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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.

Searched Routes

Southern Ravines Map

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

@ oldguy
Thanks, I really appreciate the info!

Just returned from another search today. Sorry, no luck, no clues, no trace, but we did cover more ground. And almost froze to death, and roasted, and froze and roasted. Cold... in the low 40's, high winds, especially in unprotected areas along with lots of climbing down and up, and up and down again.

Gabriele and I were on the trail shortly after 7:30 and spent 6-1/2 hours searching. We spent a good amount of time searching along and below the Divide trail on the north side of Mt Peeley. We were more thorough in any area below a possible "fall area."

After covering the area we first set out to do, we then climbed up to the Peeley summit for a look down over the Waypoint E area. Unfortunately, not having planned on getting this far today, I did not have any of the E waypoints loaded. Whatever, we set off to cover what we could.

Confirmed by Hank, between the two of us we managed to cover Waypoints E4, E6, E7, E8, E9, E11 and E13.

I'll be posting my GPS track shortly and hope to get the most relevant search area photos posted yet tonight, and wrapping it up tomorrow afternoon.

I think Gabriele survived without much more than a few scratches but I drew a little more blood than a scratch. :stretch:
No, not quite that bad. I managed a below-the-knee injury while traversing a rocky area well below the trail that was covered with ice... the tree branch I was holding to swing across broke and I tumbled but thankfully the drop was only in the single digits. As long as the bleeding stopped before I got back up to Gabriele on the trail, why would I bother to clean it? Nice big scab now but at least no pain.

Oh yeah, I hope to get full triplog done tonight.

Disappointing---I really had hoped to check the site and find that you two had found at least a trace. That ice can be difficult to spot, I hope your injuries heal up quickly. I am reminding myself that we all can be thankful that more terrain was covered and that is a good thing.

I have 3 ideas--------not answers---just ideas so I'm open to feedback and discussion
#1
The recent search results are leading my thoughts back to the cliffy approach of Sheep that Joe photographed on 11/5. Does anyone know what time of day that closest photo was taken? If he had fallen in that area it would be so difficult to spot him from an type of a search--ground, air, horse...whatever. http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=168151

#2
Ravine #7 --- the one he used before. Someone has gone through that, right?

#3
I'm also going to toss out the idea of the OTHER peaks that Joe photographed on 11/5.

suzaz wrote:I have 3 ideas--------not answers---just ideas so I'm open to feedback and discussion
#1
The recent search results are leading my thoughts back to the cliffy approach of Sheep that Joe photographed on 11/5. Does anyone know what time of day that closest photo was taken? If he had fallen in that area it would be so difficult to spot him from an type of a search--ground, air, horse...whatever. http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=168151

Photo taken at 1:28pm on 11/5/10;

suzaz wrote:#2
Ravine #7 --- the one he used before. Someone has gone through that, right?

I don't see a GPS Track posted for the #7 Ravine on the Home Page "Sheep Ridge" Map, but someone may have posted a triplog/forum post on it? (this Ravine#7 was the 11/16/09 "overnight bailout" route back by GPSjoe). Ravine#7 is a very difficult ravine to navigate but still does need more search effort;

suzaz wrote:#3
I'm also going to toss out the idea of the OTHER peaks that Joe photographed on 11/5.

So far we have found no GPSjoe computer file clues or anything else to indicate a totally different change of plans for only three days after his last know 11/5/10 "Last Chance Hike/Route", but his son will be arriving in town again later this week and I am sure will again dedicate some time within GPSjoe's home computer- GPS track files and notes to help confirm.

@susaz: Gabriele and I discussed much the same thoughts, particularly #1 & #2.

As Hank mentioned, unless there is an un-posted GPS track or one I missed, I don't see Joe's bailout covered at all.

Both areas have now come to the top of my list. Unfortunately, to cover the area NW below Sheep it will likely take a group of 6-10 people and a 2-3 day backpack to cover it. The time it will take to get to the area wipes out much of a day.

So I'm thinking a day to get there and do a quick recon to divide up the area in search grids
The second day for a full-on, everyone involved search to blanket the area and compare notes before turning in.
And the last day to wrap up loose ends, check nooks and crannies that may have been missed and hopefully pack out with the good news we all want to hear.
But that may not happen until spring when we have more daylight.

If the weather holds a little longer here, my next trip I'm thinking of the bailout. But I must admit that is thinking ambitiously at the moment.

CannondaleKid wrote:@susaz:

Both areas have now come to the top of my list. Unfortunately, to cover the area NW below Sheep it will likely take a group of 6-10 people and a 2-3 day backpack to cover it. The time it will take to get to the area wipes out much of a day.

So I'm thinking a day to get there and do a quick recon to divide up the area in search grids
The second day for a full-on, everyone involved search to blanket the area and compare notes before turning in.
And the last day to wrap up loose ends, check nooks and crannies that may have been missed and hopefully pack out with the good news we all want to hear.
But that may not happen until spring when we have more daylight.

If the weather holds a little longer here, my next trip I'm thinking of the bailout. But I must admit that is thinking ambitiously at the moment.

Mark, I'm available starting Jan 2nd (of course depending on the weather) Unless we get a warm spell, I am not ready for a Klondike backpacking trip at this particular time.

Grasshopper wrote: So far we have found no GPSjoe computer file clues or anything else to indicate a totally different change of plans for only three days after his last know 11/5/10 "Last Chance Hike/Route", but this son will be arriving in town again later this week and I am sure will again dedicate some time within GPSjoe's home computer- GPS track files and notes to help confirm.

Hank, he had later files past the Last Chance hike that you sent me, in which he didn't include the Last Chance route (he appeared to rule it out as a viable approach).

nonot wrote:Hank, he had later files past the Last Chance hike that you sent me, in which he didn't include the Last Chance route (he appeared to rule it out as a viable approach).

I'm not sure we can say he "ruled it out" (the Last Chance route..but we did later rule this route out) for his last Mon-11/8 since he edited this Last Chance planner file on 11/6 or 11/7 along with also editing on 11/6 or 11/7 the over Mt. Peeley route to the Ridgeline route (thus the reason for needed new search Grids/WPs A-F, G-J).

What about coverage of the ridges and ravines due south from Sheep Mtn? Has his area had much coverage?

As a bailout route this would be a fairly direct path to the good water source in McFarland Cyn.

laztazam wrote:What about coverage of the ridges and ravines due south from Sheep Mtn? Has his area had much coverage?

I can only find Brian's 11/29: http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?GPS=9757 and Ken's 11/22 (but not on ridges nor in ravines from Sheep Mtn): http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?GPS=9712

A thought---those who have taken pictures might want to scan some of those photos at magnification--sometimes things are in the photos we don't readily see that could be a clue, an unnatural shape or line. I've had photos come up with interesting things in them I didn't really see or pay attention to at the time.

By no means will I ease up on my efforts and let the search die down until spring, and I'm sure many of you feel the same. I'm continuing to plan ahead of time so whenever an opportunity pops up when weather, schedules and availability of search buddies coincide, some semblance of a cohesive plan is close at hand.

With that in mind I awoke at 3 am this morning (the time most of my eureka moments emerge) with a thought of something that would help greatly: Continuous and up-to-date information on weather as well as actual trail and road conditions.

Here's my bright idea for the day...
Can the next person from HAZ who gets out that way post a sign on the board at the Mt Peeley trail head?
1. Obviously it would be good to make it weatherproof, like inside a heavy-duty freezer Zip-Lock bag
2. Include a brief HAZ intro and a note about the ongoing search for GPS Joe
3. Ask all hikers to keep an eye out for any possible clues, help is welcome from anyone and everyone
4. And finally, it would be VERY helpful if after every trip they could log on to HAZ and post the following:

Temperature: Estimated low and high temperatures experienced and at what times
Precipitation: Rain, snow, estimated amount, accumulation
Trail condition: Is there any snow or ice on the trail
Off-trail conditions: Is the vegetation dry, wet, covered with snow, etc.? (No need to actually GO off trail)
Road condition: Was the road to the TH dry, wet, muddy, snowy, icy?

With that type of information on at least a semi-regular basis, it will make it easier for one or a group to make realistic plans so tasks can be accomplished in the safest manner.

I made up a pdf and attached it here: Please, if you may be headed out to the Peeley TH (or Mormon Grove TH), print it and post it on the board at the TH. If/when you are the one to do so, please drop a note here that the task has been accomplished.

Thanks!

Oh wait... another thought... wondering if there is some way we can have a calendar where we can post days we are available to search, a rating (1-5) of our individual capabilities, search area preferences (light vegetation, thick vegetation, areas with exposure, etc.) and possibly special skills like rappelling. That way if a day is coming up where there may be a number of searchers available and the weather & road conditions cooperate, we can have a coordinated effort.

Now that I've been thinking out loud (yep, talking to myself again) maybe just have a new thread specifically for updates on conditions as well as who is available to search and when?? Yes, I know it's nice to keep everything related to the search together but if one thread was limited just to conditions and resources, planning would be easier.
Thoughts? (Please... even if you aren't able to provide condition updates or can't be a feet-on-the-ground resource, we still seek your input and ideas)

Mark, I think you have some excellent ideas!!!

@CannondaleKid
Excellent idea.

Ok, here's the thread where any and all can chip in their latest observations of conditions in the Mt Peeley area:
Mt Peeley: Latest observations + resources
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5760

NOTE: Also use the thread to report how you can be utilized as a resource in upcoming searches.

Please chip in whatever you have as often as you can.
Thanks!

Excellent Mark, thank you!

Wonderful Idea! I might suggest that more that one copy is put into the zip lock bag. That way someone might be able to take a copy with them with all the contact info in case they found some clue without leaving the bag empty.

I also like the calendar idea.

Grasshopper wrote:by Grasshopper » Dec 26 2010 9:45 am

suzaz wrote:I have 3 ideas--------not answers---just ideas so I'm open to feedback and discussion

suzaz wrote:#3
I'm also going to toss out the idea of the OTHER peaks that Joe photographed on 11/5.

So far we have found no GPSjoe computer file clues or anything else to indicate a totally different change of plans for only three days after his last know 11/5/10 "Last Chance Hike/Route", but his son will be arriving in town again later this week and I am sure will again dedicate some time within GPSjoe's home computer- GPS track files and notes to help confirm.

Christian has now confirmed that there are no GPS planning tracks or files on his dad's computer that would indicate Joe was considering a hike in from the Peeley TH on his last Mon-11/8 to the Mount Catherine area http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=168163

This message from the Sheriff's Office:
Just FYI a 65 year old man in a jeep slid off the mountain in that area today and was air lifted out with life threatening injuries. I think he was on the 25A road. If the FS hasn't closed 201 yet I'm sure they will. Please remind the folks going up there to search to be very cautious.