http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,465031137,00.html
Backcountry trek turns into a deadly ordeal
Couple spends week trapped in the snow; woman later dies
By Pat Reavy
Deseret News staff writer
George Metcalfe and Rachel Crowley had only planned to take a quick weekend road trip through some of southern Utah's most picturesque landscape. But what they didn't realize was the area was also some of the state's most rural and rugged land, an oversight that would prove to be fatal.
The two spent nearly a week trapped in a Jeep in the backcountry of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, eating only Skittles and sunflower seeds while waiting and hoping that someone would find them. When they finally decided to hike out of the area, Crowley was already very weak from cold and hunger.
Just four miles into their hike Crowley could not go any farther, and Metcalfe had to make the toughest decision of his life to go on without her in an effort to find help. It would be the last time he would see her alive.
The tragic story of the couple ended late Monday morning when a cattle rancher discovered Metcalfe. A short time later, Crowley's body was recovered.
Metcalfe remained in stable condition Wednesday at Garfield Memorial Hospital in Panguitch where he was being treated for hypothermia.
Their ordeal began Feb. 22 when Metcalfe, 26, from England, and his girlfriend, Crowley, 27, from Massachusetts, flew into Las Vegas where they rented a Jeep and went off on a sightseeing expedition through Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and Kodachrome State Park.
The couple then wanted to visit the Grand Staircase, Garfield County Sheriff's Sgt. Danny Perkins said.
On Feb. 24, the couple took their Jeep on a dirt pass they thought would be a shortcut to Escalante, Perkins said. About halfway there, their vehicle became stuck in the mud in an area known as Trap's Wash.
"This is mean country," Perkins said. "They didn't realize it would be as rural as it was."
Apparently believing that someone would eventually drive by and see them, Crowley and Metcalfe stayed in their Jeep.
But no one ever drove by. To make matters worse, 2 feet of snow fell in the area over the next few nights.
On Saturday, after spending five nights in the Jeep with only a bag of candy, sunflower seeds and snow to eat and no winter clothing, the couple decided to try to hike out.
But after only four miles, Crowley was too weak to continue. Perkins said the couple spent the night under a tree. On Sunday, she told Metcalfe the best way to find help was for him to go on without her, Perkins said.
"They knew they were in trouble. They talked about dying. It was extremely hard for him to leave her, but she was unable to go, and he was quite weak himself," he said. "It's a heart-wrenching story."
Metcalfe left Crowley at 7 a.m. and walked through the snow all day Sunday and through the night. The temperature dropped into the 20s during the night, but the wind chill made it even worse, Perkins said.
By this time, friends and family of both Metcalfe and Crowley were looking for the couple. The two had not told anyone where they were going.
Quincy, Mass., Police Capt. Allen Gillan said his department was notified by Crowley's family that she was missing. After tracking down credit card records, police were able to trace Metcalfe to Utah where authorities were notified.
After walking more than 20 miles, Metcalfe was spotted Monday about 11:45 a.m. by rancher Vance Pollock.
"He was just staggering along," Pollock said after spotting Metcalfe. "This gentleman's in serious trouble," Pollock told his son, Shannon, who was with him.
When the Pollocks reached Metcalfe, he was weak, distraught, hungry and suffering from frostbite and hypothermia, Vance Pollock said.
"I don't believe he would have lasted a few hours if I hadn't of found him," he said.
Pollock put Metcalfe on his four-wheel ATV and drove back to his truck where he called for police on his two-way radio. Shannon Pollock tried following Metcalfe's tracks to look for Crowley, but his ATV became stuck in the snow, and he was forced to walk himself.
A short time later, a search helicopter was able to pick up Metcalfe's tracks and followed them to the tree where Crowley's body was found.
An autopsy will be conducted, but Perkins said it appeared to be a combination of starvation and exposure.
Even though the couple had purchased maps of the area, Perkins said it's hard for out-of-town visitors to comprehend the remoteness of the area.
He hopes map makers will take the initiative to make it more clear so a tragedy like this can be prevented from happening again.
"You need to put on maps in big bold red letters, 'You do not travel these roads under any adverse weather conditions.' Even in the summer those roads are treacherous. People from metropolitan areas are taken back by the remoteness of the unpopulated landscape. They had no idea that this was such a remote area. They thought it was a shortcut that people used all the time," Perkins said.
Vance Pollock concurred the area is tough even for people who are familiar with it.
"It's dirt, it's sand, it's clay, it's cold. It's just really a tough area out in the middle of nowhere," he said. "(Metcalfe) did the only thing he could do. I was very glad I located the gentleman."
Backcountry trek turns into a deadly ordeal
Couple spends week trapped in the snow; woman later dies
By Pat Reavy
Deseret News staff writer
George Metcalfe and Rachel Crowley had only planned to take a quick weekend road trip through some of southern Utah's most picturesque landscape. But what they didn't realize was the area was also some of the state's most rural and rugged land, an oversight that would prove to be fatal.
The two spent nearly a week trapped in a Jeep in the backcountry of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, eating only Skittles and sunflower seeds while waiting and hoping that someone would find them. When they finally decided to hike out of the area, Crowley was already very weak from cold and hunger.
Just four miles into their hike Crowley could not go any farther, and Metcalfe had to make the toughest decision of his life to go on without her in an effort to find help. It would be the last time he would see her alive.
The tragic story of the couple ended late Monday morning when a cattle rancher discovered Metcalfe. A short time later, Crowley's body was recovered.
Metcalfe remained in stable condition Wednesday at Garfield Memorial Hospital in Panguitch where he was being treated for hypothermia.
Their ordeal began Feb. 22 when Metcalfe, 26, from England, and his girlfriend, Crowley, 27, from Massachusetts, flew into Las Vegas where they rented a Jeep and went off on a sightseeing expedition through Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and Kodachrome State Park.
The couple then wanted to visit the Grand Staircase, Garfield County Sheriff's Sgt. Danny Perkins said.
On Feb. 24, the couple took their Jeep on a dirt pass they thought would be a shortcut to Escalante, Perkins said. About halfway there, their vehicle became stuck in the mud in an area known as Trap's Wash.
"This is mean country," Perkins said. "They didn't realize it would be as rural as it was."
Apparently believing that someone would eventually drive by and see them, Crowley and Metcalfe stayed in their Jeep.
But no one ever drove by. To make matters worse, 2 feet of snow fell in the area over the next few nights.
On Saturday, after spending five nights in the Jeep with only a bag of candy, sunflower seeds and snow to eat and no winter clothing, the couple decided to try to hike out.
But after only four miles, Crowley was too weak to continue. Perkins said the couple spent the night under a tree. On Sunday, she told Metcalfe the best way to find help was for him to go on without her, Perkins said.
"They knew they were in trouble. They talked about dying. It was extremely hard for him to leave her, but she was unable to go, and he was quite weak himself," he said. "It's a heart-wrenching story."
Metcalfe left Crowley at 7 a.m. and walked through the snow all day Sunday and through the night. The temperature dropped into the 20s during the night, but the wind chill made it even worse, Perkins said.
By this time, friends and family of both Metcalfe and Crowley were looking for the couple. The two had not told anyone where they were going.
Quincy, Mass., Police Capt. Allen Gillan said his department was notified by Crowley's family that she was missing. After tracking down credit card records, police were able to trace Metcalfe to Utah where authorities were notified.
After walking more than 20 miles, Metcalfe was spotted Monday about 11:45 a.m. by rancher Vance Pollock.
"He was just staggering along," Pollock said after spotting Metcalfe. "This gentleman's in serious trouble," Pollock told his son, Shannon, who was with him.
When the Pollocks reached Metcalfe, he was weak, distraught, hungry and suffering from frostbite and hypothermia, Vance Pollock said.
"I don't believe he would have lasted a few hours if I hadn't of found him," he said.
Pollock put Metcalfe on his four-wheel ATV and drove back to his truck where he called for police on his two-way radio. Shannon Pollock tried following Metcalfe's tracks to look for Crowley, but his ATV became stuck in the snow, and he was forced to walk himself.
A short time later, a search helicopter was able to pick up Metcalfe's tracks and followed them to the tree where Crowley's body was found.
An autopsy will be conducted, but Perkins said it appeared to be a combination of starvation and exposure.
Even though the couple had purchased maps of the area, Perkins said it's hard for out-of-town visitors to comprehend the remoteness of the area.
He hopes map makers will take the initiative to make it more clear so a tragedy like this can be prevented from happening again.
"You need to put on maps in big bold red letters, 'You do not travel these roads under any adverse weather conditions.' Even in the summer those roads are treacherous. People from metropolitan areas are taken back by the remoteness of the unpopulated landscape. They had no idea that this was such a remote area. They thought it was a shortcut that people used all the time," Perkins said.
Vance Pollock concurred the area is tough even for people who are familiar with it.
"It's dirt, it's sand, it's clay, it's cold. It's just really a tough area out in the middle of nowhere," he said. "(Metcalfe) did the only thing he could do. I was very glad I located the gentleman."
The harder task is to remember and implement the lessons oneself on the next trip out.
