November 27, 2023 • 33 mins
Join Steve as he explores Legends, Stories, and Missing Persons cases from Joshua Tree National Park. Written by Nicole Stockton.
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Steve on Amazon
More Book Series from Steve
Join Steve's YouTube channel, Among the Missing
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hello friends, Steve Stockton here withyou. Welcome to our latest episode.
In this video, we'll take alook at legends, stories, and the
missing from Joshua Tree National Park.Join me, let's walk and see now.
Joshua Tree National Park is located insoutheastern California, east of Los Angeles
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and close to Palm Springs. Thepark is named after the Joshua trees native
to the Mojave Desert. It spansacross San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. It
encomps as portions of two deserts,with each ecosystem's characteristics primarily determined by its
elevation, the higher Mojave Desert andthe lower Colorado Desert. Additionally, the
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Little San Bernardino Mountains run along thesouthwest border of the park. According to
the National Park Service, humans havean inhabited the Joshua Tree area for over
five thousand years. However, inthe late nineteen twenties, two roads were
built into the desert, leading toan influx of land developers and cactus poachers.
Minerva Hoyt, a resident of Pasadenawho was passionate about desert plants,
(01:08):
became concerned about removing cacti and otherplants for use in Los Angeles Gardens.
She tirelessly worked towards protecting this area, which ultimately led to the designation of
eight hundred and twenty five thousand acresas Joshua Treat National Monument in nineteen thirty
six. Before nineteen forty, thesuperintendent of the Yosemite National Park administrated this
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monument. However, James Cole becamethe first superintendent in nineteen forty. The
National Park Service received the eastern partof the historic Oasis of Mara in nineteen
fifty, which the Twenty nine PalmsCorporation needed. The monument was reduced by
two hundred and sixty five thousand acresin the same year to exclude mining property.
(01:51):
On October thirty one, nineteen ninetyfour, Joshua Treat National Monument was
upgraded to park status as a partof the Desert Protection Bill. An additional
two hundred and thirty four thousand acresare added to the park, with a
new boundary following natural features such asentire mountain ranges instead of survey lines.
This change provides better resource protection,easier boundary identification and monitoring, and essential
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habitat for desert big horns sheep.The park's elevations range from below five hundred
and thirty six feet to a highas eight hundred and fourteen feet at Quayle
Mountain. In nineteen seventy six,Congress declared four hundred and twenty thousand acres
within Joshua Tree National Park as wilderness. Out of the total seven hundred ninety
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two, six hundred and twenty threeacres of the park's area, five hundred
and ninety one thousand, six hundredand twenty four are designated as wilderness.
The park provides shelter to eight hundredand thirteen higher plant species, forty six
reptile species, fifty seven mammal species, and over two hundred and fifty bird
species. According to the Federal Register, the desert Farness as listed is threatened,
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the triple ribbed milk betch is endangered, and Parish's daisy is threatened.
Furthermore, forty nine plant species areprotected within the park. Joshua Tree has
one paleontological area, with potentially eightmore. The park has taken measures to
preserve over seven hundred archaeological sites,eighty eight historic structures, and nineteen cultural
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landscapes. It also holds a museumcollection of two hundred and thirty thousand,
three hundred items. National Park Serviceofficials say that Joshua Tree National Park is
most comfortable to visit during the falland spring seasons. The highs during these
seasons usually range from seventy to eightyfive degrees fahrenheit, while the lows are
around fifty degrees fahrenheit. In thewinter, the tempture drops below freezing at
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night, and the highs are usuallyaround sixty fahrenheit. There can be occasional
snow at higher elevations. Summers arehot, with highs reurching over one hundred
degrees fahrenheit and the low around seventyfive degrees fahrenheit at night. It's important
to note that the park is busyduring springtime and holidays, so it can
get crowded. Joshua Tree is alsoprone to strong winds and flash flooding during
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any season. It takes around fortyfive minutes to drive from the west entrance
in Joshua Tree to the North entrancein twenty nine Palms. If you're driving
from the north entrance to the southentrance, the drive will take approximately one
hour. And if you're driving fromthe West entrance to the South entrance,
the drive will take roughly an hourand a half. The National Park Service
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is responsible for maintaining one hundred andninety nine miles of roads, of which
ninety three miles are paved and onehundred and six miles are unpaved. The
park has nine campgrounds comprising five hundredand twenty three camp sites and two horse
camps. There are ten picnic areaswith thirty picnic sites. The park can
be accessed through any of the thirtytwo available trailheads, where visitors can explore
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them one hundred and ninety one milesof hiking trails offered by the park.
A National Park Service warns that cellphone reception in the park is limited and
should not be relied upon. RepublicWi Fi is available to Black Rock Visitor
Center, the Joshua Tree Visitor Center, and the Joshua Tree Cultural Center.
Visitors should consider downloading the official NationalPark Service app before entering the park,
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which allows access to offline maps forfree. Joshua Tree National Park is also
an International Dark Sky Park. It'san ideal location for visitors to witness the
mesmerizing beauty of the Milky Way,which is often a unique and unforgettable experience.
On a clear and moonless night,you should have no difficulty viewing the
stars from any part of the park. However, it is important to note
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that light pollution from surrounding areas affectsthe night skies of Joshua Tree, causing
some areas of the park to bedarker than others. Now Here are some
safety tips for visiting Joshua Tree NationalPark. It's vital to be mindful of
the following tips and safety suggestions fromthe National Park Service. Cell Phone service
coverage is extremely limited inside the park, Therefore, relying on your cell phone
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in an emergency is not advisable.However, if you are in an area
with cell phone service, you candown nine one one or called nine zero
nine three eight three five six fiveto one per assistance. You can also
use emergency phones at the Indian CoveRanger Station intersection Rock parking lot for the
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Cottonwood Visitor Center. High temperatures,intense sunlight, and low humidity characterize summer
in the desert. Drinking at leastone gallon of water daily is essential to
avoid dehydration. Visits to the parkshould bring enough water with them for their
visit. However, nottable water isavailable to visitor center in twenty nine Palms
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at park headquarters, at Indian CoveRanger Station, Cottonwood Campground, black Rock
Campground, and the West Entrance Station. Always travel with extra water in your
vehicle. Snacking on food items ona hot day can help replace electrolytes lost
through sweating. Protect yourself from thesun by wearing loose fitting, light colored
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clothing, a wide brimmed hat,and sunglasses. Remember to apply sunscreen to
all exposed skin to prevent sunburn.It's also crucial to remember that any wild
animal can be dangerous if approached.Additionally, these animals might carry lethal diseases.
Therefore is best of either from adistance or from the safety of your
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car. Please avoid approaching them totake pictures and educate children not to chase
or pick up animals. Feeding wildlifeis not recommended, as it can harm
the animals and cause them to becomeaggressive toward humans. To prevent animals from
consuming your food, store it inhard sighting containers or in your vehicle.
Catching a glimpse of wildlife in thepark is always an exhilarating experience. However,
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it's essential to remember that the parkis their natural habitat and we must
ensure that they can live without thestairs. The park is home to venomous
animals such as rattlesnakes, scorpions andblack wodow spiders. Therefore, when hiking
or climbing, look before placing yourhands or feet and avoid stepping or reaching
into places you cannot see. Beescan be dangerous. If their hives are
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threatened, they may attack, sostaying away and listening for buzzing is best.
Bees are attracted to moisture, includinghuman sweat, and are particularly active
in the dry summer. Don't swatat them. Keep food and drinks inside
your vehicle and roll up your windows. Be cautious when exiting your car.
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Bees will collect water from any availablesource to regulate their hives temperature. If
you're allergic to bees, visit windbe activity is low in winter, and
always carry medication. It's crucial toremain vigilant when driving on park roads,
as they are narrow curving and havesoft, sandy shoulders. Make sure to
follow the hosted speed limits, asmany wild animals have been killed by speeding
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cars, use pull outs or parkinglots instead of stopping in the travel light
when viewing scenery or wildlife. Offroad driving is prohibited in case she experienced
car trouble. Stay with your vehicleis essential to exercise caution and prepare for
storms and flash floods. Avoid canyonsand washes during rainstorms, and be ready
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to move to higher ground if necessaryto stay safe. Now here's some legends
and paranormal activity from Joshua Tree.First up, the Yuka Man. There
have been many alleged sightings of mysteriousdesert creatures and around the Mojave. These
have been given different names, suchas the Mojave Bigfoot, the Sierra Highway
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Devil, and Marvin of the Mojave. The Yuka Man, as he's commonly
known, is a desert adapted sasquatchthat is said to inhabits southern California,
Nevada, and Arizona. Been seenin the Antelope Valley area since the nineteen
seventies. Next, the Barker damnTrail. The Barker Dam Trail is a
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brief hike that leads to an oldwater source used by Native Americans in the
past. According to local legends.The trail is believed to be haunted by
the spirits of the Chimmy Wavy,people who were displaced from the area by
European settlers. The Chimmy Wavy heldthe area in high regard, believing it
to be sacred, and the spiritsof their ancestors are rumored to reside there
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still. Watch for unusual rock formationsas you hike along this trail. Some
hikers have reported feeling a sense ofpeace or reverence, as if they were
in the presence of something sacred.Others claim to have seen ghostly apparitions or
heard channing in the distance. Next, we have the Wall Street Mill Trail.
The Wall Street Mill Trail is anintermediate hike that leads you through a
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fascinating gold mining area. The minewas used to process gold oar and was
abandoned in the nineteen forties. Somepeople believe that the spirits of the mill's
former workers still haunt the area.Be alert for shadowy figures or unusual lights
when exploring the old mill. Severalhikers have reported feeling uneasy, as though
they were being watched. Some haveeven heard whiskers and footsteps coming from the
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empty Mill. Next, we havethe Lost horse Mine Trail. The Lost
horse Mine Trail takes to the remainsof an old gold mine. It's believed
that the mine is haunted by theghost of a miner who died in a
tragic mining accident. Legend says thespirit still roams the area searching for lost
gold. The Lost horse Mine Trailhas a chilling reputation. Many hikers have
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felled a cold breeze even to menhot summer temperatures. Others have reported hearing
pick axes striking rocks, but noone else is nearby. Lastly, we
have Graham Parsons. Country rock musicianGraham Parsons passed away just outside Joshua Tree
National Park at the Joshua Tree Inn. As for his last request, his
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friend stole his body off the tarmacat lax and disposed of it by burning
it under the overhang at Cap Rockin Death Valley National Park. If you'd
like to hear more about the legendof Graham Parsons and his goings on in
Joshua Tree, one of his favoriteplaces, check out my book National Park
Mysteries and Disappearances, Volume two,California from our own experiences at the Joshua
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Tree Inn. Now we have themissing, the found, and tragedies in
Joshua Tree National Park. First up, we have Anna Nuno. In January
twenty twenty three, fifty eight yearold avid adventure and hiker Anna Nuno of
Lakewood, California, fell and hither head in Rattlesnake Canyon, an area
inside the Indian Cove district of JoshuaTree National Park. Authority said how Anna
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felt was unclear, but there wasno suspicion of foul play. Park rangers
and search and rescue volunteers responded toDanna's aid after receiving notification by cell phone
of an inn inured hiker. However, she sadly succumbed to her head trauma,
according to the Desert Sun News.According to the Los Angeles Times,
Rattlesnake Canyon features a two point sixmile trail near twenty nine Palms that takes
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just over an hour to complete.The Sheriff's Office reported that Rattlesnake Canyon and
the Wonderland of Rocks area are challengingto navigate due to their remoteness, difficult
terrain, and lack of self owedservice. Kiki knew. No Ana's daughter
said, our mother was a kind, caring and giving person who always put
the needs of her family before herown. She was a strong woman who
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faced every challenge in her life withcourage and dignity. Our mother was a
source of inspiration to us all andwill be deeply missed by everyone whose lives
she touched. Next up Trammel Evans. According to the National Park Service,
twenty five year old A. TrammelEvans was last seen on April thirty,
twenty twenty three, when he wasdropped off at the Black Rock Campground in
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the northwest corner of Joshua Tree NationalPark. Trammell planned to hike from black
Rock to Geology Tour Road, thenback to black Rock by the California Riding
and Hiking Trail. National Park Serviceofficial set in a news release. He
was supposed to be picked up onMay five at eleven Am my Friend,
but he was not there and wasreported missing. Park Service officials initiated a
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search and rescue on May five,twenty twenty three. The search team consisted
of highly trained trackers, searchers,and climbers familiar with the area and aerial
searches. Park official set. Trammel'smother, Amy Evans, has received unconfirmed
tips that he has been spoted alivein Slab City and Wonder Valley. These
sightings remained unconfirmed by the family's privateinvestigator. Sadly, Trammel is still missing
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at the time of this video.He's described as being six foot three inches
tall and weighing one hundred and ninetypounds. He has reddish brown hair,
brown eyes, and facial hair.He was last seen wearing a silver,
white and gray sun a black Patagoniapuffy vest, blue shorts, blue shoes,
a black Arii backpack, an eggcrate style sleeping pad, a dark
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green beanie, and a Patagonia fannypack. Anyone with information regarding Trammell's disappearance
or whereabouts has asked to contact theNational Park Service at eight eight eight sixty
five three zero zero nine nine four. You can call nine zero nine three
eight three five six five two.Next up, we have Michael Spitz.
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On January sixteenth, twenty twenty two, thirty five year old teacher Michael Spits
of San Diego, California, wasfree solo climbing the one hundred foot Illusion
Dweller in Joshua Tree National Park.The following day, around nine fifty am,
two hikers found him deceized at thebase of the central wall near the
Hidden Valley nature trail, according toThe Desert Sun and according to the Times
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of San Diego. A Facebook postfrom Santa Fe Christian Schools in Salona Beach,
where Michael worked as a Spanish teacher, described him as a multi sport
adventure athlete, lifelong surfer, avidrock climber, licensed skydiver, backpacker,
and lover of books and coffee.The medical examiners often stated that he sustained
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an unspecified injury around five point thirtypm on Sunday. According to the Times
of San Diego, officials estimate thatMichael fell at least eighty feet. According
to Owen Clark of climbing dot Com, Brian ja Lad, Michael's friend of
eight years, said Illusion Dweller wasone of Michael's favorite climbs in Joshua Tree.
He loved the route. He wasworking on a climb nearby, leave
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it to beaver having to warm upon Illusion Dweller. He was very comfortable
with it. Next Tina Lynn Fiorion March twenty sixth, twenty twenty two,
fifty one year old Tina Lynn Fiori, a climber from Riverside County,
California, went climbing two others inan area known as Turkey Tear and Joshua
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Tree National Park after celebrating a friend'sbirthday. According to The Desert Sun,
Matt Hemmelstein, who was part ofTina's three person climbing team, told The
Desert Sun that the trio was toproping, a climbing method involving string air
rope through a permanent anchor system atthe top of the climb. The rope
acts as a safety mechanism that supportsa climber's weight if they fall. A
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second person assistant gathering slack at thebottom of the climb and serving as a
counterweight. Matt explained to The DesertSun that climbing equipment, such as a
type of nylon rope known as webbing, is often left attached to the permanent
anchors at the top of a climb. Tina just ended up being the last
person in the day to climb upthere, he said. She got to
the top and told us that shehad secured herself, so the person down
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to the bottom was no longer doingthat safety work. Matt told the Desert
Son that Tina ran her safety ropethrough nylon webbing left by someone who had
previously climbed the route. The desertis not kind to nylon, so I
can't tell you how old it was, he said. But it doesn't take
a whole lot. It doesn't takea whole lot of time sitting in the
sun, baking and also getting rainedon, being frozen and all that stuff.
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When Tina leaned back to repel downthe rocks, the weathered webin gave
way and she fell to her death. Tina had fallen at least eighty feet
near the Sheep Pass campground. Ina press release, Joshua Tree Superintendent David
Smith said, our hearts go outto Miss Fiori's family and friends during this
extremely painful time. Next up,Paul Hanks. Fifty four year old avid
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hiker and attorney Paul Hanks set outto celebrate his birthday with a hike in
Joshua Tree National Park on March eleventh, twenty eighteen. According to CBS News
Los Angeles. He wore shorts anda T shirt and took just a few
energy packs and a few hours worthof water. All had been to Joshua
Tree several times, but this timewould be different. Bouldering or rock copping.
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He fell approximately twenty feet, shatteredhis left heel and broke his pelvis.
It happened. I slipped, andit was just having not slipped in
forty five years. It was instantand total shock, he told CBS News.
Paul called out for help, butthe vast desert echoed his cries back
to him. As the sunset andthe temperature plummeted, he found refuge beneath
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a Joshua tree, hoping the drysoil around it would provide him some cushioning
and that he could use the loosedirt to warm himself up. By this
point he was out of water,according to CBS. But the very first
night, I was drinking my ownurine, he said, I drank all
the water in my bottle and wasrefilling my bottle with my own urine.
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Paul fell a second time, aboutfifteen feet and hit his head. He
ate cactus for food. He wasin and out of consciousness, but refused
to give up. To quit out. There is basically a death sentence,
he told CBS on day five hethought he was dreaming when he heard voices.
They belonged to the search and rescuecrew that found him. These three
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angels appeared out of nowhere, andI was shocked. I just couldn't believe
it, he said. I don'twant to say i'd given up, but
multiple times I'd written myself off thatI was never going to see another human
being again. Paul was taken toa Palm Springs hospital and was reunited with
his family. Despite facing multiple surgeries, he was expected to make a full
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recovery. You're out there and you'reon your last breath of life. I
would think he would be fantasizing aboutmuch greater things, but for some reason,
I was just fantasizing about chugging downa gatorade. All said, Next
up. David Sewell. On Saturday, April twenty one, twenty eighteen,
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seventy six year old legally blind hikerDavid Sewell left a Quail Spring parking lot
for an unspecified location in Johnny LaneCanyon. According to National Park officials,
David's vehicle was out on Saturday ataround eight pm in the Quail Springs parking
lot for a news release from theNational Park Service. A note was found
inside his Honda Odyssey which stated thathe had begun his hike around eight forty
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five am on Saturday and would requireassistance if he did not return by Sunday.
The National Park Service said search andrescue personnel started operations on Monday at
six forty five am, with approximatelyfifty searchers, two K nineteen and fixed
and rotary wing air support from theCalifornia Highway Patrol. On Tuesday morning,
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David was miraculously found alive not farfrom where his car was parked. It
collapse of exhaustion on a secluded hillside. It's a miracle. He was awake,
conscious and talking to rescuers when theyfound him. Park spokesman George Land
told The Los Angeles Times he hadbeen up there for about three days without
water. Due to the remote terrain, David had to be airlifted out of
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the area. He was taken toDesert Regional Medical Center and was treated for
hydration. Next Claire Nelson. OnTuesday May twenty two, twenty eighteen,
Claire Nelson, a thirty five yearold hiker from New Zealand, set out
on the Lost Bomb's Oasis Trail inJoshua Tree National Park around nine fifteen am.
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According to The Desert Sun, shetold her friend she would be back
the following day. Claire was reportedmissing when she failed to return a schedule.
Search efforts were initiated on Friday,May twenty five. On the same
day, around three pm, shewas found alive by a search helicopter and
was there lifted the Desert Regional MedicalCenter. According to The Desert Sun,
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Claire had followed around eleven am onTuesday after she lost her footing and fell
about twenty six feet into a smallclearing. According to an Instagram post,
she was scrambling over a high boulderand shattered her pelvis and dislocated her left
ankle. Claire said, I didn'trealize it at the time, but I'd
gone a mile off the trail.I am very, very grateful to be
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alive. Claire said that she hadto drink her own urine because she ran
out of water, and fashioned acurtain from a stick in a plastic bag
to minimi son exposure. According toThe Desert Sun, I felt more vulnerable
than I could ever have imagined inmy life, Claire said. According to
the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Claire saidshe thinks it was her hiking experience,
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not inexperience, that very nearly gother killed. She didn't worry about sharing
her itinerary with anyone and didn't leaveany notes telling people where they might find
her if she didn't come home.Next up, Paul Miller. Fifty one
year old Paul Miller, an experiencedhikerd outdoorsman from Guelph, Ontario, Canada,
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went missing on July thirteenth, twentyeighteen, while vacationing with his wife,
Stephanie. Paul told Stephanie he wasgoing for one more hike in Joshua
Tree National Park on the forty ninePalms Oasis Trail before they began their journey
home. He left without a cellphone, which Stephanie said was typical.
According to The Desert Sun, Paulwas supposed to come back to the hotel
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where he and Stephanie were staying tocheck out at eleven am. When he
did not return as expected, shedecided to wait an extra hour before taking
action. However, when Paul hadnot returned by noon, Stephanie reported missing
to park officials, prompting a searchat twelve thirty pm. According to The
Desert Sun, Paul's rental car waslocated in a nearby parking lot A short
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time later, more than six hundredvolunteers put in six thousand hours looking for
Paul, to no avail. Also, twenty canine units were sent out to
help locate him. Efforts to findPaul came up short, however, until
photographs of the area were taken witha drone in November twenty nineteen. After
looking through the pictures, investigators sawwhat looked to be human remains. Mark
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rangers recovered them on December twenty,twenty nineteen, and the MA Medical Examiner's
Office confirmed they belonged to Paul.It's been a tough journey, waiting,
waiting, waiting, Then when youhear he's been found, it doesn't make
it any easier, Paul's wife,Stephanie told The Desert Son in a phone
interview, well, we will likelynever fully know the circumstances of Paul's devise.
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Stephanie told The Desert Son that theybelieve he could have experienced a heart
attack or heatstroke. Officials said therewas no initial signs of foul play.
I hated to think that he wassuffering and we couldn't find him, Stephanie
said, next, we have BillOuasco. In June twenty ten, sixty
six year old Bill Olasco, anavid hiker, jogger and Vietnam veteran,
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planned a solo hiking tript to JoshuaTrade National Park, which he had visited
several times before. Bill intended tospend a week in the area and catch
a return flight home by July one. Before he left his home in Georgia,
he provided his girlfriend Mary Winston withan itinerary of his destinations. According
to Jeff Mannaw of The New YorkTimes, on Thursday June twenty four,
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Bill packed lunch, water and snacksfor his excursion. He first hiked to
Carry's Castle. Mattall said the hikewas meant to be a loop, starting
an ending at the remote historic site. Mary tried to persuade him to go
hiking somewhere else due to the remotenessof the area. However, Bill kept
his plans the same, but promisedMary he would leave the park by five
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pm, which she did not hearfrom Bill as expected. Mary tried calling
his cell phone multiple times, putit went straight to voicemail. Mary attempted
to reach the park service officials thatnight, but was unsuccessful. The following
day, around eight am, Marycontacted park service officials again and reported Bill
missing. According to van All,the day went missing, temperatures in the
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park had reached nearly one hundred degreesfahrenheit. After receiving the news that Bill
was missing, park rangers quickly setout for the trailhead. However, they
could not locate Bill's white too thousandand seven Chrysler Sebring rental car. It
seemed that no one had visited thetrail in at least a week, according
to Manaw. Dave Pilman, aformer executive director of Friends of Joshua Tree
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and a nineteen year Joshua Tree searchand rescue veteran, told Jeff Manaw it
looks benign to a person who drivesthrough it, but there are so many
areas where you can get lost andnot even realize it. Until you're lost,
you look back and figure out wheredid I come from. Pilman also
told Manaw the park contains areas ofunknown difficulty where large rocks lean together,
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forming dangerous pits and caves. Accordingto Manaw, Carry's Castle was just one
of the many locations on Bill's itinerary. The list included places as far away
as the Salt and Sea and MountSanya, Sinto over an hour's drive from
the park. Rangers discovered that Bill'sNational Park pass had never been scanned at
either park entrance, so there wasno record of his visit. Mana writes
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that on June twenty sixth, onYour Highway Patrol helicopter located Bill's rental car
at the Juniper Flats trailhead, approximatelya ninety minute drive from the Careys Castle
trailhead. It would have been exposedto mid nineties temperatures in late June with
limited access to food and water.Therefore, the search efforts were promptly shifted
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toward Juniper Flats under Dave Pilman's guidance, says man Aw. Search teams were
sent from the location of Bill's carup to the top of Quail Mountain,
south to Keys View Deep, intoJuniper Flats, and out through several less
likely but possible areas. According toMANAW, volunteers across southern California arrived on
Saturday afternoon, June twenty sixth andset up an incident command post near Cap
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Rock. They created a six bynine foot map of the area and marked
each team's daily GPS tracks and theroutes of helicopter flights. One team found
a red bandana at the foot ofQuail Mountain, while another claimed to have
seen lights on a ridge. Builtwas still not found despite using a bloodhound
and additional helicopter flights. Mana writesit. On July five, twenty ten,
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eleven days after being reported missing,the official search for Bill was called
off as regional resources had been exhausted. It was assumed that he could not
have survived that long without food andwater in the extreme temperatures. Pet Carlson
of the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit saidto Manaw after a while, where else
do you look? In February twentytwenty two, hikers Mary Nagy and her
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son Zach found human remains in thenorthwestern corner of the park, adjacent to
the Panorama Loop Trail. High Desertradio station K one O one point seven
k c d Z reported that awallet was found with the remains with the
name of Bill ouasco Tom Mahood,who previously volunteered with the Riverside Mountain rescue
unit told The Desert Sun, it'sa really odd area for him to have
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been in, and I can't fathomwhat he was thinking. Always said he'll
eventually be found in some place noone ever thought he would be. While
we now know the conclusion, wemay very likely never know any details unless
Built left behind any surviving notes asto his predicament and finally ed Rosenthal.
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On Friday, September twenty fourth,twenty ten, sixty four year old real
estate broker Edward Rosenthal got lost whenhe took a wrong turn on a loop
trail near Joshua Tree National Park's BlackRock Campground while trying to get back to
his car. After spending six dayswithout food or water. He was spotted
by a helicopter crew around ten thirtyam on September thirty. According to National
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Parks Traveler Amazingly, Edward was alivebut very dehydrated. Edward said he became
so weak that he could not situp when the helicopter rescue crew finally found
him. He just made a wrongturn somewhere. He was hiking on a
loop trail. Somehow he got off, said Chief Joe Zarki, Unfortunately,
there he got off on was avery steep, gorge like area. He
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couldn't get out. He just keptgoing downhill. He realized he was lost
and could not go any further,so he lied low and wrote on his
hat. Everts' wife, Nicole Kaplan, told the Associated Press Edward wrote about
what kind of funerally wanted. Whilethe spot where Edward was found was probably
seven to eight miles in a straightline in terms of canyon miles from the
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Loop trail, he probably walked twicethat distance, said Chief Sarky. According
to the Associated Press, Edward's wifetold park officials that Edward had some food
and water with him that lasted aday and a half, So maybe since
Sunday he's been out there without foodand water, said Chief Zarki. He
got a break because we had somecloudy weather that kept the temperatures down.
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Edward was transported to High Desert MedicalCenter and stable condition. He's been reunited
with his family. He's talking,he's doing reasoningly well. Chief Sharki said,
this is the outcome you hoped for. In conclusion, Joshua Tree National
Park is fascinating with natural allure andan intriguing history, the story surrounding the
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park at a mesmerizing layer that's alreadycaptivating landscape. This park harbors natural wonders
and a sense of enigma that capturesthe human imagination. For it's the eerie
beauty of the Joshua Trees, forthe vast expanses of the desert. People
have attributed spiritual significance to the area. As visitors, we should approach Joshua
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Tree National Park with the utmost respectfor its wilderness and a keen awareness of
our surroundings. The safety of thosewho exports, trails and business should always
be paramount. Well, friends,there you have it. What are your
thoughts on Joshua Tree National Park.I look forward to your comments, but
please keep it friendly and respectful.Until we meet again. Be good to
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yourselves and each other. Stay safeout there. As for me, I'll
see a little further on down thetrail. I'm Steve Stockton and I'll talk
to you next time. And pleasetell your animals I said hi.
Hello friends, Steve Stockton here withyou. Welcome to our latest episode.
In this video, we'll take alook at legends, stories, and the
missing from Joshua Tree National Park.Join me, let's walk and see now.
Joshua Tree National Park is located insoutheastern California, east of Los Angeles
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and close to Palm Springs. Thepark is named after the Joshua trees native
to the Mojave Desert. It spansacross San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. It
encomps as portions of two deserts,with each ecosystem's characteristics primarily determined by its
elevation, the higher Mojave Desert andthe lower Colorado Desert. Additionally, the
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Little San Bernardino Mountains run along thesouthwest border of the park. According to
the National Park Service, humans havean inhabited the Joshua Tree area for over
five thousand years. However, inthe late nineteen twenties, two roads were
built into the desert, leading toan influx of land developers and cactus poachers.
Minerva Hoyt, a resident of Pasadenawho was passionate about desert plants,
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became concerned about removing cacti and otherplants for use in Los Angeles Gardens.
She tirelessly worked towards protecting this area, which ultimately led to the designation of
eight hundred and twenty five thousand acresas Joshua Treat National Monument in nineteen thirty
six. Before nineteen forty, thesuperintendent of the Yosemite National Park administrated this
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monument. However, James Cole becamethe first superintendent in nineteen forty. The
National Park Service received the eastern partof the historic Oasis of Mara in nineteen
fifty, which the Twenty nine PalmsCorporation needed. The monument was reduced by
two hundred and sixty five thousand acresin the same year to exclude mining property.
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On October thirty one, nineteen ninetyfour, Joshua Treat National Monument was
upgraded to park status as a partof the Desert Protection Bill. An additional
two hundred and thirty four thousand acresare added to the park, with a
new boundary following natural features such asentire mountain ranges instead of survey lines.
This change provides better resource protection,easier boundary identification and monitoring, and essential
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habitat for desert big horns sheep.The park's elevations range from below five hundred
and thirty six feet to a highas eight hundred and fourteen feet at Quayle
Mountain. In nineteen seventy six,Congress declared four hundred and twenty thousand acres
within Joshua Tree National Park as wilderness. Out of the total seven hundred ninety
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two, six hundred and twenty threeacres of the park's area, five hundred
and ninety one thousand, six hundredand twenty four are designated as wilderness.
The park provides shelter to eight hundredand thirteen higher plant species, forty six
reptile species, fifty seven mammal species, and over two hundred and fifty bird
species. According to the Federal Register, the desert Farness as listed is threatened,
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the triple ribbed milk betch is endangered, and Parish's daisy is threatened.
Furthermore, forty nine plant species areprotected within the park. Joshua Tree has
one paleontological area, with potentially eightmore. The park has taken measures to
preserve over seven hundred archaeological sites,eighty eight historic structures, and nineteen cultural
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landscapes. It also holds a museumcollection of two hundred and thirty thousand,
three hundred items. National Park Serviceofficials say that Joshua Tree National Park is
most comfortable to visit during the falland spring seasons. The highs during these
seasons usually range from seventy to eightyfive degrees fahrenheit, while the lows are
around fifty degrees fahrenheit. In thewinter, the tempture drops below freezing at
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night, and the highs are usuallyaround sixty fahrenheit. There can be occasional
snow at higher elevations. Summers arehot, with highs reurching over one hundred
degrees fahrenheit and the low around seventyfive degrees fahrenheit at night. It's important
to note that the park is busyduring springtime and holidays, so it can
get crowded. Joshua Tree is alsoprone to strong winds and flash flooding during
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any season. It takes around fortyfive minutes to drive from the west entrance
in Joshua Tree to the North entrancein twenty nine Palms. If you're driving
from the north entrance to the southentrance, the drive will take approximately one
hour. And if you're driving fromthe West entrance to the South entrance,
the drive will take roughly an hourand a half. The National Park Service
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is responsible for maintaining one hundred andninety nine miles of roads, of which
ninety three miles are paved and onehundred and six miles are unpaved. The
park has nine campgrounds comprising five hundredand twenty three camp sites and two horse
camps. There are ten picnic areaswith thirty picnic sites. The park can
be accessed through any of the thirtytwo available trailheads, where visitors can explore
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them one hundred and ninety one milesof hiking trails offered by the park.
A National Park Service warns that cellphone reception in the park is limited and
should not be relied upon. RepublicWi Fi is available to Black Rock Visitor
Center, the Joshua Tree Visitor Center, and the Joshua Tree Cultural Center.
Visitors should consider downloading the official NationalPark Service app before entering the park,
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which allows access to offline maps forfree. Joshua Tree National Park is also
an International Dark Sky Park. It'san ideal location for visitors to witness the
mesmerizing beauty of the Milky Way,which is often a unique and unforgettable experience.
On a clear and moonless night,you should have no difficulty viewing the
stars from any part of the park. However, it is important to note
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that light pollution from surrounding areas affectsthe night skies of Joshua Tree, causing
some areas of the park to bedarker than others. Now Here are some
safety tips for visiting Joshua Tree NationalPark. It's vital to be mindful of
the following tips and safety suggestions fromthe National Park Service. Cell Phone service
coverage is extremely limited inside the park, Therefore, relying on your cell phone
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in an emergency is not advisable.However, if you are in an area
with cell phone service, you candown nine one one or called nine zero
nine three eight three five six fiveto one per assistance. You can also
use emergency phones at the Indian CoveRanger Station intersection Rock parking lot for the
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Cottonwood Visitor Center. High temperatures,intense sunlight, and low humidity characterize summer
in the desert. Drinking at leastone gallon of water daily is essential to
avoid dehydration. Visits to the parkshould bring enough water with them for their
visit. However, nottable water isavailable to visitor center in twenty nine Palms
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at park headquarters, at Indian CoveRanger Station, Cottonwood Campground, black Rock
Campground, and the West Entrance Station. Always travel with extra water in your
vehicle. Snacking on food items ona hot day can help replace electrolytes lost
through sweating. Protect yourself from thesun by wearing loose fitting, light colored
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clothing, a wide brimmed hat,and sunglasses. Remember to apply sunscreen to
all exposed skin to prevent sunburn.It's also crucial to remember that any wild
animal can be dangerous if approached.Additionally, these animals might carry lethal diseases.
Therefore is best of either from adistance or from the safety of your
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car. Please avoid approaching them totake pictures and educate children not to chase
or pick up animals. Feeding wildlifeis not recommended, as it can harm
the animals and cause them to becomeaggressive toward humans. To prevent animals from
consuming your food, store it inhard sighting containers or in your vehicle.
Catching a glimpse of wildlife in thepark is always an exhilarating experience. However,
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it's essential to remember that the parkis their natural habitat and we must
ensure that they can live without thestairs. The park is home to venomous
animals such as rattlesnakes, scorpions andblack wodow spiders. Therefore, when hiking
or climbing, look before placing yourhands or feet and avoid stepping or reaching
into places you cannot see. Beescan be dangerous. If their hives are
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threatened, they may attack, sostaying away and listening for buzzing is best.
Bees are attracted to moisture, includinghuman sweat, and are particularly active
in the dry summer. Don't swatat them. Keep food and drinks inside
your vehicle and roll up your windows. Be cautious when exiting your car.
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Bees will collect water from any availablesource to regulate their hives temperature. If
you're allergic to bees, visit windbe activity is low in winter, and
always carry medication. It's crucial toremain vigilant when driving on park roads,
as they are narrow curving and havesoft, sandy shoulders. Make sure to
follow the hosted speed limits, asmany wild animals have been killed by speeding
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cars, use pull outs or parkinglots instead of stopping in the travel light
when viewing scenery or wildlife. Offroad driving is prohibited in case she experienced
car trouble. Stay with your vehicleis essential to exercise caution and prepare for
storms and flash floods. Avoid canyonsand washes during rainstorms, and be ready
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to move to higher ground if necessaryto stay safe. Now here's some legends
and paranormal activity from Joshua Tree.First up, the Yuka Man. There
have been many alleged sightings of mysteriousdesert creatures and around the Mojave. These
have been given different names, suchas the Mojave Bigfoot, the Sierra Highway
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Devil, and Marvin of the Mojave. The Yuka Man, as he's commonly
known, is a desert adapted sasquatchthat is said to inhabits southern California,
Nevada, and Arizona. Been seenin the Antelope Valley area since the nineteen
seventies. Next, the Barker damnTrail. The Barker Dam Trail is a
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brief hike that leads to an oldwater source used by Native Americans in the
past. According to local legends.The trail is believed to be haunted by
the spirits of the Chimmy Wavy,people who were displaced from the area by
European settlers. The Chimmy Wavy heldthe area in high regard, believing it
to be sacred, and the spiritsof their ancestors are rumored to reside there
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still. Watch for unusual rock formationsas you hike along this trail. Some
hikers have reported feeling a sense ofpeace or reverence, as if they were
in the presence of something sacred.Others claim to have seen ghostly apparitions or
heard channing in the distance. Next, we have the Wall Street Mill Trail.
The Wall Street Mill Trail is anintermediate hike that leads you through a
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fascinating gold mining area. The minewas used to process gold oar and was
abandoned in the nineteen forties. Somepeople believe that the spirits of the mill's
former workers still haunt the area.Be alert for shadowy figures or unusual lights
when exploring the old mill. Severalhikers have reported feeling uneasy, as though
they were being watched. Some haveeven heard whiskers and footsteps coming from the
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empty Mill. Next, we havethe Lost horse Mine Trail. The Lost
horse Mine Trail takes to the remainsof an old gold mine. It's believed
that the mine is haunted by theghost of a miner who died in a
tragic mining accident. Legend says thespirit still roams the area searching for lost
gold. The Lost horse Mine Trailhas a chilling reputation. Many hikers have
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felled a cold breeze even to menhot summer temperatures. Others have reported hearing
pick axes striking rocks, but noone else is nearby. Lastly, we
have Graham Parsons. Country rock musicianGraham Parsons passed away just outside Joshua Tree
National Park at the Joshua Tree Inn. As for his last request, his
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friend stole his body off the tarmacat lax and disposed of it by burning
it under the overhang at Cap Rockin Death Valley National Park. If you'd
like to hear more about the legendof Graham Parsons and his goings on in
Joshua Tree, one of his favoriteplaces, check out my book National Park
Mysteries and Disappearances, Volume two,California from our own experiences at the Joshua
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Tree Inn. Now we have themissing, the found, and tragedies in
Joshua Tree National Park. First up, we have Anna Nuno. In January
twenty twenty three, fifty eight yearold avid adventure and hiker Anna Nuno of
Lakewood, California, fell and hither head in Rattlesnake Canyon, an area
inside the Indian Cove district of JoshuaTree National Park. Authority said how Anna
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felt was unclear, but there wasno suspicion of foul play. Park rangers
and search and rescue volunteers responded toDanna's aid after receiving notification by cell phone
of an inn inured hiker. However, she sadly succumbed to her head trauma,
according to the Desert Sun News.According to the Los Angeles Times,
Rattlesnake Canyon features a two point sixmile trail near twenty nine Palms that takes
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just over an hour to complete.The Sheriff's Office reported that Rattlesnake Canyon and
the Wonderland of Rocks area are challengingto navigate due to their remoteness, difficult
terrain, and lack of self owedservice. Kiki knew. No Ana's daughter
said, our mother was a kind, caring and giving person who always put
the needs of her family before herown. She was a strong woman who
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faced every challenge in her life withcourage and dignity. Our mother was a
source of inspiration to us all andwill be deeply missed by everyone whose lives
she touched. Next up Trammel Evans. According to the National Park Service,
twenty five year old A. TrammelEvans was last seen on April thirty,
twenty twenty three, when he wasdropped off at the Black Rock Campground in
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the northwest corner of Joshua Tree NationalPark. Trammell planned to hike from black
Rock to Geology Tour Road, thenback to black Rock by the California Riding
and Hiking Trail. National Park Serviceofficial set in a news release. He
was supposed to be picked up onMay five at eleven Am my Friend,
but he was not there and wasreported missing. Park Service officials initiated a
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search and rescue on May five,twenty twenty three. The search team consisted
of highly trained trackers, searchers,and climbers familiar with the area and aerial
searches. Park official set. Trammel'smother, Amy Evans, has received unconfirmed
tips that he has been spoted alivein Slab City and Wonder Valley. These
sightings remained unconfirmed by the family's privateinvestigator. Sadly, Trammel is still missing
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at the time of this video.He's described as being six foot three inches
tall and weighing one hundred and ninetypounds. He has reddish brown hair,
brown eyes, and facial hair.He was last seen wearing a silver,
white and gray sun a black Patagoniapuffy vest, blue shorts, blue shoes,
a black Arii backpack, an eggcrate style sleeping pad, a dark
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green beanie, and a Patagonia fannypack. Anyone with information regarding Trammell's disappearance
or whereabouts has asked to contact theNational Park Service at eight eight eight sixty
five three zero zero nine nine four. You can call nine zero nine three
eight three five six five two.Next up, we have Michael Spitz.
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On January sixteenth, twenty twenty two, thirty five year old teacher Michael Spits
of San Diego, California, wasfree solo climbing the one hundred foot Illusion
Dweller in Joshua Tree National Park.The following day, around nine fifty am,
two hikers found him deceized at thebase of the central wall near the
Hidden Valley nature trail, according toThe Desert Sun and according to the Times
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of San Diego. A Facebook postfrom Santa Fe Christian Schools in Salona Beach,
where Michael worked as a Spanish teacher, described him as a multi sport
adventure athlete, lifelong surfer, avidrock climber, licensed skydiver, backpacker,
and lover of books and coffee.The medical examiners often stated that he sustained
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an unspecified injury around five point thirtypm on Sunday. According to the Times
of San Diego, officials estimate thatMichael fell at least eighty feet. According
to Owen Clark of climbing dot Com, Brian ja Lad, Michael's friend of
eight years, said Illusion Dweller wasone of Michael's favorite climbs in Joshua Tree.
He loved the route. He wasworking on a climb nearby, leave
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it to beaver having to warm upon Illusion Dweller. He was very comfortable
with it. Next Tina Lynn Fiorion March twenty sixth, twenty twenty two,
fifty one year old Tina Lynn Fiori, a climber from Riverside County,
California, went climbing two others inan area known as Turkey Tear and Joshua
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Tree National Park after celebrating a friend'sbirthday. According to The Desert Sun,
Matt Hemmelstein, who was part ofTina's three person climbing team, told The
Desert Sun that the trio was toproping, a climbing method involving string air
rope through a permanent anchor system atthe top of the climb. The rope
acts as a safety mechanism that supportsa climber's weight if they fall. A
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second person assistant gathering slack at thebottom of the climb and serving as a
counterweight. Matt explained to The DesertSun that climbing equipment, such as a
type of nylon rope known as webbing, is often left attached to the permanent
anchors at the top of a climb. Tina just ended up being the last
person in the day to climb upthere, he said. She got to
the top and told us that shehad secured herself, so the person down
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to the bottom was no longer doingthat safety work. Matt told the Desert
Son that Tina ran her safety ropethrough nylon webbing left by someone who had
previously climbed the route. The desertis not kind to nylon, so I
can't tell you how old it was, he said. But it doesn't take
a whole lot. It doesn't takea whole lot of time sitting in the
sun, baking and also getting rainedon, being frozen and all that stuff.
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When Tina leaned back to repel downthe rocks, the weathered webin gave
way and she fell to her death. Tina had fallen at least eighty feet
near the Sheep Pass campground. Ina press release, Joshua Tree Superintendent David
Smith said, our hearts go outto Miss Fiori's family and friends during this
extremely painful time. Next up,Paul Hanks. Fifty four year old avid
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hiker and attorney Paul Hanks set outto celebrate his birthday with a hike in
Joshua Tree National Park on March eleventh, twenty eighteen. According to CBS News
Los Angeles. He wore shorts anda T shirt and took just a few
energy packs and a few hours worthof water. All had been to Joshua
Tree several times, but this timewould be different. Bouldering or rock copping.
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He fell approximately twenty feet, shatteredhis left heel and broke his pelvis.
It happened. I slipped, andit was just having not slipped in
forty five years. It was instantand total shock, he told CBS News.
Paul called out for help, butthe vast desert echoed his cries back
to him. As the sunset andthe temperature plummeted, he found refuge beneath
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a Joshua tree, hoping the drysoil around it would provide him some cushioning
and that he could use the loosedirt to warm himself up. By this
point he was out of water,according to CBS. But the very first
night, I was drinking my ownurine, he said, I drank all
the water in my bottle and wasrefilling my bottle with my own urine.
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Paul fell a second time, aboutfifteen feet and hit his head. He
ate cactus for food. He wasin and out of consciousness, but refused
to give up. To quit out. There is basically a death sentence,
he told CBS on day five hethought he was dreaming when he heard voices.
They belonged to the search and rescuecrew that found him. These three
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angels appeared out of nowhere, andI was shocked. I just couldn't believe
it, he said. I don'twant to say i'd given up, but
multiple times I'd written myself off thatI was never going to see another human
being again. Paul was taken toa Palm Springs hospital and was reunited with
his family. Despite facing multiple surgeries, he was expected to make a full
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recovery. You're out there and you'reon your last breath of life. I
would think he would be fantasizing aboutmuch greater things, but for some reason,
I was just fantasizing about chugging downa gatorade. All said, Next
up. David Sewell. On Saturday, April twenty one, twenty eighteen,
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seventy six year old legally blind hikerDavid Sewell left a Quail Spring parking lot
for an unspecified location in Johnny LaneCanyon. According to National Park officials,
David's vehicle was out on Saturday ataround eight pm in the Quail Springs parking
lot for a news release from theNational Park Service. A note was found
inside his Honda Odyssey which stated thathe had begun his hike around eight forty
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five am on Saturday and would requireassistance if he did not return by Sunday.
The National Park Service said search andrescue personnel started operations on Monday at
six forty five am, with approximatelyfifty searchers, two K nineteen and fixed
and rotary wing air support from theCalifornia Highway Patrol. On Tuesday morning,
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David was miraculously found alive not farfrom where his car was parked. It
collapse of exhaustion on a secluded hillside. It's a miracle. He was awake,
conscious and talking to rescuers when theyfound him. Park spokesman George Land
told The Los Angeles Times he hadbeen up there for about three days without
water. Due to the remote terrain, David had to be airlifted out of
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the area. He was taken toDesert Regional Medical Center and was treated for
hydration. Next Claire Nelson. OnTuesday May twenty two, twenty eighteen,
Claire Nelson, a thirty five yearold hiker from New Zealand, set out
on the Lost Bomb's Oasis Trail inJoshua Tree National Park around nine fifteen am.
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According to The Desert Sun, shetold her friend she would be back
the following day. Claire was reportedmissing when she failed to return a schedule.
Search efforts were initiated on Friday,May twenty five. On the same
day, around three pm, shewas found alive by a search helicopter and
was there lifted the Desert Regional MedicalCenter. According to The Desert Sun,
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Claire had followed around eleven am onTuesday after she lost her footing and fell
about twenty six feet into a smallclearing. According to an Instagram post,
she was scrambling over a high boulderand shattered her pelvis and dislocated her left
ankle. Claire said, I didn'trealize it at the time, but I'd
gone a mile off the trail.I am very, very grateful to be
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alive. Claire said that she hadto drink her own urine because she ran
out of water, and fashioned acurtain from a stick in a plastic bag
to minimi son exposure. According toThe Desert Sun, I felt more vulnerable
than I could ever have imagined inmy life, Claire said. According to
the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Claire saidshe thinks it was her hiking experience,
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not inexperience, that very nearly gother killed. She didn't worry about sharing
her itinerary with anyone and didn't leaveany notes telling people where they might find
her if she didn't come home.Next up, Paul Miller. Fifty one
year old Paul Miller, an experiencedhikerd outdoorsman from Guelph, Ontario, Canada,
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went missing on July thirteenth, twentyeighteen, while vacationing with his wife,
Stephanie. Paul told Stephanie he wasgoing for one more hike in Joshua
Tree National Park on the forty ninePalms Oasis Trail before they began their journey
home. He left without a cellphone, which Stephanie said was typical.
According to The Desert Sun, Paulwas supposed to come back to the hotel
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where he and Stephanie were staying tocheck out at eleven am. When he
did not return as expected, shedecided to wait an extra hour before taking
action. However, when Paul hadnot returned by noon, Stephanie reported missing
to park officials, prompting a searchat twelve thirty pm. According to The
Desert Sun, Paul's rental car waslocated in a nearby parking lot A short
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time later, more than six hundredvolunteers put in six thousand hours looking for
Paul, to no avail. Also, twenty canine units were sent out to
help locate him. Efforts to findPaul came up short, however, until
photographs of the area were taken witha drone in November twenty nineteen. After
looking through the pictures, investigators sawwhat looked to be human remains. Mark
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rangers recovered them on December twenty,twenty nineteen, and the MA Medical Examiner's
Office confirmed they belonged to Paul.It's been a tough journey, waiting,
waiting, waiting, Then when youhear he's been found, it doesn't make
it any easier, Paul's wife,Stephanie told The Desert Son in a phone
interview, well, we will likelynever fully know the circumstances of Paul's devise.
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Stephanie told The Desert Son that theybelieve he could have experienced a heart
attack or heatstroke. Officials said therewas no initial signs of foul play.
I hated to think that he wassuffering and we couldn't find him, Stephanie
said, next, we have BillOuasco. In June twenty ten, sixty
six year old Bill Olasco, anavid hiker, jogger and Vietnam veteran,
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planned a solo hiking tript to JoshuaTrade National Park, which he had visited
several times before. Bill intended tospend a week in the area and catch
a return flight home by July one. Before he left his home in Georgia,
he provided his girlfriend Mary Winston withan itinerary of his destinations. According
to Jeff Mannaw of The New YorkTimes, on Thursday June twenty four,
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Bill packed lunch, water and snacksfor his excursion. He first hiked to
Carry's Castle. Mattall said the hikewas meant to be a loop, starting
an ending at the remote historic site. Mary tried to persuade him to go
hiking somewhere else due to the remotenessof the area. However, Bill kept
his plans the same, but promisedMary he would leave the park by five
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pm, which she did not hearfrom Bill as expected. Mary tried calling
his cell phone multiple times, putit went straight to voicemail. Mary attempted
to reach the park service officials thatnight, but was unsuccessful. The following
day, around eight am, Marycontacted park service officials again and reported Bill
missing. According to van All,the day went missing, temperatures in the
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park had reached nearly one hundred degreesfahrenheit. After receiving the news that Bill
was missing, park rangers quickly setout for the trailhead. However, they
could not locate Bill's white too thousandand seven Chrysler Sebring rental car. It
seemed that no one had visited thetrail in at least a week, according
to Manaw. Dave Pilman, aformer executive director of Friends of Joshua Tree
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and a nineteen year Joshua Tree searchand rescue veteran, told Jeff Manaw it
looks benign to a person who drivesthrough it, but there are so many
areas where you can get lost andnot even realize it. Until you're lost,
you look back and figure out wheredid I come from. Pilman also
told Manaw the park contains areas ofunknown difficulty where large rocks lean together,
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forming dangerous pits and caves. Accordingto Manaw, Carry's Castle was just one
of the many locations on Bill's itinerary. The list included places as far away
as the Salt and Sea and MountSanya, Sinto over an hour's drive from
the park. Rangers discovered that Bill'sNational Park pass had never been scanned at
either park entrance, so there wasno record of his visit. Mana writes
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that on June twenty sixth, onYour Highway Patrol helicopter located Bill's rental car
at the Juniper Flats trailhead, approximatelya ninety minute drive from the Careys Castle
trailhead. It would have been exposedto mid nineties temperatures in late June with
limited access to food and water.Therefore, the search efforts were promptly shifted
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toward Juniper Flats under Dave Pilman's guidance, says man Aw. Search teams were
sent from the location of Bill's carup to the top of Quail Mountain,
south to Keys View Deep, intoJuniper Flats, and out through several less
likely but possible areas. According toMANAW, volunteers across southern California arrived on
Saturday afternoon, June twenty sixth andset up an incident command post near Cap
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Rock. They created a six bynine foot map of the area and marked
each team's daily GPS tracks and theroutes of helicopter flights. One team found
a red bandana at the foot ofQuail Mountain, while another claimed to have
seen lights on a ridge. Builtwas still not found despite using a bloodhound
and additional helicopter flights. Mana writesit. On July five, twenty ten,
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eleven days after being reported missing,the official search for Bill was called
off as regional resources had been exhausted. It was assumed that he could not
have survived that long without food andwater in the extreme temperatures. Pet Carlson
of the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit saidto Manaw after a while, where else
do you look? In February twentytwenty two, hikers Mary Nagy and her
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son Zach found human remains in thenorthwestern corner of the park, adjacent to
the Panorama Loop Trail. High Desertradio station K one O one point seven
k c d Z reported that awallet was found with the remains with the
name of Bill ouasco Tom Mahood,who previously volunteered with the Riverside Mountain rescue
unit told The Desert Sun, it'sa really odd area for him to have
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been in, and I can't fathomwhat he was thinking. Always said he'll
eventually be found in some place noone ever thought he would be. While
we now know the conclusion, wemay very likely never know any details unless
Built left behind any surviving notes asto his predicament and finally ed Rosenthal.
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On Friday, September twenty fourth,twenty ten, sixty four year old real
estate broker Edward Rosenthal got lost whenhe took a wrong turn on a loop
trail near Joshua Tree National Park's BlackRock Campground while trying to get back to
his car. After spending six dayswithout food or water. He was spotted
by a helicopter crew around ten thirtyam on September thirty. According to National
(30:37):
Parks Traveler Amazingly, Edward was alivebut very dehydrated. Edward said he became
so weak that he could not situp when the helicopter rescue crew finally found
him. He just made a wrongturn somewhere. He was hiking on a
loop trail. Somehow he got off, said Chief Joe Zarki, Unfortunately,
there he got off on was avery steep, gorge like area. He
(31:00):
couldn't get out. He just keptgoing downhill. He realized he was lost
and could not go any further,so he lied low and wrote on his
hat. Everts' wife, Nicole Kaplan, told the Associated Press Edward wrote about
what kind of funerally wanted. Whilethe spot where Edward was found was probably
seven to eight miles in a straightline in terms of canyon miles from the
(31:22):
Loop trail, he probably walked twicethat distance, said Chief Sarky. According
to the Associated Press, Edward's wifetold park officials that Edward had some food
and water with him that lasted aday and a half, So maybe since
Sunday he's been out there without foodand water, said Chief Zarki. He
got a break because we had somecloudy weather that kept the temperatures down.
(31:44):
Edward was transported to High Desert MedicalCenter and stable condition. He's been reunited
with his family. He's talking,he's doing reasoningly well. Chief Sharki said,
this is the outcome you hoped for. In conclusion, Joshua Tree National
Park is fascinating with natural allure andan intriguing history, the story surrounding the
(32:07):
park at a mesmerizing layer that's alreadycaptivating landscape. This park harbors natural wonders
and a sense of enigma that capturesthe human imagination. For it's the eerie
beauty of the Joshua Trees, forthe vast expanses of the desert. People
have attributed spiritual significance to the area. As visitors, we should approach Joshua
(32:29):
Tree National Park with the utmost respectfor its wilderness and a keen awareness of
our surroundings. The safety of thosewho exports, trails and business should always
be paramount. Well, friends,there you have it. What are your
thoughts on Joshua Tree National Park.I look forward to your comments, but
please keep it friendly and respectful.Until we meet again. Be good to
(32:52):
yourselves and each other. Stay safeout there. As for me, I'll
see a little further on down thetrail. I'm Steve Stockton and I'll talk
to you next time. And pleasetell your animals I said hi.
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