Lost AZ Canyoneers

[Iceaxe]

So.... who's guidebook do you think is taking the blame? :popcorn:

YCSO: Hikers found after misleading guidebook gets them lost
Reported by: Katie Fisher

LAKE MONTEZUMA, AZ -- Four hikers were found Monday after getting stranded near Wet Beaver Creek in Northern Arizona over the weekend.

Officials with the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said they received a report of four overdue hikers in the Waldroup Canyon, Wet Beaver Creek wilderness area on Sunday morning.

The man reporting the missing hikers, whose son was one of those missing, said the group arrived at the area on Friday morning and were expected back on Saturday evening.

YCSO said the four hikers, identified as 28-year-old Steven Smith and his 21-year-old wife Megan Smith of Glendale, and their friends, 27-year-old Jeremy Borie and his 24-year-old wife Alana Borie of Phoenix, were reportedly experienced hikers and climbers.

The group had camping gear on hand as well as food and other supplies and was prepared to spend the night if necessary.

Forest patrol deputies said they were able to locate a vehicle belonging the group parked in a trailhead area.

But due to the ages of the hikers, and their reported preparedness for the hike, rescue operations were delayed until Monday morning. Deputies were assisted with aerial search operations by Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue.

YCSO officials said the group was found a little after 10 a.m. on Monday and flown to safety.

The hikers reported that they had not expected the extreme rock climbing and boulder hopping conditions, not to mention the number of deep pools that required swimming and flotation of gear.

They told officials a 'canyoneering' guide indicated the hike could be completed in about 16 hours, but rescue personnel said the hike should be allowed at least two to three days to complete.

YCSO reminds those people recreating in Yavapai County's backcountry to always notify a friend or family member where you intend to hike, with a pre-appointed time of return or contact.

http://www.abc15.com/media/lib/88/0/4/1/041af6c1-3ee7-4c18-b508-9bb9d355b21f/Original.jpg

http://www.abc15.com/content/news/northernarizona/other/story/YCSO-Hikers-found-after-misleading-guidebook-gets/DYac9spBZEuRlIkcpfN1HQ.cspx

[trackrunner]

So.... who's guidebook do you think is taking the blame? :popcorn:

I think this one is a now brainer. It the "Don't Blame Me" author MK.

These people need to read and look at pictures. Stefan quoted his beta on the egroups (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canyons/message/53781). MK states it takes 2-3 days and the he did it in 2 FULL DAYS with 16 HOURS of walking. Recomends 3 days.

I remember his beta includes pictures of him swimming the pools with his pack on a raft.

[Iceaxe]

I knew it wasn't the guidebooks fault..... I was just poking fun of the idiot's who blame their misfortune on the guidebook and not on their lack of commonsense and reading comprehension.

Only problem I have with MK's books, and it's more of a personal preference, is I think he makes hard and dangerous things sound like a fun Disney type attraction sometimes..... Lots of fun boys and girls, everyone come on down.... deep potholes, cold swims, high stemming and complete with a Battan Death March... fun for everyone.... or at least that is how I read his stuff sometimes.

:popcorn:

[trackrunner]

I knew it wasn't the guidebooks fault..... I was just poking fun of the idiot's who blame their misfortune on the guidebook and not on their lack of commonsense and reading comprehension.

I know this. My comments were dirrected towards them not you. But you of all people should know it's always the authors fault. Even more so when you leave the beta at home or in the car, and you have the map in your memory.



Only problem I have with MK's books, and it's more of a personal preference, is I think he makes hard and dangerous things sound like a fun Disney type attraction

For me it's the reading comprehension. On some routes, especially the pages where he has multiple routes, and abruptly changes back and forth from each route. I have a migrain headhache and confused . . . Even more so where he has a hard route(s) with easy(s) route on the same write up page.

[Scott P]

These people need to read and look at pictures. Stefan quoted his beta on the egroups. MK states it takes 2-3 days and the he did it in 2 FULL DAYS with 16 HOURS of walking. Recomends 3 days.

In addition, the book also says the following:

Do this hike in the summer with temperatures of 30C-35C (86-95F) or higher.

I don't think it was Kelsey's book being refered to this time though. See below:


They told officials a 'canyoneering' guide indicated the hike could be completed in about 16 hours, but rescue personnel said the hike should be allowed at least two to three days to complete.

I assume 'canyoneering' guide probably refers to the book Canyoneering Arizona. In that book it does say that the route can be completed in one long "mega-day" with a car shuttle.

That book also says to do the hike June to September.


not to mention the number of deep pools that required swimming and flotation of gear.

Both books mentioned above warn of deep pools.

Kelsey's book says that there are 32 deep pools, 23 of which you must swim. Canyoneering Arizona says there are over a dozen swim holes with countless others to wade through. Under the difficulty section it also says "climbing, swimming, extensive boulderhopping".

[Scott P]

The book is almost certainly Canyoneering Arizona.

On the news forum one of the hikers who got rescued using the book say the following:

it said that there would be some swimming holes, bolder hopping and some climbing.

That's what Canyoneering Arizona says under the difficulty heading.

The above also means that they did know there were swimming holes.

The person also claimed though that "the book" said the hike is fine until November? None of the books on the area say that, so it's probably a false claim unless there is some phantom book out there.

[Brian in SLC]

Whew, the name of that area is low hanging fruit for a bad innuendo...

...I...just...can't...do...it...

-Brian in SLC

[Iceaxe]

http://www.cubeis.co.uk/beavers/wetbeaver.gif

[Brian in SLC]

Ahhh...knew I could count on "someone"...

Now, work in the concept of one of them popular personal locating beacons...jeez, what're they called again...

-Brian in SLC

[oldno7]

How to actuate the Spot, in Wet Beaver?????? :ne_nau:

[Ryebrye]

The book they were using was a pre-release copy of "How to get a free ride in a helicopter" - it has several chapters describing where to go and what to say when you get picked up to try to pass the buck to someone else.