SAFETY: Missing hiker in PNW...

Codger_64

Codger_64

Moderator
Joined
Oct 8, 2004
Messages
62,324
I am posting this here mostly because it points vividly to the importance of leaving a copy of your trip plans with someone who will notice when you are overdue to return and have at least a good general idea of where to direct searchers to find you in the event that Murphy finds you first.

The search for Jeremy has spread like wildfire among the hiking forums and his online friends are rallying to do both physical and electronic searches looking for clues. When you consider the effort being put forth by his friends and all of the agencies being notified, it amounts to a very major undertaking in manpower and money, not to mention the emotional toll on family and friends.

At this point, it isn't even known for sure that he was hiking when he disappeared or if he just took an extended drive.

Olyhiker (Jeremy) has been reported missing by family members and is currently listed in a nationwide police database system as a missing person. He hasn’t been seen or heard from since January 30th. His debit card was used on the 31st for $33 worth of gas at about 10:30 at night at a small gas station along Hwy-101 near Lake Quinault in WA.

There is no indication that he has gone hiking, according to his sister. It appears his gear is still at his house. He left Juji, his dog at home. He also has been pretty much the sole care-taker of his elderly parents and they haven’t heard from him, either.

I’ve been in contact with the Gray’s Harbor Sheriff’s office and spoke with the chief, who happens to be Jer’s brother-in-law. He’s personally been driving up and down forest service roads looking for him. They’ve pulled out all the stops and have had aircraft, helicopters, ground crews including people on quads and 4X4s’ looking on all the forest service roads for Jer. The National Park Service, the State Wildlife Department, DNR and all police agencies on the Olympic Peninsula have been notified and have posters of Jer and his very unique truck. I was told that every forest service road on the west side of the Olympic Mountains has been checked during the past week.

The PNW Posse is rallying at this time. Ldyblade and Rumi are on the road right now and the rest of us will be headed that direction on Saturday. We’ll be handing out posters of our own to supplement the ones that are already out there, as well as driving up and down the roads.
Click to expand...

2cikbhg.jpg


Just how big is the search effort? Besides these listed, he is in the nationwide missing persons database now...

Just so everyone doesn't flood the departments that already have been contacted, here is a list that have been notified:

Olympic Park Service
Fish & Wildlife
Rayonier
Clallam County Sheriff
Dept of Natural Resources
Forest Service
Quilute Tribe
Makah Tribe
Lower Elwah Tribe
Quinault Tribe
I believe the Queets & Hoh Tribes know, will double check that today.
Grays Harbor Sheriff
Coast Guard
Click to expand...

I didn't post this because I expected anyone here to be able to help in the search, but if someone does happen to spot that truck even a few States away? Anywho, just a wakeup call to those of us who like to go solo and sometimes forget to leave a plan with someone (myself included).

Codger :o
 
Thanks for posting that, Codger. That would be a difficult truck to miss. From the sound of things, he didn't go hiking (his gear was at home) but I'm impressed by the effort made by his online buds.
 
Sounds really strange. I wonder if they have been able to access his e-mail and browser history yet for clues since he has an active online presence. I hope all turns out well.
 
Yes, his sister gave the Sheriff's department his passwords to search his computer and his friends have done rather extensive searches online and even gone back over their own emails and PMs from him looking for clues.

The guy was accustomed to the woods and would have been very capable of getting by without gear, according to those friends who knew him best. It wouldn't have been impossible for him to go for a walkabout without gear, though not likely.

At this point, a road accident or foul play haven't been ruled out either. With friends and LEOs checking trailheads and backroads for the truck and State Police looking on the major highways, surely the truck will turn up sooner or later, even if stolen.
 
Sad to hear.

I'm an old caver ... speelunker ... call it what you will. We hike underground. Learned this lesson long ago.

Never leave without precautions like these. Never.
 
Fry was found yesterday.

Body found in remote area
of Jefferson may be Harborite

Sunday, February 7, 2010 1:12 AM PST

The Daily World

A body believed to be that of an Aberdeen man was found near Yahoo Lake in Jefferson County on Saturday, about 25 miles northeast of Queets, near the Olympic Corrections Center.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Sgt. Andy Pernsteiner said the office received a call just after 1 p.m. of a possible body in a truck on a forest road near the lake.

Pernsteiner said deputies arrived to find the deceased man in the vehicle, and turned the body over to the Grays Harbor Coroner’s Office. Though no positive identification has yet been made, Pernsteiner said the man is believed to be an Aberdeen resident.

Grays Harbor Deputy Coroner George Patrick confirmed Saturday that the man’s body was in the coroner’s care. Patrick said a positive identification and decisions on a possible autopsy would come early next week.

Pernsteiner added that the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office will handle the investigation, and that more will be know after the Grays Harbor Coroner’s Office can give them a positive ID and cause of death.

“That’s all we know right now,” Pernsteiner said.
Click to expand...

Whether or not his death was self inflicted or the result of foul play isn't known yet, but it sounds like suicide to me.

Still, while the original circumstance is a good lesson for us, I think we can also learn from this latest news. The most important key to survival is the will to survive, regardless of what life throws your way. When that will to survive is gone....

I've had a family member, several friends and acquaintances who chose the "permanent solution to a temporary problem". I always have to shake my head. I'll not judge them, but try to remember their actions as a lesson to myself. Never give up. Never quit trying.

Here is one of Jeremy's pictures (talented Native American artist and photographer)...

higleysfarm001.jpg



http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/dd221/olyhiker/?start=60
 
very sad my friend, one of my sisters made the long walk off a bridge 6 yrs ago.

I hope his family does not beat themselves up with hindsight and the whatiff thinking that haunted me.

kind regards and smoke sent
 
Glock26 said:
If he chose suicide, all I can say is coward. What a way to go out so violently.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am aware of the "coward" take on suicide. My own take on it is that it is not the act of a sane person. A sane person keeps the "survival spark" that has allowed humanity to survive all these years.
 
Glock26 said:
If he chose suicide, all I can say is coward. What a way to go out so violently.
Click to expand...

It was his life to do as he wished with it, and it is wrong for you to pronounce judgment upon someone without any knowledge of him or his situation.
 
Codger_64 said:
Yes, I am aware of the "coward" take on suicide. My own take on it is that it is not the act of a sane person. A sane person keeps the "survival spark" that has allowed humanity to survive all these years.
Click to expand...

yeah don't see the coward aspect in mental health issues.
Fresh out of high school I would have had the same opinion.....however.......
My sister had bipolar schizophrenia and there were times where it seemed like she was a different person and would refuse all help and contact with loved ones.

Easy to pigeon hole with quips and catch phrases

harder to empathize and understand, some people have been unblessed with poor mental health, or increasingly have had it impressed upon them due to battle/ post traumatic stress. Watched my Grandpa struggle with WW2 at times and truly feel for the wounded troops both mental and physical.


And the public/federal mindset of marginalizing, abandonment and derision is quite sad and inhumane IMOP.

We are judged by how we treat those who cannot help themselves, not the quote I am looking for but the sentiment is pure.
 
Brad "the butcher";7840699 said:
We are judged by how we treat those who cannot help themselves, not the quote I am looking for but the sentiment is pure.
Click to expand...

Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
 
Glock26 said:
If he chose suicide, all I can say is coward. What a way to go out so violently.
Click to expand...

Or is it cowardly to post such an unnecessary statement on a pretty much anonymous forum when you haven't walked in his shoes, and don't even know what happened?

Man, we are so quick to pass judgement...
 
This is such a sad story, on many levels.

Three years ago, a cousin of mine killed himself. No one, not even his wife, saw it coming. We can never know what demons another deals with.

Prayers are in order for his soul, and his family.
 
He belonged to another forum that I go to and lost a best bud or family member ? just a week or 2 earlier.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Ah, that fits. Depression is hell.
Click to expand...
That it does.
My brother in law used his house as an ATM back in 2004 or 5. New kitchen, new truck for him and a Camry for wifey. A swimming pool,a deck, a nice shed.
Lot's and lots of OT. All was good.
Then the beginning of the collapse, and the news came that they were closing the Government Motors plant he was at for over 20 years.

He left the house to go "play darts" at the bar.
A few shots of tequila and one shot of 00 Buck.:thumbdn:
Movie over. 49 years old.
 
There are so many better ways to deal with it but at the moment of despair, they aren't real clear.

A cousin of mine worked at a GM plant, got laid off, brought back, laid off, brought back, got tired of the uncertainty, especially since his wife was expecting.

He opened an auto repair shop overlooking the old plant, still in business years later when the plant went out of business for good.

But you have to feel bad about the ones who slip up at that vulnerable moment.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top