Search for Joe Domin GPSJoe

[Davis2001R6]

I hear you Trish, it's upsetting that it is almost as if they would rather you stay home. I'm guessing it does have a lot to do with past experience of city folk getting lost on a trail and there family & friends trying to find them. I would like to think we have a bit of a different group with a large amount of experience here that could be of value.

I don't understand the comments AT ALL about leaving the person alone and going back to contact them first. I could understand if a serious injury has occurred not moving the person, but not abandoning them all together.

I wish I were back in AZ to help out here, I keep checking some good news. Good luck to all who go this weekend!
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[Thoreau]

In any typical S&R operation, I'd agree with the 'questionable ability' issue of volunteers... only thing is, this isn't a group of random folks who saw this on the 6 o clock news and decided to jump on in. This is a community of experienced hikers who know the outdoors, how to keep safe, and some who might even know the area better than any person in that SAR team might. I'd like to think that we're MUCH more of a resource than a hinderance.

I would agree though, everyone MUST be very careful. Not only for individual safety, but watching out for signs. Snapped twigs/branches, footprints, and the (likely) numerous other signs that the SAR guys know to look for that I'm pretty sure I don't =( If in doubt, mark an area and report the coordinates to the SAR guys and let them approach it instead.

Mr. Bremson's posts on AZS point out one big thing that'll need to be adhered to for everyone's sanity... parking. If there's anyone out there with the will, and a vehicle that can handle it, it really would be VERY good to have someone (or a few people) dedicated to shuttling from a main parking area to the trailhead area. Just goes to show that boots on the ground in the field aren't the only things needed to keep this all running smoothly.

[GTG]

We must make sure that we do not hinder the official search for Joe.
We will need a central place as described earlier. On HAZ there has been discussions of such a spot and it is described here

[Suz]

Todd will you step up to be "our" coordinator? or shall we have someone that is not planning to hike do that job???

Let me know what time you are planning to leave camp on Sunday so that Trish and I may plan accordingly. We will need 2 hours per mapquest and are willing to leave at whatever time that requires. We will try to bring the Sunday folks in one vehicle. Let us know if you need anything else.

[SUN_HIKER]

Here is an important posting from Mountain Rescue:

Re: Missing hiker in Mazatzals - gpsjoe (Joe Domin)
Nov 18 2010 9:12 pm
“Hike AZ folks,
My name is David Bremson of Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Mountain Rescue/ Central Arizona Mountain Rescue Association. We are the primary team involved in the search for Joe (with outstanding assistance from Gila County/TRSAR).
It seems as though many of you would like to venture in to the area to search for Joe. Although we can not restrict you from doing so, please be aware of the following issues:
-As untrained searchers, it is likely that you could destroy any evidence of his presence by being in the area.
-The area is very challenging, do not go somewhere that is hazardous. We don't want anyone to get injured as this will delay the on-going search.
-If you do decide to search for him and you find him, please do not approach him or touch him or his equipment in any way. This will inhibit our ability to conduct an investigation in to the incident.
-If you do find him, contact the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office immediately and mark the location with your gps. Return to the trailhead and wait for a responding Deputy.
-I recommend that you wait until after the weekend as we will have many resources in the area and need access to the trailhead, which is very small and has limited parking. We also may need it to land our helicopter. If your vehicle is in the parking lot, we will not be able to use it.
It is great to see how close knit this community is and how you want to support a fellow hiker and his family. This would be a better place if everyone cared as much.
David Bremson
Mountain Rescue”
_________________
SUN_HIKER
http://community.webshots.com/user/sun_hiker
Nobody can make you feel inferior
without your permission.
-Eleanor Roosevelt-

[azhiker96]

I think part of Mr. Bremson's post was misunderstood. Certainly if we find Joe and he's breathing we should contact help and stay with him and administer aid. If it's obvious that Joe's left us to follow other trails, his mortal remains should be left untouched so that MCSO can determine why/how he left.
_________________
It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. -- Carl Sagan

[Davis2001R6]

It doesn't necessarily sound as if they want a dedicated person to stay back (although for a shuttle it sounds like one may need too), but just to have 1 person (not a group) visit the command center for some guidance before beginning the search.
_________________
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[SUN_HIKER]

Please read my post reg. Maricopa County Sheriff Dept- Mountain Rescue:

“Hike AZ folks,
My name is David Bremson of Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Mountain Rescue/ Central Arizona Mountain Rescue Association. We are the primary team involved in the search for Joe (with outstanding assistance from Gila County/TRSAR).
It seems as though many of you would like to venture in to the area to search for Joe. Although we can not restrict you from doing so, please be aware of the following issues:
-As untrained searchers, it is likely that you could destroy any evidence of his presence by being in the area.
-The area is very challenging, do not go somewhere that is hazardous. We don't want anyone to get injured as this will delay the on-going search.
-If you do decide to search for him and you find him, please do not approach him or touch him or his equipment in any way. This will inhibit our ability to conduct an investigation in to the incident.
-If you do find him, contact the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office immediately and mark the location with your gps. Return to the trailhead and wait for a responding Deputy.
-I recommend that you wait until after the weekend as we will have many resources in the area and need access to the trailhead, which is very small and has limited parking. We also may need it to land our helicopter. If your vehicle is in the parking lot, we will not be able to use it.
It is great to see how close knit this community is and how you want to support a fellow hiker and his family. This would be a better place if everyone cared as much.
David Bremson
Mountain Rescue”
_________________
SUN_HIKER
http://community.webshots.com/user/sun_hiker
Nobody can make you feel inferior
without your permission.
-Eleanor Roosevelt-

[azhiker96]

I've changed to Saturday due to the rain predicted for Sunday. That road gets very sloppy-treacherous in places when it's wet. I was with Ambica and Shawn when we had to get towed. It was tough to walk on some spots.

I do like the idea of camping in spot 8 and then using a shuttle to get to/from the TH. That will also limit the problems with vehicles if it does rain.
_________________
It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. -- Carl Sagan

[Thoreau]

With the number of people planning to show up, just between this site and Arizona Hikers, I think we need to establish a command post of some sort right on highway 87. There's plenty of space there for parking, coordinating efforts, etc. and is a spot everyone will HAVE to pass to get into the area anyway.

Centarlized communications, check-in/check-out, weather monitoring, shuttling, coordinating where teams go out to, and even rescue for volunteers can be handled MUCH better if we keep a small command post running. It can also help to keep traffic down on the road which is going to need to be kept clear for MCSO SAR operations as much as possible. It wouldn't take much to toss up a big board with a map on it and start tracking what's happening. Official SAR wants us to be as coordinated as possible, and I think that's a great idea.

I'm not much of one for directing operations, but I'm a radio operator, have some idea what I'm doing, and can help out a lot at the base.

Cabel might make a good candidate for running the show there as he has done SAR before and knows the area quite well.

The LAST thing we want is to have people wandering all over, no coordination, duplication of efforts, having our own folks getting lost/injured, etc.

[Thoreau]

With the number of people planning to show up, just between this site and HikeArizona, I think we need to establish a command post of some sort right on highway 87. There's plenty of space there for parking, coordinating efforts, etc. and is a spot everyone will HAVE to pass to get into the area anyway.

Centralized communications, check-in/check-out, weather monitoring, shuttling, coordinating where teams go out to, and even rescue for volunteers can be handled MUCH better if we keep a small command post running. It can also help to keep traffic down on the road which is going to need to be kept clear for MCSO SAR operations as much as possible. It wouldn't take much to toss up a big board with a map on it and start tracking what's happening. Official SAR wants us to be as coordinated as possible, and I think that's a great idea.

I'm not much of one for directing operations, but I'm a radio operator, have some idea what I'm doing, and can help out a lot at the base.

Cabel might make a good candidate for running the show there as he has done SAR before and knows the area quite well.

The LAST thing we want is to have people wandering all over, no coordination, duplication of efforts, having our own folks getting lost/injured, etc.

[Thoreau]

Also, for anyone planning to be out in the field on the search, a good baseline of supplies to have with EACH PERSON might look like:

6+ liters of water/gatorade/electrolyte drinks
First aid kit
GPS
Flashlight
Rope/paracord
Multitool
Trekking poles
GMRS radio (HAM if you have it)
Binoculars
Food
Emergency shelter/space blanket
Detailed maps
Compass
Firestarters
lightweight jacket (weather is looking a bit iffy)
SPOT satellite transmitter
Spare batteries
Good comfortable boots
Sunscreen

[tough_boots]

So it sounds like Saturday 7am at spot 8. Agreed?

[azhiker96]

I've changed to Saturday due to the rain predicted for Sunday. That road gets very sloppy-treacherous in places when it's wet. I was with Ambica and Shawn when we had to get towed. It was tough to walk on some spots.

I do like the idea of camping in spot 8 and then using a shuttle to get to/from the TH. That will also limit the problems with vehicles if it does rain.
_________________
It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. -- Carl Sagan

[tough_boots]

I'm changing to only Saturday, too... if it rains Saturday night its going to be a mess up there.