[pct-l] Lost Hiker

[dsaufley at sprynet.com (dsaufley@sprynet.com)]

This would be a welcome scenario, but is probably not the case for the following reasons:

*  Mr. Donovan was a frequent communicator with his many loving friends.  Their distress began with his uncharacteristic silence.
*  Mr. Donovan was last seen May 3.  He did not pick up his boxes in Cabazon, Big Bear, or Agua Dulce.
*  He was not prepared for heavy weather conditions, and storm came in while he was out there.
*  The last people to see him said he was struggling in the snow, and falling a good deal.
*  He was lost in a vast area where many hikers, even in good weather, have gotten lost this year. 
*  Following the wrong trail/footsteps where he was lost leads to treacherously steep areas.
*  Mr. Donovan had had a heart attack in the past, had problems with altitude, and had a thyroid condition.
*  He was to have a long-anticipated reunion with his cousin upon reaching Wrightwood.  He never showed.
*  The sheriff's department has checked all of his banking and telephone records.  He hasn't used them post 5/3.
*  A full police investigation has been launched, and ground and air searches have been made. 

While hope springs eternal, there is little left in this disappearance.

L-Rod


-----Original Message-----
From: Terry Norton <terry.norton@gmail.com>
Sent: Jun 1, 2005 3:34 PM
To: "Lonetrail@aol.com" <Lonetrail@aol.com>
Cc: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Lost Hiker

I will inject a glimmer of hope.  In my 3 S&R for adults as a ski
patroller, two were found quite healthy and alive when they arrived at
home.  For various incoherent reasons these guys left their cars
behind in the parking lot and left ski buddies on the hill.

One portion of a formal S & R is the "bastard search."  At a ski area
this translates to checking the bars & restaurants.  ("You bastard! 
Do you know how many people are looking for you?")

Unfortunately, there are a myriad of places a hiker armed with a
credit card can seek refuge.

Has the search hit mass media?

cheers,
terry

On 6/1/05, Lonetrail@aol.com <Lonetrail@aol.com> wrote:
> Sad
> 
> It is not uncommon after reasonable period of time were a Search and Rescue
> become a Search and Recovery. 
> Lonetrail
>
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