Missing in the Mountains #2

Missing in the Mountains #2

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:13):
Hello friends, Steve Stockton here with you. Welcome to our
latest episode. Now, hiking and climbing in the mountains is
a fantastic way to enjoy the benefits of nature. The
elements can help us stay fit and or at least tension. Sometimes,
our daily routine can be exhausting and discouragees from going
outdoors Adultimately, advantages of exploring new paths are too valuable

(00:37):
to ignore. Hiking and climbing can be therapeutic and affordable activities. However,
hiking and climbing in the mountains can quickly become perilous
for several reasons. Overconfidence, unforgiving terrain, catastrophic falls, unpredictable inclement weather, altitude, sickness,
exhaustion or dehydration, and even using a wrong gear can

(01:01):
lead to disastrous consequences. In this video, we'll discuss more
cases of individuals who went missing in the mountains while
hiking or climbing. Some of these individuals have been found
and some sadly remain missing. Join me, let's walk and see.

(01:37):
First we have Rich Moore Blackhead Peak, Colorado in August nineteenth,
twenty twenty three. Seventy three year old Rich Moore of
Pegosa Springs, Colorado, left with a planned a summit Blackhead Peak,
twelve five hundred foot peak in the San Juan Mountains
of southwestern Colorado with Finnie, his white Jack Russell terrier.

(01:58):
Outside Magazine said Rich's wife, Dana Holby, was in Montana
visiting her sister. Rich had previously hiked Blackhead Peak with
his friend Bill Milner in twenty twenty one and talked
frequently about going back, according to Outside Magazine. Outside also
reported that Blackhead Peak is the highest viewpoint on the

(02:18):
eastern horizon from Pagosa Springs. From the starting point, the
hike to Blackhead Peak gains twenty one and fifty feet
in elevation. Rich told Dana over the phone that he
planned to hike to peak with Finny, and Dana asked
him not to go alone, said Outside Magazine. Wind Rich
failed to check in that evening, Dana texted Bill Milner

(02:40):
and her son Caesar. A passerby reported that Rich's car
was parked at the trailhead parking lot. Caesar and a
neighbor drove to the trailhead that evening, and Bill Milner
met them there with supplies. They started hiking at midnight
and I don't think they got off the trail till
three am, Bill Milner told Outside Magazine. Meanwhile, Dana drove

(03:02):
through the night to get back home. The following day,
the Archiletta County Sheriff's Office began a search for Rich.
In the ensuing sixteen days, one hundred and seventy six
people including climbers, helicopters, and drones, searched the peak, and
dog teams scoured the trails looking for any signs of
the duo. Ryan Foster, the Emergency Management Commander of the

(03:26):
Archiletta County Sheriff's Office, told Outside Magazine that the mission
was one of the largest in county history. You got
to get through some steep terrain to get to the summit,
which made the searching pretty difficult. Foster said a lot
of teams had to be inserted with helicopters. Search teams
and personnel searched nearly two thousand hours for Rich and Finny,

(03:46):
the Archiletta County Sheriff's Office said. Outside Magazine said the
incident created a lot of interest in Pagosa Springs. Volunteers
posted pictures of Rich and Finny around town, and hikers
continued climbing Blackhead Peak helping to find them. According to
Outside Magazine, on the afternoon of October thirty, twenty twenty three,

(04:08):
Officer Robert Hill was in the Sheriff's office when a
message came through from a garment in Reach. The messages
from a hunter on horseback who said he had found
human remains and a dog on a wooded ridge on
Blackhead Peak. He said the dog was alive and he
was trying to catch it but couldn't. We were shocked,
Hill told Outside magazine. Outside also said that Archiletta County

(04:31):
Sheriff's Office had arranged for a helicopter transport to the area,
but the sun was already setting. They flew over the
ridge where the message had come from and saw nothing,
but found a suitable landing spot. The next day, Foster
and another crew member were airlifted onto the ridge line
at about five hundred feet according to Outside Magazine. After

(04:52):
some searching, they noticed Rich's remains, and beside Rich was Finny,
still alive. She looked scared, but she was moving well.
Boster told Outside she was very protective of Rich. CBS
News said Finney was reunited with her family after examination
and treatment. At a local animal hospital. The Lynde of

(05:13):
Vane Brighton with Tawse Search and Rescue said Pinney's magnificent
story of survival is a testament to her dedication and
loyalty to Moore. Jack Russell's are pretty fierce. I have
to say they're tough little dogs. Sadly, Rich Moore succumbed
to hypothermian exposure. According to the Archiletta County Corner Bradley Hunt,
he was lost stranded on a steep ridge on the

(05:35):
eastern side of the peak, far from the trail. He
smashed his glasses and probably could not see where he
was going. His body was about five hundred yards from
the farthest boundary of the search had said. His wife,
Dana Holby, told Outside Magazine it was kind of a closure,
I suppose, but I don't think there's ever closure on

(05:56):
someone you love next so, but Atlanta used to minco
Colorado Mountains in the summer of twenty twenty three, fifty
five year olds of Atlanta used to minco of Browd County, Florida,
had recently been diagnosed with the terminal illness. According to
the Grand County Sheriff's Office, as a means to cope

(06:17):
Spentlana rented a vehicle, set off for the mountains in
Grand County, Colorado, and ultimately vanished. Her family later reported
her missing to officials in Broward County. According to the
Sheriff's office, during the week of July thirty, the Grand
County Sheriff's Office noticed a rental car parked of the
trailhead with the Dead Horse Creek Trail, located off County

(06:38):
Road seventy three southwest of Fraser. Upon investigation, deputies and
a US four Service law enforcement officer discovered a white
twenty twenty two Nissan CenTra the Louisiana license plates that
appeared to have been parked there for an extended period
without use. According to the Sheriff's office, the car was
scheduled to be returned to the rental car company on

(06:58):
August tenth. According to officials, officers started searching the area
around the location of the rental car on the evening
of August eleven. The search continued on August twelve and thirteen.
On Friday, August eighteen, Grand County Search and Rescue conducted
a three hour small reconnoissance search. Then on Sunday, August twenty,

(07:20):
the Grand County Sheriff's Office said and extensive search was
carried out with the help of Grand County Search and Rescue,
Front Range rescue dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs of the
US or Sardies, and Colorado Search and Rescue, involving over
twenty five individuals and six human remains detection dogs. Unfortunately,

(07:40):
no clothes or signs of spet Lada were found. Grand
County Search and Rescue believed spot Lada was not in
the primary search area. The Grand County Sheriff's Office said
that despite the use of ground and rescuers both on
and off trail and rugged terrain with steep slopes, dead falls,
and thick brush, the use of multiple dog teams, Sheriff's offices,
investigators covering train on horseback, and drones on various days

(08:03):
throughout the last week, they were unsuccessful in locating spent Lana.
Grand County Search and Rescue estimated that more than seven
hundred hours between volunteers and other law enforcement staff were
devoted to the search efforts. Until additional clues or information services,
the search was suspended by the Sheriff's office. Grand County

(08:25):
Search and Rescues said they may conduct small scale operations
in areas they may determined to be of higher probability.
The Sheriff's office added, sadly, the families shared that spint
Lana had been diagnosed to eternal illness, was struggling as
she tried to cope, and was attracted to the Colorado Mountains.
The Grand County Sheriff's Office said the trailhead orse spent

(08:46):
Lana's rental car was found is commonly used by hikers,
mountain bikers, and other recreational enthusiasts. Although the official search
was called off, authorities are still investigating and spent Loana
remains missing. One with any information regarding Spantalhana's disappearance is
asked to contact the Grand County Sheriff's Office Dispatch at
nine seven zero seven two five three three one three next.

(09:14):
Eli Michelle and napion A Wall the Nali National Park
and Preserve, Alaska. On Friday May five, twenty twenty three,
thirty four year old Eli Michelle of Columbia City, Indiana,
and thirty two year old napion A Wall of Seattle,
Washington started climbing the Moss Tooth Peak at the Nali
National Park and Preserve. According to the National Park Service,

(09:38):
Eli and Napion's last communication was at five am on
May five. They checked in with a friend using an
Indo each satellite communication device. During the conversation, they mentioned
their plan to climb the west Ridge route of the
Moss Tooth, a mountain nearly two miles tall. The National
Park Service describes the Moosa's Tooth route as a steep

(09:59):
and technical one leading to the peak. On Sunday, May seventh,
twenty twenty three, Eli and Nafian's friend reported that they
had not returned as predicted and had not checked in
via in Reach. The National Park Service immediately executed a search.
Search members found Eli and Naffian's tent unattended and subsequently
discovered boot tracks leading to a recent small slab avalanche.

(10:23):
Temperatures when the pair went missing were between five and
twenty degrees fahrenheit at night. The National Park Service said
several pieces of the climber's equipment were also sited along
the thirty two hundred foot fall line, including two ice
axes and a climbing helmet. Eli and Nafian were only
supplied for a single day in the wilderness. Their friends

(10:44):
said to men planned to climb the route in a single,
long push. The Naulin National Park and Preserved spokesperson Marine
Guiltieri said, as is typical to minimize way to move fast,
they did not take over night gear, nor likely more
than a day's ply of food, water, and fuel. Mountaineering
rangers found evidence that the climbers were swept off their

(11:05):
feet by a small slab avalanche Friday evening while high
on the west Ridge route. The National Park Service said
rangers followed boot tracks continuing up the west Ridge. The
tracks do disappear at the avalanche. Park spokesperson Guiltieri said
by Thursday May eleventh, twenty twenty three, search leaders determined
that survival is outside the window of possibility for the

(11:28):
missing men. According to the National Park Service, the search
was ultimately scaled back, and subsequent intermittent narrow searches in
the area have yet to be successful in finding them.
Park spokesperson Marine Gultieri said in an email to the Tribune,
it is the park's policy and intent to find and
recover the remains, as long as their recovery does not

(11:50):
put the life of the rescuers in a potentially life
threatening situation. At the time of this recording, Eli and
Napion remained missing. Next, we have Kwang Trong Than, Split Mountain, California.
Kwan Trong Than, a sixty six year old resident of
Newport Beach, California, along with two others, embarked on a

(12:13):
climb to the north slope of Split Mountain on the
Sierra Nevada Crest from the Red Lake Trailhead on Sunday,
August twenty one, twenty twenty two. The initial plan was
to summit Split Mountain and returned via Inyo National Forest
on the same day. However, according to the Ineo County
Sheriff's Department, Klang separated from his group and assided to

(12:33):
return to the trailhead instead of summitting the mountain. The
National Park Service reported that he was not carrying any
overnight gear. Also, according to the National Park Service, Klang
was last seen on Sunday, August twenty one, twenty twenty two,
between three and four pm near the peak of Split Mountain,
close to the boundary of King's Canyon National Park and

(12:54):
Inyo National Forest, at an altitude of thirteen two hundred feet.
One part party member had waited sixty to ninety minutes
for Kwang and the other members to return. Wang had
indicated that he would either fall behind, wait for them there,
or head down, but the Inyo County Sheriff's Office said
no specific plan was made. The other two members returned

(13:15):
to the vehicle around three point thirty pm. Kwang had
left his helmet and jacket at Red Lake and had
yet to return to pick him up. His companions did
not see him on their descent. On Monday, August twenty second,
the Inyo County Sheriff's Department reported that Inyo Search and
Rescue received a call for a missing hiker at Red
Lake Slash Split Mountain. The California Highway Patrol searched for

(13:37):
Klong using high powered optics. According to the statement from
the Inyo County Sheriff's Office, two Search and Rescue members
visited the Red Lake trail and interviewed the two hikers
who were with Clog. On Tuesday, August twenty three, Sequoia
King's National Park helicopters scanned the area with high powered
optics but found nothing. The Inyo County Sheriff's Office reported

(13:58):
that on Wednesday, August twenty four, four Inyo Search and
Rescue members were inserted by the California Highway Patrol. Two
went to the point where Kwang was last seen and
two went to Red Lake. The two inserted where Kwang
was last seen scoured the summit, the Red Lake drainage,
the Tin of Maha drainage, and the lake under Myither Pass.

(14:20):
They searched the descent gully and spoke with a party
of three who had gotten funneled towards the wrong gully,
as the other members of Kwang's party did on their descent.
Both parties were able to turn around and find the
correct descent. The Inyo County Sheriff's office said that the
California Highway Patrol spent the entire day thoroughly surveying the area,
but there was no evidence of Kuong. The Nyal County

(14:41):
Sheriff's office said that the two Search and Rescue members
at Red Lake also scared the area with no trace
of Quong. They spoke with one hiker coming down and
mentioned getting funneled towards the wrong gully. The high elevation
of where Kwang was last seen and the scorching weather
made it challenging for helicopter operations and ground search. Despite
extensive efforts spanning over ten days, Quong's whereabouts remained unknown

(15:05):
and the search was placed in limited continuous mode. Quong's
itinerary was highly challenging and few other hikers were in
the area when he went missing. The National Park Service
said that simultaneous searches were led by Sequoia and King's
Canyon National Parks and the Inyo County Sheriff's Department, with
the assistance of Inyo National Forest, Inyo County Search and Rescue,
California National Guard, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue, the Air

(15:29):
Force Rescue Coordination Center, Tilare County and Los Angeles County
Sheriff's Departments, Yosemite, Death Valley and Pinnacles National Parks, the
Civil Air Patrol, California Governor's Office of Emergency Management, and
California Highway Patrol Inland Division air OPS. Anyone hiking in
the area at the time of Quong's disappearance with relevant
information is asked to police contact the Inyo County Sheriff's

(15:52):
Dispatch at seven six zero eight seven eight zero three
eight three Option four next. Barbara Goldberg, Blueberry Mountain Maine.
On Friday, August sixth, twenty twenty one, seventy eight year
old Barbara Goldberg from Potomac, Maryland went solo hiking on
Blueberry Mountain in Stowe, Maine. According to Mark Laddie, who

(16:14):
spokes was for the Main Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife,
Barbara's partner, Stephen Plotkin, dropped her off at the mountain
around nine am and last communicated with her around eleven
AM by a walkie talkie. According to the Portland Press Herald,
Stephen reported her missing after she failed to return to
the area where they planned to meet. According to the
Portland Press Herald, Stephen informed the police that Barbara said

(16:36):
she was almost at the summit and told them she
would return to the stone House Road parking lot by noon. However,
Barbara did not return to the agreed meeting place by
two thirty pm. At that point, Stephen contacted the police
and they began searching for her. Around three pm that day,
The Portland Press Herald said main officials from various locations
of volunteer crews from main search and rescue dogs come

(16:58):
nearby trails and roads by land and air. During the search,
one of the main search and rescue dogs found her
walkie talkie near a ledge on Blueberry Mountain. The wardens
used Barbara's iPad to track her cell phone, and the
Portland Press Herald said that a volunteer calling her phone
during the search heard a ringing sound. This ultimately led
to the discovery of her remains at the base of

(17:19):
the ledges on Saturday, August seventh. The Main Department of
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said Barbara's passing is not suspicious,
but did not release the cause to the public. Next
Tatum Morrell Beartooth Mountains, Montana. Tatum Morrell, a twenty three
ye old skilled hiker from Idaho, began her hike from
the West Fork trailhead near Red Lodge on Thursday, July one,

(17:41):
twenty twenty one. As reported by the Carbon County Sheriff's Office.
She last contacted her mother using a satellite communicator at
eight pm the same day. Tatum had planned to hike
five mountain peaks in the Bartooth Mountains, home to the
highest forty one peaks in Montana, over five days. According
to Red Lodge Fire Rescue. It is believed that Tatum
departed from her campsite at Shadow Lake on Friday July

(18:04):
two to hike one of the peaks in the area. However,
she did not return. Ground teams search the routes Tatum
may have taken on Wednesday, July seven, focusing on Sundance,
bow Back Castle and Whitetail Mountains. From Sunday night to
Tuesday evening, helicopter crews from the National Guard and two
Bear Air searched the area using infrared cameras, cell phone tracking,

(18:25):
and reco tracking. At the same time, round crews searched
the area of her camp. Red Lodge Search and Rescue
and the Carbon County Sheriff's Office were joined by rescue
teams statewide and from Wyoming, including the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office,
Galton County Search and Rescue, Big Horn County Search and Rescue,
Park County, Wyoming Search and Rescue, US Fourth Service, three

(18:47):
search dog teams, and three helicopters. According to Red Lodge
Fire Rescue, on Saturday, August twenty one, twenty twenty one,
a group of hikers located Tatum's remains in the White
Tail Peak area after noticing a piece of hiking equipment
on the trail. Carbon County Sheriff Josh McQuillan said the
hikers were aware of the search efforts for Tatum, and
a closer look at the area revealed her beneath what

(19:09):
appeared to be a rock slide in an area previously searched.
Finding her, especially buried in that rock slide, answered a
lot of questions as the wire ground crews couldn't find her,
why helicopters couldn't find her, and even why search dogs
couldn't find her. That helps us a lot with putting
the pieces of the puzzle together, said John Trapp, the
assistant chief of Red Lodge Fire Rescue. The hikers provided

(19:32):
authorities with GPS coordinates, and Sheriff McQuillan said they confirmed
the location of the remains on the morning of August
twenty two in a helicopter owned by the Elstone County
Sheriff's Office. Two Bear air transported Tatum's remains from the
mountains to the Red Lodge Airport. The Sheriff's office believes
Tatum was climbing White Tail Peak when she was caught
in a significant rockslide and suffered catastrophic injuries. The Carbon

(19:54):
County Sheriff's office said, we could not be more grateful
and thankful to all the personnel and agencies that were
together in this effort to hopefully bring some peace enclosure
to the Morrell family and could not have carried out
this effort without all of their assistants. Next Cassandra Bravo
Mount Whitney. Cassandra Bravo, a thirty four year old nurse

(20:15):
and mother of two, went missing on Thursday, November five,
twenty twenty, while hiking solo on Mount Whitney, which is
located on the boundary of Sequoia National Park and Inyo
National Forest. According to the National Park Service, Mount Whitney
is the most frequently climbed mountain peak in Sierra Nevada.
The shortest and most popular route to the summit is
from Whitney Portal, which has an elevation of eight thousand,

(20:37):
three hundred and sixty feet at the trailhead and fourteen thousand,
four hundred and ninety four feet at the summit. Cassandra
only intended to hike for the day. Later on Thursday,
Cassandra's friends and family were concerned after they had not
heard from her. They learned the Inyo County Sheriff's Office,
which found her vehicle park at Mount Whitney Portal in
Ino National Forest. A go fund me page for Andre's

(21:00):
children said that her boyfriend, father, and several close friends
began searching for on Friday, November six. They were joined
by the Inno County Search and Rescue Team the following day.
Cassandra was found alive down a steep slope of rock
on the morning of Saturday, November seven, apparently having slipped
and fallen approximately one hundred feet and had managed to

(21:20):
make her way behind a large tree stump. According to
the GoFundMe page, Cassandra spent two nights in freezing cold temperatures.
According to the Inio County Sheriff's Office, she was wearing
only a tank top and leggings amid freezing temperatures and
a windshill of minus twenty degrees fahrenheit. She was airlifted
to a local hospital, but sadly succumbed to her injuries.

(21:41):
Those of us that knew Cassandra knew she was a
fighter and strong. The gofund me pag said, we know
she fought to stay alive. She was an amazing nurse.
She leaves behind her two beautiful children whom she lived for.
She was an amazing person with a taker to leave it,
personality that really enjoyed life. The page said. Next, we

(22:01):
have Mitzi Sioux Susan Clements Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
On Tuesday September twenty five, twenty eighteen, fifty three year
old Mitzi Sioux Susan Clements of Ohio went hiking with
her daughter on the forty Ridge Trail in the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park on the border of Tennessee and
North Carolina. According to the National Park Service, she was

(22:23):
last seen around five PM that day. According to Julina Campbell,
spokesman for the National Park Service, who spoke to WATE
TV Knoxville, the pair of returning from Andrews Bald. The
one point eight mile Andrews Bald Trail is considered to
be modern in difficulty, with an elevation change of around
four hundred feet from the parking lot up to the
point where descends to the Bald at five eight hundred

(22:45):
and sixty feet elevation. When they were about a quarter
mile from Andrews Bald, Mitsy's daughter walked ahead of her
for a short while since she was a faster hiker.
They made plans to meet at the parking lot, but
Mitzi never returned and was reported missing. Search for Mitzi
lasted a week and involved one hundred and seventy five
train personnel from five states and some fifty organizations, helicopters, drones,

(23:08):
and canine units. Any tracks, any sense that the dogs
could have picked up were pretty much raised in those
first couple of days because of on off rain, said
spokesperson Campbell. You can't see the person standing next to you.
It's that thick. Search parties combed over five hundred miles
of trails and ten square miles of off trail terrain
to find Mitzi. Search crews discovered Mitzi's remains on October two,

(23:31):
twenty eighteen. According to the National Park Service, the remains
were found in a dense foliage area down the steep
Huggins Creek drainage in Swain County. The location was approximately
three fourths of a mile south of the Appalachian Trail
and two miles west of the Kleingman's Dome parking area.
The autopsy concluded Mitzi passed away from complications of hypothermia

(23:51):
due to exposure to adverse environmental conditions. The National Parks ever,
said she wore a light sweater, leggings, nylon workout pants,
and clear rain pun show. Medical examiner's report also listed
dehydration as a contributing factor. Mitzi had no other signs
of significant trauma and there were no signs of foul play.
We just don't know what happened, spokesman Campbell said. Because

(24:14):
it was in the middle of nowhere, there aren't any
trails nearby. The closest trail to that would have been
the Appalachian Trail. We don't know if she was on
that trail. In a statement, Mitzy's family said, I want
to specifically thank the National Park Service for their incredible efforts.
The cooperation shown between more than fifty agencies was amazing, comforting,
and very supportive. Next, we have Eric Lewis Mount Rainier, Washington.

(24:40):
On the morning of July first, twenty ten, the American
Alpine Club said Eric Lewis, a fifty seven year old
mountain climber, went missing while ascending the Gibraltar Ledges route
on Washington's Mount Rainier, the most glaciated peak in the
contiguous US, with a three person team. The climbers encountered
high wind and low visibility on their journey. Eric gunclipped

(25:00):
from the climbing rope at some point. According to the
American Alpine Club, Don Storm Junior led the team and
was joined by the second climber, Trevor Lane. The pair
stopped to wait for Eric to catch up at thirteen
nine hundred feet. However, when they reled the rope in
the American Alpine Club said they found only a coil
with a butterfly knot. They saw Eric on the rope

(25:21):
moments before and immediately searched for him on the below slope.
After a thorough local search, they proceeded to the summit
Ridge in case Eric had invaded them, The American Alpine
Club said, when they did not locate him on the
Summit Ridge, they returned to Camp Muir and reported the
incident to officials. Climbing ranger Tom Payne and two mountain
guides set off from Camp Muir to the summit on Thursday,

(25:42):
July one to search for Erik. Despite their efforts, they
were unable to find any signs of him. The American
Alpine Club reported that the search team returned to Camp Muir,
while more resources were sent to assist and provide support personnel.
The American Alpine Club said that the search expanded on Friday,
July second, with more than forty personnel involved. Round Searchers

(26:03):
included National Park Service climbing rangers, climbing guides from ra
Near Mountaineering, Alpine Ascents, International International Mountain Guides, volunteers from
Mountain Rescue, and helicopters. The American Alpine Club said later
on July two, one team of ground searches located Eric's
backpack at thirteen thou six hundred feet and then a
small snow cave about two hundred vertical feet above it,

(26:25):
According to the American Alpine Club, Another search team climbed
the Gibraltar Ledges route along with the Upper Nisquali and
Ingram glaciers. A third search team concentrated efforts on the
west side of the East Crater Rim, looking in the
steam caves when possible. Another search team, consisting of rangers
from Camp Sherman, climbed the Emmons route to search the
Summit Rim steam caves and joined the alpine search effort

(26:48):
in the vicinity of the Ingram Glacier and the disappointment lever.
On the third day of the search, air and ground
operations resumed. The American Alpine Club reported that rangers station
at Camp Mirror continued their ground search operations by skiing
down to the base of Gibraltar Shoot to look for
any signs of aeric. They shifted their focus to the
Nisquali Glacier side in case Eric fell while climbing the

(27:10):
Gibraltar Ledges or the Gibraltar Shoot routes. The rangers thoroughly
examined the terrain in the fall line and explored the
base of the Nisquali Ice Fall and the Mirrore Rocks
Ridge leading up to the Gibraltar Shoot. They climbed up
to and into the bergishmund under the chute. The American
Alpine Club said after searching the area extensively in and
adjacent to Eric's last known whereabouts and finding no additional clues,

(27:33):
the American Alpine Club said the likelihood of finding him
alive diminished. Due to the frigid and windy weather conditions
at the time of disappearance and the fact that Eric
did not carry emergency gear. The chances of finding him
alive became slim. The weather forecast for the fourth day
predicted heavy wind and precipitation, which would hinder air and
ground search efforts. The American Alpine Club said, although the

(27:55):
weather conditions likely played a significant role in Eric's disappearance,
contributing factors that led to it may never be fully understood.
It's unclear why he detached himself from his partner's rope,
the American Alpine Club said. Some theories suggests that he
may have done so to avoid slowing his group down
to deal with a personal problem, or due to exhaustion, hypothermia,

(28:16):
or altitude sickness. How long Eric survived before succumbing to
the cold or falling is also uncertain, as he had
no sleeping bag, tint or extra clothing beyond what he
was already wearing. Sadly, Eric Lewis has never been found.
Next Joe Halper, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Joe Halper,

(28:37):
a twenty two year old graduate student from Chicago, along
with his best friend's brother, Sam Garrick, reached the summit
of Flat Top Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park on
August fifteenth, nineteen thirty three. As Errant Udell of the
Colorado and reported the pair are on a western road
trip with Alfred's parents, Solomon and Fanny. Udel said they
traveled up through South Dakota before ending their trip with

(28:59):
camping in high in Rocky Mountain National Park. Udell writes
that after Joe and Sam summited Flat Top Mountain, Joe
wanted to continue hiking toward Taylor Peak. Sam decided to
head back, so they went their separate ways around two
thirty pm and planned to meet back at the Bear
Lake trailhead. Udell said Sam got there at six thirty
pm and waited. Three hours passed without a sign of Joe,

(29:21):
so he called for a ranger. Udil said a search
started that night around ten pm, with rangers taking electric
lights into the area. Days went by without any sign
of Joe. According to Udell, Joe was last seen wearing
a white and blue striped shirt, khaki pants, and heavy boots.
He carried a small backpack containing a few sandwiches, fruit,
and a nineteen thirty three guidebook pro motors visiting the

(29:43):
Rocky Mountain National Park. The weather conditions that week included
forty degree nights, rain and windstorms. After six days of searching,
Udell said Sam Garrick wrote a letter to his brother
Isidoor in Chicago. I've got some tragic news. Joe Halpern
disappeared in the mountains last Tuesday, and nothing has been
heard of him since. The last couple of days. Have

(30:05):
been miserable out here, with a deadly gloom prevailing. Miss
Halpern cries all night long. Udell said. Many theories arose
about what happened to Joe, including hit his head and
suffered from amnesia. Udell said an acquaintance claim that he
saw Joe in the winter of nineteen thirty three begging
for meal outside of Phoenix restaurant. According to the Colorado

(30:25):
Bureau of Investigation, unsubstantiated reports placed Joe in Phoenix, Arizona,
in December of nineteen thirty four, with the Lewis Brothers
circus in Michigan in the summer of nineteen thirty five,
ort traveling with the Civilian Conservation Court near Alliance, Nebraska
in May of nineteen thirty five. Sadly, no conclusive trace
of Joe was ever found, and his family believed he

(30:47):
never made it out of the mountains. Ronald Halpern, the
son of Joe's brother Bernard, Halpern told Udale that Bernard
never spoke much of his brother Joe, but did say
don't go hiking alone, because that's what happened to my
brother and he disappeared. No before you go. If you
plan to go hiking or climb in the mountains, it's

(31:07):
crucial to research herea beforehand. Then sure your safety enhance
your overall experience. Take the time to familiarize yourself with
the terrain, weather patterns, and potential hazards. Keep yourself updated
with the weather forecast, and be prepared for sudden changes
in conditions, especially in mountainous areas where unexpected storms can occur.
And sure you have appropriate gear for your activity and

(31:29):
the conditions, like hiking boots, warm clothes, a first aid kit,
a map, and a compass is recommended. To always carry
a whistle and a flashlight with spare batteries if you
get lost or hurt. These tools can be handy for
calling out for help and signaling others for assistance. Inform
someone about your destination and expected return time. This way

(31:50):
they can take necessary actions to locate you in case
of unforeseen circumstances. It's crucial to recognize your capabilities and
avoid exceeding your limits. If you feel unsafe, returning and
attempting the task another day is best. Your safety should
always be your top priority. Stay on designated trails, properly
dispose of trash, and avoid disturbing wildlife. In conclusion, these

(32:14):
stories of individuals have gone missing in the mountains are
a poignant reminder of the unpredictable and challenging nature of
these environments. The complexities of search and rescue operations, the
harsh conditions of mountainous terrain, and the myriad factors contributing
to disappearances underscore the need for increased awareness, preparation, and
responsible outdoor exploration. As we reflect on these cases, it

(32:37):
becomes clear that fostering and culture of safety, education and
vigilance is essential for both seasoned adventures and novices alike.
By learning from the experiences of those who have encountered
the challenging trials of the mountains, we can strive to
establish a safer and more knowledgeable community of outdoor enthusiasts. Ultimately,
our efforts to comprehend and prevent potential dangers should be

(33:00):
our top priority. To true of the mountains, despite their
breathtaking beauty, and grandeur are explored with the utmost respect
and awareness of their inherent risk. Well, friends, there you
have it. What do you think of these cases of
people who went missing the mountains? I look forward to
your comments, but please keep it friendly and respectful. Until

(33:23):
we meet again. Be good to yourselves and each other.
Stay safe out there. As for me, I'll see a
little further on down the trail. I'm Steve Stockton and
I'll talk to you next time. And please tell your
animals I said hi.