camping restriction follows the Mazatzal Wilderness boundary east of Sheep Mountain, so this spot should be OK.
I believe that Teva Joe is still tracking all our posted GPSjoe search routes (less overlapping search areas) on the master HAZ GPS Routes Map for our as required and ongoing history reference.
Just for additional reference for the known GPSjoe search activity from Nov-2011 thru YR-2012, I have been tracking this activity here: http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=2293 ( I will try to keep this updated. I have also included a number of trail reference waypoints and have also now included as a new reference waypoint- Outlander's 11/19/12 recommended backpack campsite location at 33.98624 N 111.50168 W ).
sam_hikes wrote:any guess to the locations for the last gpsjoe picsets? has that area been well covered?
most of the pics were of dif angles of sheep and its ridgeline. there were also a few of Catherine(which Mazatzal(Richard) just happened to hike that same w/e joe went missing). There are also a couple of the 7k peaks near Bear spring.
Nighthiker wrote:
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Postby Nighthiker » Nov 21 2012 09:16 am
If the trailhead is still closed any thought of attempting to get a Special Use permit for access and a search ?
John, thanks for your suggestion. Basically this was our HAZ intent of Outdoor Lover's below 10/26/12 post..
Outdoor Lover wrote:
Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Postby Outdoor Lover » Nov 01 2012 04:55 pm
In regards to my October 26, 2012 post on this subject, viewtopic.php?p=85801#p85801 , I have taken a few more days and have reluctantly decided not to pursue this matter any further, at this time. Thanks to all that recognized the Post and to those who responded.
Most all who have been following this forum topic are aware of the present Tonto National Forest public access restrictions invoked via the " 2012 Sunflower Fire Public Safety Closure Order 12-12-037 " (effective 10/2/12 to 4/30/13 unless rescinded sooner).
In early December, 2012, GPSjoe's family initiated a formal request to the Tonto National Forest for approval and issuance of a "special access permit" to allow qualified search individuals and organized and qualified search teams to have driving access to the Mount Peeley TH area via FR201 to conduct ongoing search efforts for clues related to Joe Domin's 11/8/10 disappearance.
With the recent discovery and closure of the Jesse Capen disappearance case (ref: HAZ forum topic " Missing Dutchman Hunter - Jesse Capen "), the Superstition Search and Rescue Team (SSAR) has expressed a desire to devote more of their trained team efforts (weather and other SSAR priorities permitting) to searching our Mazatzal Wilderness- the Mount Peeley/Sheep Mountain areas for possible Joe Domin missing person clues.
I'm now pleased to report that the Tonto National Forest has recently approved this above noted GPSjoe family request for a "special access permit". As such, only the Superstition Search and Rescue Team (SSAR) will be approved for driving access via FR201 and must abide by TNF's specific and limited access guidelines. Unfortunately, Tonto National Forest management did not approve the "special access permit" request for qualified search individuals (i.e., "the public" which also translates to mean qualified individual HAZ members).
SSAR is presently in process of discussing their intended search effort plans and organizing their team efforts for a hopeful soon planned GPSjoe clues search date. I will plan to keep this forum thread updated on SSAR search effort and results as pertinent information is made available to me.
Good news Hank if they need any comm support I can get the Ham's out
"I hope we have once again reminded people that man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: as government expands, liberty contracts."
From April 2010....GPSJoe triplog. The snow is gone, the trails are completely dry and the downed tree blocking access to the Mount Peeley TH has been cleared. So the pool is open.
Yesterday, I called the Tonto Basin Ranger Office to inquire about Order number 12-12-037 which closed motor vehicle access. I was told by a nice lady that her book only went up to Order number 12-12-032. and she didn't have any updates.
The Order is to be in effect until 4/30/2013 unless its rescinded earlier which doesn't look likely.
In dicussing the Jesse Capen case with Wally, we've come to the conclusion that nothing has really been searched up there in the Mazatzals for Joe, although many people have spent countless hours searching.
According to newspaper articles related to Capen, SSAR searched almost every weeked for close to 3 years and the initial search before they were involved included more than 100 individuals searching the Superstition Mountains desert area. Jesse Capen's remains were finally found in Nov. 2012.
Here is to hoping that 2013 will be successful in finding the remains of Joe Domin(GPSJoe).
BobP wrote:Yesterday, I called the Tonto Basin Ranger Office to inquire about Order number 12-12-037 which closed motor vehicle access..The Order is to be in effect until 4/30/2013 unless its rescinded earlier which doesn't look likely.
The "Mesa Ranger District" (not the Tonto Basin Ranger District) has official Tonto NF authority to amend this still in-effect order number 12-12-037. Also, as per my 12/21/12, Superstition SAR still has FR201 access road and search area approval and hopefully will soon update me on their anticipated Spring'13 search plans and Tonto NF Order Number 12-12-037 amendment plans (if any).
Grasshopper wrote:Also, as per my 12/21/12, Superstition SAR still has FR201 access road and search area approval and hopefully will soon update me on their anticipated Spring'13 search plans and Tonto NF Order Number 12-12-037 amendment plans (if any).
As an update, I've now been informed that this coming weekend SSAR will be conducting their first planned Spring'13 overnight group search effort for GPSjoe clues. I'm not privy to their planned search areas in from the Mt. Peeley TH, but I will be informed of their weekend search results and will update this forum topic as soon as results are made available to me.. Let's wish them a safe and productive search weekend.
BobP wrote: Grasshopper wrote:I'm not privy to their planned search areas in from the Mt. Peeley TH
I wonder why
Sorry, wrong choice of word "privy".. Actually, I did not ask them.. but I did previously ask that they consider sharing their GPS search routes for posting on HAZ so we can continue to have an updated Master File of GPSjoe search areas.. I'm not sure if they will provide & post these or not. I do hope so.
Grasshopper wrote: I will be informed of their weekend search results and will update this forum topic as soon as results are made available to me..
Re: SSAR 4/13 weekend GPSjoe "Clue Search Efforts/Results" - For those following this forum topic, I have not yet received any updates from SSAR for public posting (maybe due to SSAR's needed Search and Rescue efforts for missing Mon-4/15pm Superstition hiker "Christopher Hensley"). Until their GPSjoe "clues search efforts/results" from 4/13 are made available, here is a brief Sat-4/13 triplog from our HAZ- BobP with some relevant comments from his visit to this area.. http://hikearizona.com/triplog=88400
I just spoke with John at the Mesa Ranger District and 201 and 25 will be open tomorrow . 25a and 201a will remain closed. I will be heading out a few times over the weekend and will update when my plans are firm. Mormon grove and Mt peeley both can be accessed.
Route Editor
Route Scout
and she didn't have any updates.
. 25a and 201a will remain closed. I will be heading out a few times over the weekend and will update when my plans are firm. Mormon grove and Mt peeley both can be accessed.