Posted by Brad Kargus on August 19, 2018 at 3:47 PM
Hello Everyone,
On July 13, Paul Miller, of Guelph, Ontario, Canada went missing in Joshua Tree National Park. Paul was last seen by his wife, Stephanie, at about 9:00 that morning when he set out with the intent to hike to 49 Palms Oasis. His vehicle was found at the trailhead of 49 Palms Oasis. Search teams have been unable to find Paul or any clues to indicate what may have happened.
Paul is an acquaintance of a friend of mine. I regret not learning of this sooner, as I was out of the country for a couple months and it seems I didn't keep up well enough with local news.
I'm asking, in case there are any NPNers who may have recently spent time in the area and on the chance that they may have seen something or know something, to please contact the relevant authorities with any information you may have.
Brad, I was aware of this story shortly after Paul went missing. Although the 49 Palms area is a very short drive off the Hwy 62 between 29 Palms and the town of Joshua Tree I rarely have visited that part of the park. As a retiree I travel to the park once a week to do photographic work deeper into the park away from the main access points between the Hwy 62 or from the south Interstate 10.
These missing person reports are always heartbreaking and at the same time very mysterious also. The 49 Palms area is very accessible and at night many homes near there would be visible when illuminated. The other side of the foothills behind that 49 Palms area would be very rugged and more concealed from visual guiding lights so to speak.
This latest missing persons report with Paul Miller was not far behind the two missing young adults and a much older man in his late 60's out at JTNP. I've not heard any update on the elder gentleman, but the two young adults sadly were found quite sometime back now and they were both dead. It was unclear if the two young adults were casualties of murder suicide for reasons unknown, or strictly out of total desperation in being lost.
I've spent a lot of time in the park over many years and feel totally comfortable with my bearings out there. But, if you're in the real outback without PLENTY of water year around it can be life threatening. Apparently there have been studies done on what people do once they become lost and disoriented. They can run algorithms to aid with searches on disoriented hikers. I would think drones must be a go to tool these days for search and rescue teams. But National Parks do not allow drone flights so I assume that might be out unless they're allowed in missing person cases.
Brad I hope you hear some kind of update for your missing friend for closure no matter what.
Posted by Brad Kargus on August 20, 2018 at 2:17 PM
Hi Paul,
Thank you for providing context on the area. I've never been to this area, so it gives me a sense of how the park fits into its surroundings.
If drones are not being used for search and rescue purposes, I question why not? A single drone fitted with a camera of sufficient resolution could quickly narrow down the possibilities and allow for a more targeted search by those on foot.
Hi Brad, I'm not sure if drones are or were ever used in any recent search and rescue attempts out at JTNP. I know drones are not normally allowed in any National Parks here in the states, but under rescue missions maybe they are allowed.
I will say that one unique item about JTNP that makes rescue missions difficult are the massive rock formations. Much different then many open desert areas JTNP has a zillion rock formations that people can fall between making it almost impossible to find them if off the main trail sections. Adding to the visual rock formation restrictions are the overall harsh conditions. During the summer temperatures are on most days in the triple digit range.
Years ago back in 2010 as I recall there was a man from the east coast that went missing at the middle area of the park called Juniper Flats and no trace of that person has ever been found. The point about using algorithms used by search teams are outlined in this article on that lost person.
Discussion
3 repliesOn July 13, Paul Miller, of Guelph, Ontario, Canada went missing in Joshua Tree National Park. Paul was last seen by his wife, Stephanie, at about 9:00 that morning when he set out with the intent to hike to 49 Palms Oasis. His vehicle was found at the trailhead of 49 Palms Oasis. Search teams have been unable to find Paul or any clues to indicate what may have happened.
Paul is an acquaintance of a friend of mine. I regret not learning of this sooner, as I was out of the country for a couple months and it seems I didn't keep up well enough with local news.
I'm asking, in case there are any NPNers who may have recently spent time in the area and on the chance that they may have seen something or know something, to please contact the relevant authorities with any information you may have.
Link to news story in the Desert Sun: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2018/08/17/search-missing-joshua-tree-hiker-continues-weekend/1019444002/
Link to story at CTV News including video: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/search-lengthens-for-canadian-missing-in-joshua-tree-national-park-1.4016685
I haven't been active on NPN in a long time but I decided to post on the chance this may help.
Thank you for your time,
Brad
These missing person reports are always heartbreaking and at the same time very mysterious also. The 49 Palms area is very accessible and at night many homes near there would be visible when illuminated. The other side of the foothills behind that 49 Palms area would be very rugged and more concealed from visual guiding lights so to speak.
This latest missing persons report with Paul Miller was not far behind the two missing young adults and a much older man in his late 60's out at JTNP. I've not heard any update on the elder gentleman, but the two young adults sadly were found quite sometime back now and they were both dead. It was unclear if the two young adults were casualties of murder suicide for reasons unknown, or strictly out of total desperation in being lost.
I've spent a lot of time in the park over many years and feel totally comfortable with my bearings out there. But, if you're in the real outback without PLENTY of water year around it can be life threatening. Apparently there have been studies done on what people do once they become lost and disoriented. They can run algorithms to aid with searches on disoriented hikers. I would think drones must be a go to tool these days for search and rescue teams. But National Parks do not allow drone flights so I assume that might be out unless they're allowed in missing person cases.
Brad I hope you hear some kind of update for your missing friend for closure no matter what.
Thank you for providing context on the area. I've never been to this area, so it gives me a sense of how the park fits into its surroundings.
If drones are not being used for search and rescue purposes, I question why not? A single drone fitted with a camera of sufficient resolution could quickly narrow down the possibilities and allow for a more targeted search by those on foot.
Regards and take care,
Brad
I will say that one unique item about JTNP that makes rescue missions difficult are the massive rock formations. Much different then many open desert areas JTNP has a zillion rock formations that people can fall between making it almost impossible to find them if off the main trail sections. Adding to the visual rock formation restrictions are the overall harsh conditions. During the summer temperatures are on most days in the triple digit range.
Years ago back in 2010 as I recall there was a man from the east coast that went missing at the middle area of the park called Juniper Flats and no trace of that person has ever been found. The point about using algorithms used by search teams are outlined in this article on that lost person.
Lost Hiker In JTNP