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| | | Peeley/Sheep Area search, AZ | | | |
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Peeley/Sheep Area search, AZ
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| no partners | | Headed out to the Mazatzals to put forth my efforts in locating missing hiker GPSJOE from this website. I have never met him, but have seen his posts often and hiked many of the same trails. He'd been missing around 16 days by the time I got there. Being that he often hikes alone and off trail, like me, I feel compelled to come here and search. Had my fall at The Spine been a 2 inches off it could be me missing. I hope for the best in Joe's survival out there. And if he has past on then I imagine he's still hiking in the next world and perhaps I'll see him there one day.
Got on the trail at Peeley TH about 7:30a. Passed a sleeping camper (later learned this was nonot from this website)as I neared Thicket Spring. I took a right at the junction to head on the Thicket Spring Trail. Since new to the area I first wanted to get a feel for all the ravines and ridgeline. I hiked the trail until in crested a small hill where I had a commanding view of the area. I sat here a good 10 minutes deciphering the topography and deciding how I would off-trail it to Sheep. I looked over my maps made by ssk and Joe B and for a quick second felt overwhelmed. Threw that feeling away and got on my way.
Backtracked on Thicket to a smaller hill top between ravines 5 and 6. I knew a lot of folks would be to the NE of here, so this was as far E as I was going. Looked up at the peak, made the quick analysis of the way up in my head, and began the day. Moved up along this ridge and cut over to 6. I searched in the ravine, but would pop out anywhere I saw cliffs, grotto, or a suitable shelter spot. Manzanita crazy in here, but skin makes good armor. Plenty of bloody cuts, but really insignificant as they heal. Tromped up 6 to its end, and from here worked a ridge to Peak 6910. The ridge was very doable, game trails and openings, and I could see it being a good initial start if I had to hike down from 6910. As I was heading up I spotted my first other HAZers, a dude in a yellow shirt. As I neared the peak I saw one, just one, twig break that was fresh. Too fresh to be from 16 days previous. But I did my diligence and made my circles in the area. No other sign...sneaky animal. Hit the top and searched up there awhile.
From 6910 I was going to keep going east. Went to the edge and began my analysis again...and saw a route, a better route than down to 5. My hopes went up, U must say. A few hundred yards down I saw a black lab, and then a guy, and the fellow in the yellow shirt. So, I met my 2nd and 3rd HAZers. Yellow shirt was none other than Vaporman. The Vaporman. This was internally funny because I remember seeing a fighter jet as low as I ever saw one screaming through the Mazatzals off the Barnheart trail years ago. I mentioned it in my triplog and Vaporman left a comment that he heard it. From then on I've noticed the Vaporman, the canyon superhero eh. He was cool and we debriefed each other on what we've done. He filled me in on the efforts between 8 and 10 and on the ridgeline. After Vaporman, properly known as Brian now, I met Kenny and his lab. Chatted with Kenny too and felt he was a tough, good guy to have on your side in the search.
So from here I headed down the ridge, picking my way towards a thicket of pine. Nothing on the ridge. Where the ridge ended the natural route to me was into ravine 5 where a small pine gathering made good shelter. The ravine from here down was very doable, but, I saw no broken twigs and knew I was the first down in some time. A spring pushed out some water that trickled down the rocky cliffs on this route. I made some circles here in case Joe holed up in the area and used the water supply. Nothing. Down the ravine from here to Thicket Spring Trail. The manzanita got hellish the lower I went. Crawled through it, and scrub oaks, in many spots. Nothing on 6 or the adjacent.
Back on the Thicket Spring Trail I had some V water and headed back to the hill lookout. And, I met another HAZer, Ken. He had a strong post set up, glassing all the ravines for any signs and keeping an eye on the folks on the mountain. Made me feel good knowing we had a control point that was keeping tabs on things out there...very important. Chatted with Ken awhile and learned he'd been on a search/rescue squad in the past...cool.
I scanned the area again. After being up top and now having a better feel for the area, ravines 2-4 began making a lot of sense to me. From what I learned through posts and talking to people out there, I know Joe as an explorer. I could envision once he finally summited Sheep, he could have carved a new off-trail route down. 2-4 area looked to be the most direct route to a trail, the Arizona Trail, and the ridges there looked very doable. The ridgeline to Peeley is the best route, but with so many folks over there I figured I should move west. I basically covered his last bailout and ssk's suggest new bailout, so a newer bailout was now my goal. On the bailout. I still don't know why he took it. If he knew he was a slow hiker, why not stick to the route you took in. That is always the easiest route out. What would the difference have been to stop and rest on that route versus the bailout? I just don't know. I have a feeling knowing the weather conditions from that night would make a difference, as well as the weather the night of his disappearance. Oh well. I know he was an off-trail, so off to scout a new area.
Time was running on me and I knew I would not make it up and down with light to spare. So, I checked out just the first 100 yards or so of 3 and 4 from the Arizona Trail. Very doable. If I had to bail, or just wanted off trail, coming down these routes with what light remained would have me at blazed trails the quickest. These are obviously fairly easy to find my way out on, especially with a headlight which I assume Joe had.
Hiked back to the West Fork Trail and bumped into Ken again while I munched on a bar. I headed out on West Fork and bumped into Ken one last time at the Cornucopia Junction. From there I head toward the TH, and he headed to the mines to see if Joe holed up in there. Good thinking. Pleasant hike out as the sun set. Came up to the backpacker's camp at Thicket and met my last HAZer of the day, nonot, aka Steve. No doubt knowledgeable hiker. If there is a team leader out there coordinating things, Steve is it. He's taken the bull by the horns and I feel motivated a lot of folks to get out there. Debriefed what I covered and my thoughts on the 2-4 area and ridgeline with Steve and Brian and listened to their thoughts. I am very confident that while we may not be in search/rescue, we got good f'in heads out there working. Left Steve my ravine map and headed back to the TH amongst the dark.
I feel guilty saying so while I am out for dark reasons, but the views at night were sweet. Seeing the lights of Phx from wild area where bears and puma roam was awesome. Views a top 6910 also incredible...Humphery, the lakes, Weaver's, 4 peaks, Ord...everything.
So, the day was unsuccessful. But, i felt there was good to take from it. Just seeing and hearing and reading posts of all the folks putting forth their efforts in a multitude of ways made me smile. Considering my take on humans, experiences like this remind that we're alright after all. Unfortunate situation, but I met some folks I never would have otherwise.
I learned later that Steve and Brian scoped out 3/4 and saw some sign, but it could have been animal. Saturday/Sunday also saw numerous others from this website in the field. Great hustle to all, really.
When I check back, I would like to check out 2 and 3, and still want a look at the ridgeline from Peeley to Sheep. Sounds like north of the ridge there are some treacherous spots to scope out. Guess I will play it by ear my next approach, but I am thinking to get a better idea of the area I will need to hike to Sheep Mtn along what I feel the best route is, and from there take a bailout route. Very well could be ridge to Sheep and then down 2 or 3. We'll see. I'd like to get out here 1 or 2 times at least per month. I feel compelled to this like nothing I have felt in years, very interesting, not sure where this is coming from.
Best of luck in the wild to Joe. |
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