This was a further sad update last evening about the 2 very young hikers that went missing at Joshua Tree NP back in July. Although I go to the park once a week it was a rare Friday outing for me back then. I usually go in mid week to avoid any and all folks coming and going from weekend stay overs.
I entered the park that Friday morning at my normal 1 hour before sunrise time. The location where the young adults went missing was along the Maze Loop Trail. As it is very close to the main entrance I've never stopped there at all, but have taken note of anyone parked in any small parking areas or turnouts during my travels much deeper into the park.
On this particular morning I passed the 4 car dirt parking area at the Maze Loop Trail and noticed 2 small compact cars parked in the location. This is not alarming in general as many folks use the turnouts and such if they're caught getting into the park late and camping areas are filled.
Anyway, as it turned out that evening I learned that the young adults had not returned to a local facility to check out of their room as they were scheduled to do that Friday morning. When I saw their car that evening on the news I had an immediate flashback to the site and recalled their exact vehicle as well as the second car too.
Sadly, after hunting for the folks for months they apparently have located their bodies late yesterday afternoon. I've posted this in the personal safety forum as just a reminder of how cruel nature can be if you're not prepared for the elements and or location of travel.
I'd posted this scene when this first happened as a tribute to the search in hopes of their safe return.
Posted by Mark Seaver on October 16, 2017 at 12:47 PM
Paul, very sad, but expected news. Is there any assessment as to what happened?
Posted by Barbara Graham on October 16, 2017 at 12:48 PM
Mark and Barbara, very sad indeed. Thank you for the comments of concern and interest.
Details are very sketchy so far. As the bodies were only discovered late yesterday afternoon I'm sure they have the area closed off again as a possible crime scene. As sad as the story is I for one hope it was not anything to do with criminal activity and it is a case of tragic deaths by severe mistakes made.
Apparently trying to find them took a lot of time and is impart do to the fact they were not near the trail area per se. First reports indicate somewhat north of the Maze Loop Trail is where they found them. Very puzzling to me are 2 immediate facts. First are deaths maybe at the same time, not sure yet. And secondly the area north of the loop is only a few miles from lighted homes at night providing some allowable bearing markers.
I suspect there are planned autopsies, but after about 4 months in the desert heat and possible animal exposure too I'm sure it will be very difficult.
That is sad. Let us know if you find out what happened to them. I am curious. Like you, it does make it somehow better if it was not foul play, even though that does not change the final outcome for them.
Posted by Ed Williams on October 16, 2017 at 6:37 PM
Thanks for the update Paul. Somber reminder to take care and be aware when you are out in the wilderness no matter where that happens to be.
Thanks to all that commented here. After the first report of them missing and my own dejavu after seeing and making mental note of their parked car that Friday morning it has held my interest since that first sighting.
The news update this evening at 5pm 10/16/17 states that although the corner had not been to the site yet that the father of the boy was certain that it was his son and his girlfriend. The father had gone every weekend on the searches. He was there to see the discovery. Input from the Search & Rescue team on hand for the recent update said that it does appear to be a tragic mistake by the young adults.
They were found together in an embrace on the ground and had exhausted all food and water by discarded wrappers and containers they left as a bread crumb trail to where they perished.
Unless the corner determines otherwise the mystery after months has been resolved.
Posted by Bill Chambers on October 17, 2017 at 12:47 AM
Sad and so preventable. I can't imagine the torture the parents of these two youngsters went through while searching for their children. It's little consolation, but at least this provides some degree of closure for them. I do hope these unfortunate deaths were from natural causes and not due to criminal activity though.
Posted by Igor Doncov on October 17, 2017 at 8:22 PM
I wonder if they knew that the gps in their smartphone could be used anywhere to find your way back. As long as you take a reading at the start.
@ Bill, I totally agree. I can't say I was not a BIG risk taker too in my 20's like these young folks were, but tried not to get too far out over my ski tips as it were.
I wonder if they knew that the gps in their smartphone could be used anywhere to find your way back. As long as you take a reading at the start.
@ Igor, I would say by all accounts they were extreme novices on back country trekking. Although at their age of just 20 & 21 were no doubt very smartphone knowledgeable I would think.
Posted by Bill Chambers on October 18, 2017 at 11:43 AM
Sad and so preventable.
@ Bill, I totally agree. I can't say I was not a BIG risk taker too in my 20's like these young folks were, but tried not to get too far out over my ski tips as it were.
I know Paul. In my late teens and for most of my 20's I was very seriously involved in cave diving in the beautiful springs here in Florida. It was a breathtaking activity but it involved a serious potential for danger, especially back then as cave diving was in it's infancy in the 60's and 70's. Back then we had to manufacture or alter a great deal of our equipment because the equipment required to accomplish the activity safely just didn't exist yet. We explored and discovered some great things - new springs, lots of virgin passage, provided some of the first maps of cave systems, and developed many of the safety techniques that are still used today in cave diving. Along the way, we also lost friends due to accidents as we pushed the envelope a great deal (as all explorers of new things must do). After each death, a great deal of soul searching and analysis was performed in order to learn what happened and why so we could use that information to alter existing techniques and/or equipment or to perhaps develop something completely new so as to prevent a reoccurrence. The point is, accidents do happen, and will always continue to happen in any true exploration, but there is another sad fact that goes along with it, and that is there are MANY people, such as the couple at Joshua Tree who don't consider the risks before doing something potentially hazardous. In my days of cave diving there were MANY cave diving deaths involving untrained morons who weren't properly trained or equipped, who didn't spend the hundreds of hours underwater practicing emergency techniques, necessary techniques of positioning/swimming, who didn't spend hours in classrooms studying physics and physiology of deep diving, etc. They, like the couple at JT, thought it would just be fun to do something they considered neat or exciting, and it too many cases it led to their death. The moral - enjoy the great outdoors, but be smart and LEARN how to safely do it and BE AWARE of the potential dangers. Joshua Tree, or any other National Park can still be wild country.
Bill, like you I did take on certain activities as a teen and stayed on the edge until I sold my last race car well into my 40's.
I've seen cave diving in the past on tv and was intrigued by it, but strictly as a land lover. It truly looked very dangerous if not done properly as you all researched & developed over time.
A little more updates being released on the JTNP event and so far still no foul play suspected. Which is at least a worthy note on the tragedy. Thank you for the comments and also your in depth BG story on your cave diving.
Latest news update this evening shared a bit more of the details about this mystery in the deaths of the two young adults. Amongst some of the items at the scene were at least one water bottle, a couple candy wrappers, and also a firearm. The firearm was a legally registered firearm to the young male. Apparently in their final hours of desperation they chose to use the firearm as both had been killed by gunshots. The families stand firm that this was a complete tragedy and had nothing to do with any relationship issues between them that was always so positive.
A very sad ending to what was to be a fun outing for the young couple that went totally wrong......
At this point I'd like to ask you what you think about a couple of things. At least one article I saw said that the room they were staying in had at least four kinds of hallucinogenic drugs left in it. Have you seen anything about that, or do you think that could have anything to do with any part of this, like getting lost?
My other question is in spite of what the families say about their relationship, I wonder what their families' opinions were about their relationship. I remember when we lived in Miami, where my kids were born and grew up, there was more than one young couple, even younger than this, whose parents did not want them to be together, and their lives ended in ways like this. Do you think that friends or relatives would have spoken out at any point if they suspected that was the case?
Barbara, those are interesting items and issues for more review by the investigation team I'm sure. I was unaware of the drug issue and that all being found in the room. If they'd been using any of that stuff before entering July temperatures of 100+ degrees out at JTNP they would not be on a level playing field at that point.
The second point is hard to determine. The only slight input I would have on the family bond was from the reports shared on the father of the boy. The father was on every search outing on all those weekends after holding down a full time job during the week. So his personal dedication to his son was apparently very strong considering the 100 mile drive back and forth each way between their home and the trail head. That would show A LOT of paternal concern & drive IMO. Very sadly he was with the lead group when they found the bodies too.
Discussion
14 repliesI entered the park that Friday morning at my normal 1 hour before sunrise time. The location where the young adults went missing was along the Maze Loop Trail. As it is very close to the main entrance I've never stopped there at all, but have taken note of anyone parked in any small parking areas or turnouts during my travels much deeper into the park.
On this particular morning I passed the 4 car dirt parking area at the Maze Loop Trail and noticed 2 small compact cars parked in the location. This is not alarming in general as many folks use the turnouts and such if they're caught getting into the park late and camping areas are filled.
Anyway, as it turned out that evening I learned that the young adults had not returned to a local facility to check out of their room as they were scheduled to do that Friday morning. When I saw their car that evening on the news I had an immediate flashback to the site and recalled their exact vehicle as well as the second car too.
Sadly, after hunting for the folks for months they apparently have located their bodies late yesterday afternoon. I've posted this in the personal safety forum as just a reminder of how cruel nature can be if you're not prepared for the elements and or location of travel.
I'd posted this scene when this first happened as a tribute to the search in hopes of their safe return.
Details are very sketchy so far. As the bodies were only discovered late yesterday afternoon I'm sure they have the area closed off again as a possible crime scene. As sad as the story is I for one hope it was not anything to do with criminal activity and it is a case of tragic deaths by severe mistakes made.
Apparently trying to find them took a lot of time and is impart do to the fact they were not near the trail area per se. First reports indicate somewhat north of the Maze Loop Trail is where they found them. Very puzzling to me are 2 immediate facts. First are deaths maybe at the same time, not sure yet. And secondly the area north of the loop is only a few miles from lighted homes at night providing some allowable bearing markers.
I suspect there are planned autopsies, but after about 4 months in the desert heat and possible animal exposure too I'm sure it will be very difficult.
The news update this evening at 5pm 10/16/17 states that although the corner had not been to the site yet that the father of the boy was certain that it was his son and his girlfriend. The father had gone every weekend on the searches. He was there to see the discovery. Input from the Search & Rescue team on hand for the recent update said that it does appear to be a tragic mistake by the young adults.
They were found together in an embrace on the ground and had exhausted all food and water by discarded wrappers and containers they left as a bread crumb trail to where they perished.
Unless the corner determines otherwise the mystery after months has been resolved.
@ Bill, I totally agree. I can't say I was not a BIG risk taker too in my 20's like these young folks were, but tried not to get too far out over my ski tips as it were.
@ Igor, I would say by all accounts they were extreme novices on back country trekking. Although at their age of just 20 & 21 were no doubt very smartphone knowledgeable I would think.
I've seen cave diving in the past on tv and was intrigued by it, but strictly as a land lover. It truly looked very dangerous if not done properly as you all researched & developed over time.
A little more updates being released on the JTNP event and so far still no foul play suspected. Which is at least a worthy note on the tragedy. Thank you for the comments and also your in depth BG story on your cave diving.
A very sad ending to what was to be a fun outing for the young couple that went totally wrong......
At this point I'd like to ask you what you think about a couple of things. At least one article I saw said that the room they were staying in had at least four kinds of hallucinogenic drugs left in it. Have you seen anything about that, or do you think that could have anything to do with any part of this, like getting lost?
My other question is in spite of what the families say about their relationship, I wonder what their families' opinions were about their relationship. I remember when we lived in Miami, where my kids were born and grew up, there was more than one young couple, even younger than this, whose parents did not want them to be together, and their lives ended in ways like this. Do you think that friends or relatives would have spoken out at any point if they suspected that was the case?
The second point is hard to determine. The only slight input I would have on the family bond was from the reports shared on the father of the boy. The father was on every search outing on all those weekends after holding down a full time job during the week. So his personal dedication to his son was apparently very strong considering the 100 mile drive back and forth each way between their home and the trail head. That would show A LOT of paternal concern & drive IMO. Very sadly he was with the lead group when they found the bodies too.