[pct-l] Reporting Lost Hiker?

[dsaufley at sprynet.com (dsaufley)]

I would like to comment on the frustrations I experienced in dealing with
law enforcement this season when reporting John Donovan missing. I have a
deep respect and admiration for those who serve in protecting and upholding
the law, however, it has been members of law enforcement themselves who
validated my observations on reporting a missing male hiker.

The PCTA's offices were closed on the Sunday that I reported John Donovan
missing.  The US Forest service indicated that the missing person had to be
reported to law enforcement; Search & Rescue in the San Jacinto area happens
to be a function of Riverside County Sheriffs.  However, finding that out,
and finding the correct jurisdictional office for law enforcement in the
area was a challenge; I had to make numerous calls to find the right office.
It's a real patchwork, and would have been even more difficult for someone
unfamiliar with SoCal geography. 

The Sheriffs Deputies I spoke with knew nothing whatsoever about the PCT or
thru-hiker activity. You all know how that is, trying to explain what
thru-hiking is to the uninitiated, and in this case suspicious, listener.
The most disturbing discovery was that they didn't take the disappearance of
a missing adult male as an immediate emergency.  A missing child or woman is
one thing, but the attitude about a missing man is another altogether; maybe
he's at a local casino or bar, or just doesn't want to be found they
proposed. I really had to make a case that he wouldn't have done those
things -- that he was missing on the trail and was out there somewhere. From
the day I reported him missing, they weren't going to have a search mounted
for ten days, although John had already been missing for weeks by the time
it was realized and reported.  

Pressure from John's friends got the search moved up a few days, but it was
still a week after the initial report that it started.  Once mounted, it was
a massive effort, but it is no small thing getting it going -- they don't
just send out the searchers the moment you call them.  I wanted to scream.
In fact, it was the hiking community in SoCal who got out and looked for
John first, and helped in the search effort.  Several northbound thrus who
were here at the time also drove down there and searched.  All those guys
are real heroes in my book.  

I notified the PCTA about my alarm and concern about the situation, and they
have taken it under consideration. In commenting about calling the PCTA as
the first line of defense, remember that the PCTA has business office hours.
They should be notified, most definitely, but may not be able to act
immediately to bring assistance to bear.  We, the collective community of
the PCT, are really the live and aware network and resource, and not just
virtually, through this forum.  

So, perhaps another suggestion for an emergency contact would be the PCT-L
mail list. 

Respectfully,

L-Rod



-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Gary Wright
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2005 3:36 PM
To: Chai Guy
Cc: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Reporting Lost Hiker?


On Oct 21, 2005, at 5:55 PM, Chai Guy wrote:
> I had to give my brother a list of numbers (i.e. various Park
> Ranger offices) or if there was one single number, and if so what  
> might that
> number be?

I'd give him the number of the PCTA.  From them you
would be able to figure out the best approach for the
last known location ( i.e. trail angel, county sheriff, National
Forest Service, National Park, etc.).

Otherwise, just a list of towns.  In a pinch it should be easy to
locate a law enforcement phone number for a town.
_______________________________________________
pct-l mailing list
pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
unsubscribe or change options:
http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l