David Hadlock's Photos

I just heard that the lost hiker was found dead this morning and the body has been removed. It looked like he had fallen off of a tall bluff downstream of some of the waterfalls, but not right at any of the waterfalls. Glenn was on one of the SAR teams that came in after they found the body and I'm sure will give more details when the time comes...

New Info Added on 02/27/10

New info added on 03/05/10

So sad to hear that news! Sad reminder of how something so beautiful can be so dangerous if proper judgement is not used.

that is terrible news

Thanks for the update Tim.

Sad news, Tim, sorry to hear about this.

Man, what a tragedy. The hiker/photographer was David Hadlock, 54, from Springdale, AR. There is more information on a Springfield TV station website.

Boen Gulf is such a beautiful place, but much of that beauty lies in the ruggedness of the terrain. Let's all be careful out there! I don't know if David carried a Find Me Spot or not, but it's definitely time to get one. Tim Ernst has posted some updated information on John Moore's Trouble in Paradise thread if you're interested. Thanks, Tim.

That's terrible news. I agree with Bill let's be careful out there.

Extremely difficult for me to read and reminds me how lucky I am to be here. A terrible tragedy and my heart goes out to this man's family.

Be careful making assessments about the level of safety or judgement in this situation or your own for that matter. Things can happen that are totally beyond your control regardless of how safe, prepared, experienced or "smart" you are.

There is risk involved in being in the wilderness. We all have lost our footing hiking these trails. A stumble while walking toward a bluff line could put any of us in a life threatening situation and we have all walked to the edge to look over.

I am with Bill and Tim; you have had plenty of examples and are without excuse. Get a Spot before your next outing, it could save your life as mine did. Almost any outdoor store will be able to get you one or go to findmespot.com to order one.

I am in the process of getting a satellite phone to carry as well. Having months of recovery to figure out what I could have done better, I am OCD cautious now and want to keep my wife reassured verbally if anything happens in the future.

Hey everyone,

Not a lot to add, Bill posted the correct info on who the hiker was.

He should have returned to his home in Springdale at 6:00 PM on Saturday and, according to his wife, was never late. When she hadn't heard from him around 8:00 PM (of course he would still have had a 1 1/2 hour drive home) she called with what information she had.

Although it was actually on the U.S. Forest Service Land, a National Park Ranger had been checking the Boxley area and was requested by the Forest Service to check the Boen Gulf area as thier closest Ranger was quite a ways out.

The Park Ranger found his truck at the parking area and waited for some folks to arrive with her. She, the Forest Service Ranger, a Newton County Deputy and a couple more folks did a "hasty search" of the area then, but of course it was dark. They made it down to the falls area, but was unable to do thourough searching since they only had headlamps and flashlights.

They did all they could do at night and came out and started notifying us. I was aware of it around 9:00 on Saturday night, but was basically put on standby. Around 1:40AM the Park Service called and requested I meet 6 of their Rangers at the Newton County Sheriff's Office at 7:00 AM for a briefing. In the mean time, the Forest Service Ranger stayed with Mr. Hadlock's vehicle in case he showed back up or it needed to be secured for any other reason.

We had our briefing and got our assignments. I was put with one of the Upper Buffalo District Rangers from the Park Service and we were assigned the task of getting back up there before everyone else and getting in the area ahead of the other searchers. The guy I was with is an expert tracker and they wanted us in there before there were too many tracks.

We were assigned to what is the north and east side of the drainage. Mr. Hadlock was actually spotted from the top of the bluff line on the opposite side of the drainage, near the bottom at the creek.

It was a pretty difficult trip out, although not as tough as one I did in October that you guys may be familar with. The ice damage wasn't too much of a factor, but the ruggedness of the area, the rain (there was river running down the main dirt road at the top) and the wet, muddy conditions made it tough. It was very slick walking in the mud and on the rocks, not to mention many of us were slightly hypothermic from all the rain, heavy sweating (it is gut wrenching work) etc. But, all in all, it went well with only minor injuries to the crew. (One was me with a nicely torqued right ankle).

It was a bad situation that didn't turn out like we had hoped it would. Most of the ones we do (and we do quite a few) turn out much better. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and loved ones.

Conditions for waterfalls should be good for the next couple of days. All I can say if you get out there is, enjoy them, take great images, but BE CAREFUL! This photography stuff is getting dangerous. I was a cop for 10 years and since I have been doing photography stuff for a living, I know more photographers who have been hurt than cops.

Also, let someone know where you will be (at least the general area). We had good info on where to start looking for Mr. Hadlock and that was key to finding him as soon as we did. Had he only been injured, it very well could have meant the difference in life or death, or at least hours upon hours of misery.

Better yet, carry a SPOT. I don't need to re-hash how important they are in us finding you faster or even knowing that you need help.

Lastly, and I am as guilty as anyone, it's best not to go alone. If possible, buddy up and go with someone else. If you can find another photographer that you mesh well with, that is a great safety net. Especially if both of you know some basic first aid.

Keep shooting, just do so carefully!


Glenn Wheeler

www.glennwheeler.com

Thanks for the update, Glenn. I'm trying to figure out where this accident happened. I think the sheriff's office said he fell 80-100 feet, but I can't think of any bluffs that high around Magnolia Falls. Was it more near Woods Boys Falls?

Bill,

In total he probably fell that far, but not all at once.

Seems like were being reminded too often about the perils of being out. Be safe out there everyone!

Glenn,

I'm wondering if there is any place in particular where we need to be extra careful. This may may have been a situation like Ed's, where the ground just unpredictably crumbled underfoot. After all the snow we've had, the saturated condition of the ground may have been a contributing factor.

Hey Bill, there are some very tall bluffs downstream from Woodsboys Falls. From the description that Glenn told me yesterday, this is where he fell, near where the drainage from Stahle Falls joins the main creek. Glenn said he could look upstream from where the body was and see both Stahle and Woods Boys falls. I've seen comments from lots of folks on the net who say that this was a careless mistake, or that waterfalls were dangerous, or that it was very slick out. This happened on Saturday, not Sunday during all of the heavy rain (although Glenn and the other SAR folks had to endure all of that - as always THANKS to Glenn and all the rest). Without knowing any more than we probably ever will, it was just a simple accident that could have happened to anyone. This also doesn't change the fact that it is a thousand times more dangerous just driving to and from the trailhead than spending time in the woods - it is also much more dangerous standing on any sidewalk in any city in the world. You are actually safer out in the woods! It is a tragedy for the family of course, and yes be extra careful around tall bluffs, but part of living is getting outdoors to enjoy it, and sometimes we meet our maker there - I cannot think of a better place...

And as far as waterfalls go, I have been out in the woods all day today and photographed six or seven new waterfalls, including a new 66' tall one, and several shorter ones that are just really nice. Glenn - I don't know how you are able to carry the weight out of the woods on an evac like this - my body is really beat up today and I only had about 20 pounds to carry!

Bill,

I actually came in from the other side and did not see the site of where the fall began so I can't really tell you too much about that.

Like Tim said, being in the woods is still safer than many things we do everyday. It's just that we are often alone and difficult to find if something does happen. Not to mention getting help to you, the evacuating you. I'd still rather be out there than most other places though.

Tim - Yep, it's tough work and thanks for the comments.

It depends on the situation and my role in each event what pack I carry in. Yesterday I was the medical guy and was carrying my wilderness medical pack. It's a Blackhawk S.T.O.M.P. II so it's well designed for such things (other than needing a rain cover). The way I had it packed yesterday it weighed around 20 pounds going in, but after all that rain, it gained a few pounds.

I was actually traveling light yesterday, sometimes I carry a full fledged backpack with gear that may include first aid gear, overnight gear and rappelling gear. Other times I carry more dedicated high-angle gear like ropes, carabiners, racks, pulleys, etc., so sometimes what I am packing is much heavier. I have to take a lot of considerations into account such as weather, terrain, etc. and I know that I may often be crossing water, climbing or rappelling with the gear on.

Of course, packing that stuff in is often the easiest part. Packing it back out while also moving the patient makes it much more difficult. BUT, I love doing it and would stop typing and go right now if called. Some of what I am trained in and do is general search and rescue, high-angle (think ropes plus bluffs, towers, etc.), swiftwater (think flooded creeks, etc.) and cave rescue.

But to in reply to your statement, it is tough to do sometimes and I usually come out of it pretty beat up too. I'm pretty much making today a recovery day.... I'm pretty stiff and sore, or as we say where I come from "I'm pretty stove-up."

First, I just want to say how deeply sorry I am this happened and my prayers are with David's family. Second, I want to thank all of you on this wonderful network of friends. You all help in some form or fashion when tragedy strikes, whether it be actually on the scene help or networking with others to see that help arrives or helping to restore and uplift those involved afterwards. I think each and every one of you deserve a pat on the back for just being there when needed. Thanks!

Glenn and Tim, thanks for giving us a better idea of where this happened. The news reports said Magnolia Falls, which didn't jive with the 80-100 foot fall the sheriff's office reported. Last spring I leaned out over the top edge of the cliff side of Magnolia trying to get the best angle at the magnolia blooms below, which was probably not very smart considering the thickness of the rock there. Don't think I'll be trying that this year.

Glenn, the statistic you mentioned concerning the number of cops vs. photographers you've known to get hurt is something worth remembering. I'm sure we all can think of times we put ourselves in precarious situations just to get that perfect shot. Hopefully, recent accidents will make us more cautious. Thanks a million for all the grueling work you and your team do to save others' lives. I don't know how you do it. I was over at Steele Creek yesterday morning and would be happy to be a gofer for you guys to the extent I am able anytime.

So sorry to hear the sad outcome. Let's all do our level best to take care of ourselves and each other out there. Accidents happen and we are all vulnerable at all times. Thanks again Glenn for all you and your fellow rescuers do. It's comforting to know that people like you are out there to help at the drop of a hat. I hope to never be on the receiving end of your help though! Our prayers are with the Hadlock family...

This had nothing to do with him being alone. When he hit the rocks below it would have made no difference if there had been 100 other people with him. Hiking alone is little different than driving yourself to the mall - you can be killed no matter how many other people are with you. This was just an unfortunate accident...

That's kind of funny - I don't feel the need to justify my actions to anyone, other than to my wife! I think hiking alone is better than hiking with a group - you should try it sometime, it is an entirely different world out there, and is great for the spirit and for the soul! It also can give you much more confidence in yourself that will carry over to the rest of your world. Gives you more independence, etc. Plus it can make you a better photographer since you don't have to operate on someone else's schedule. I would not have captured most of the images I've done if I had to worry about someone else. It really does give you a great deal of freedom and removes constraints, even if those are only in your head. Of course, there are people who must be around other people, and that is fine too, I just find that very limiting - different strokes for different folks though.

I have to add a little something here (my wife tells me I sometimes don't know when to keep my mouth shut).

I like the company of others in the woods sometimes, but, like Tim, when photographing I usually would rather do it alone. Now, on the other hand, there are certain shooters who I really enjoy working with and we seem to feed off of each other's creativity, etc. pushing each other to do better.

Tim is right, no matter how many folks were there, this particular outcome likely would have been no different. In many cases, the main benefit to having someone with you is either that someone may have some medical knowlege and, when possible, may be able to help control a situation. Or, that person can get help to you quicker and/or keep your spirits up.

I REALLY can't say too much about folks going into the woods alone, most of my trips to the woods are solo. And, I am pretty bad about not letting folks know exactly where I'm going and when I'll be home. I tend to like to "go with the flow" and see what conditions are, etc. before deciding where to end up. Or sometimes I'll get to a spot and it may be a wash out so I'll head somewhere else. Other times I just like to wander, seemingly aimlessly, to see what I can find.

It is better to let folks know a general area of where to start looking (makes our SAR jobs much easier) and when to expect you back. Devices such as SPOT units are great as well, although in a really serious situation you may not be able to activate it.

Bottom line; be as careful as you can be, use your head, communicate your plans and pray for the best. Sometimes though, our best laid plans and all the care and caution in the world doesn't make a bit of difference.



Glenn Wheeler

www.glennwheeler.com
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Fans-of-Glenn-Wheeler-Photography/252485272732?ref=ts

I'm with Tim and Glenn on this one. The photographs I appreciate the most are usually taken after I have been at a location for several hours. I enjoy photographing with someone but you simply can't connect emotionally while worrying if your partner is itching to move on.

Accidents are going to happen and sometimes to the most cautious. I think we can do a much better job of communicating our location. The SPOT device I use has a tracking feature that reports my position every 10 minutes. One look at my blog and you can see exactly where I am while hiking. Signing in at a trailhead is helpful but there is so much more we can do. The problem is that there is a breakdown in communication between the hiker and authorities.

I wonder if there was a website to coordinate this information if we would use it. If there is interest, I would create and host such a website to see if it was helpful.

Ed I am glad to see the location on your blog has changed. It was a little haunting for a while with that Twin Falls location staying on there for so long.

I know what you mean Matthew, it kind of creeped me out one day so I changed it. I'll start using my SPOT again in March when I get back out shooting.

Ed, I am definitely interested in a website that would display my SPOT info. My current subscription doesn't include the tracking, but when I renew in May I will most likely upgrade to include the tracking. Thanks for the suggestion.

Good idea about the website, Ed. I'd be interested in seeing how it works.

Ed, there is a website that allows you to track your trips. Here is the link: http://jasonjonas.org/spot/

A friend of mine that is a biker was telling me about this last week. I pretty sure it is a free service as long as you have the tracking subscription for spot. You can choose to share your trip or make it password protected. He sent me some technical information that I need to read but I think we can set this up. I will study and let you know.

Ed,

I think the website has great potential.

Glenn

This is a silly question - but if you have the SPOT tracking subscription isn't there already a SPOT website that is free and can be made available to everyone? That is the whole point of that feature. When this first came out you had to give out your ACCOUNT password info in order for other folks to see the tracking, but now the site can be accessed by anyone with the correct url and your account info is not included. Is there some reason this does not work, or are you guys talking about some additional features you want?

Tim, not sure about this yet. Your are correct about the tracking feature, but there may be addtional features on this other site. I will let everyone know what I find out when I read the documentation.

Here is an update to the tragic story of the photographer that died in Boen Gulf last weekend. I went into the area this morning and collected several items that belonged to David that were at the spot where he hit the ground, including his tripod. His camera has not been recovered, and it is possible that it ended up in the creek and was washed away by the high waters on Sunday. If you happen to be in Boen Gulf and find a camera please let me know about it so we can get the memory card back to his family.

What I want to tell you is that David did not fall off of a 100' tall bluff. The distance he fell was quite a bit shorter than that, in fact, it appears that the bluff he fell off of was only 20 feet tall or less. (Note - this is simply my opinion from seeing the facts on the hillside in person, and is by no means an official statement, nor should be regarded as one.) I wanted to post this info - and the attached photo - to make sure everyone understands that it does not take a 100 foot tall bluff to kill you. You can die in the woods by falling down on the level, just like in a parking lot in town (J. B. Hunt is an example of this). Certainly be extra careful when around tall bluffs, but make sure you are careful no matter where you are in the woods.

Boen Gulf Accident Scene

Thanks for the update, Tim. This certainly isn't what I had imagined as the site of the accident. I suppose that once one's momentum is headed downhill, all you can do is ride it out and hope for the best. Especially if you're carrying 30-40 pounds of gear on your back. I hope that someone finds the camera and memory card.

Such a innocent looking spot. Thanks Tim for giving us this visual.

Back to the website Ed mentioned. Ed, correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you suggesting a common website local photogaphers, etc could use as a clearinghouse for others in the area to know where we are?

Glenn

The problem with the website Tom linked to is that it is an after the fact site which requires you to upload a file that is downloaded from the SPOT website. It is for sharing trips you have been on which looks similar to the SpotAdventure site. Also, as Tim suggests, If you have a SPOT there is a website that has your location information. There is even an iPhone and blackberry app that you can use to track these shared pages.

What I was thinking about is basically what Glenn suggested, a common website that could be used centrally to share your location and intentions. It would take a centralized site that the forestry service could visit to see if someone had put their plans on.

I have the spot updates sent to fireeagle.yahoo.com which in turn feeds a map on my website. I spent a little time researching the fire eagle interface and believe it could be used for real time location reporting using SPOT and other sources like cell phones. So basically, you would authorize our fictitious website on fireeagle.yahoo.com so this website could serve as a central repository for plans, location reporting, whatever we could come up with. There are already applications that work with fireeagle.yahoo.com for iphones, blackberry, mobile and desktop browsers.

Here is the link for fire eagle.

Anyway, looks like there is some interest. I just registered findme-ar.com and findme-ar.org, next week I'll setup a blog site so we can brainstorm some preliminary ideas or functionality. If you think of a better name than let me know.

I wanted to make one last update about this accident. I found David's camera bag today - it was about 150' downstream from where he came to final rest in the Boen Gulf creek. The bag must have come loose from him when he hit the bottom, then was washed downstream the next day when flood waters hit the area. The bag was submerged in about two feet of water. Obviously the camera and lens were ruined - the lens was even filled up with water. But all four of the memory cards and a thumb drive were just fine, even though they had been submerged in water for a full week.

It was a giant moment of relief for me personally to find this gear - I guess I kind of considered it a point of honor to not let a fellow photographer's gear remain unfound after his death, and I vowed to keep looking until it was found. It also will be a great comfort to the family to be able to see all the photos he made on his last day, including the very last ones. And as an odd side note to all of this, the sequence of his photos goes along with how I had reconstructed his route through the waterfall area, and I think I am pretty sure now what he was doing when he slipped and fell to his death, and why. And while I don't know what the coroner's report said, I can peg the time of his accident within a few minutes because of the exif data from the last photo.

And finally, there is now a new waterfall in the Ozarks, one that will be in the next edition of the waterfall guidebook - David Hadlock Cascade. As it turns out, not only is this a rather beautiful waterfall and one that folks seldom see (it has never been named before, nor photographed much, if at all), but it also was one of the last things that David saw before his death, and it is located just 100 yards from where he died. A fitting tribute I think to a fine gentleman, talented photographer, and all around good egg. I'll post a photo of it here the next time we get a good rain.

I'm sure the family will treasure those images forever and the naming of the cascades in his honor. I'm glad you were persistant in finding the bag.

I have a quick update as well:

Myself and the some of the other SAR members had a very nice get-together with David's family and friends last night in Jasper. They insisted that we come to a dinner to meet with the family and let them do a little something for us. We don't expect ANYTHING in return and we do Search and Rescue type stuff because it needs to be done and we are honored to be able to do it. But, it was a great experience for us and I think it really meant a lot to the family.

We were able to clear up a lot of questions for them and show them some of the equipment and techniques we used to get David out. They said it brought a great deal of closure for them and helped them to better understand the whole situation. There are some other plans in the works for a little later on to help bring closure and a little more peace for them as well. They truly are a wonderful family and their faith and strength are inspirational.

As I said, we don't expect anything from the patients we help or their families, but it was a great honor to spend time with David's family and it really seemed to help them as well. The family, friends and David's company also made a nice donation to help with future SAR missions. A wonderful gesture that was both unexpected and unnecessary, but greatly appreciated.

Oftentimes, in the emergency services field in general, we are scrutinized and blamed for things that are really no one's fault. That is a natural thing and part of the process of dealing with tragedy. We know that and usually bear that burden, knowing it is part of the grieving process. It is so nice when the opposite occurs. Two great examples are the warmth and generosity of the Hadlock family and the praise that Ed gave following his terrible ordeal. We are honored and humbled by such acts and appreciate the positive feedback. Things like that are another reason I volunteer so many hours of training and actual Search and Rescue and EMS work. While I'm at it I'd also like to thank all of you guys (and gals) for the positive feedback and support you give here and elsewhere.

Finally, David's wife spoke at length with me about Tim naming the waterfall after David and she was thrilled and touched (Tim had already discussed it with the family). She said David died doing what he loved and would have been extremely honored to be memorialized in such a beautiful place.


Glenn Wheeler

What a fine way to bring closure to this tragic accident. It's nice to know that David's family can feel more at peace after having their questions answered, and David's last photographs to see and hold. I look forward to seeing a photograph of the waterfall.

Thanks for the updates Tim and Glenn.

If anyone is interested, I have posted a few of David's photographs from his last day of shooting, from Boxley Valley and in Boen Gulf - all of them straight from the camera and unedited.

David's Photos

Thanks for sharing the images Tim! I feel like I knew him now that I've seen some of his work. It's hard to look at the images knowing how the day would end.