NH Fish And Game Seeking Help With Missing Hiker

[maineguy]

Yup. That lean-to was still there (NE quadrant of intersection, shown on 1963 AMC map) on my first visit to Mt Isolation in 1965, on an epic day hike with full external frame backpacks that began with an Audubon Society bird walk in the Great Gulf, a terrifying ascent of Six Husbands Trail (we left the bird walkers behind), a traverse of Mounts Clay, Washington, Boott Spur, Slide Peak, and Isolation, and descent with Justrite headlamps (four D cells, mail-ordered from Campmor!) to Rocky Branch shelter no. 2 where we met two friends with the homemade wine who had hiked TFW earlier in the day. Mounts Ike and Pierce were Mounts Pleasant and Clinton back then.

That's quite a day hike! 4 D cells? We used to lug a 3 burner Coleman stove (with 1 gallon of fuel) on 5 day-4 night trips. Kind of a hassle, but we always had hot food.

 

[jfb]

Yup. That lean-to was still there (NE quadrant of intersection, shown on 1963 AMC map) on my first visit to Mt Isolation in 1965,

The Isolation lean-to was also there in July, 1971 when I hiked past after spending the previous night in Dry River shelter #2. At the time, the Isolation west trail intersected the Davis Path south of its present location.

 

[skiguy]

Yup. That lean-to was still there (NE quadrant of intersection, shown on 1963 AMC map) on my first visit to Mt Isolation in 1965, on an epic day hike with full external frame backpacks that began with an Audubon Society bird walk in the Great Gulf, a terrifying ascent of Six Husbands Trail (we left the bird walkers behind), a traverse of Mounts Clay, Washington, Boott Spur, Slide Peak, and Isolation, and descent with Justrite headlamps (four D cells, mail-ordered from Campmor!) to Rocky Branch shelter no. 2 where we met two friends with the homemade wine who had hiked TFW earlier in the day. Mounts Ike and Pierce were Mounts Pleasant and Clinton back then.

Four “D” cells …you should have just stuck with carbide. I remember having a few different “Easter Seal” headlamps back in the day. They made one with a remote battery pack which was real handy before lithium batteries set in. Although remote and could be worn close to the body (also 4 D cells) in Winter conditions it too was analogous to a boat anchor. They are still out there on EBay for like $15.

 

[dug]

Four “D” cells …you should have just stuck with carbide. I remember having a few different “Easter Seal” headlamps back in the day. They made one with a remote battery pack which was real handy before lithium batteries set in. Although remote and could be worn close to the body (also 4 D cells) in Winter conditions it too was analogous to a boat anchor. They are still out there on EBay for like $15.

We had those, all the rage. We did end up rewiring one to use 3 C cells since those others were expensive. Obviously not the same power, at least I don't think.

Back on topic, the mother of the young woman who died has asked for donations to be sent to S&R. Nice move.

 

[skiguy]

We had those, all the rage. We did end up rewiring one to use 3 C cells since those others were expensive. Obviously not the same power, at least I don't think.

It’s about the Math. https://van.physics.illinois.edu/ask/listing/566

 

[sierra]

We had those, all the rage. We did end up rewiring one to use 3 C cells since those others were expensive. Obviously not the same power, at least I don't think.

Back on topic, the mother of the young woman who died has asked for donations to be sent to S&R. Nice move.

I saw that too and you are right, nice move. It always impressed me that SAR looked just as hard even in the recovery stage for a victim. It really is important for the family to have closure. The amount of unanswered questions when you don't find someone is never ending. That lady in Maine off the AT is a perfect example. Not until they eventually found her, did any questions get answered as to what happened to her.

 

[NHClimber]

That lady in Maine off the AT is a perfect example. Not until they eventually found her, did any questions get answered as to what happened to her.

Agree. And it was pretty astonishing how close to the trail she was.

 

[maineguy]

People disappear all the time, but planes? Anyone remember that Learjet that vanished while on approach to the Lebanon, NH airport and wasn't found until almost 3 years later? 1996

 

[Nessmuk]

Agree. And it was pretty astonishing how close to the trail she was.

Geraldine Largay, known to her friends as Gerry, disappeared on 22 July 2013 after leaving the trail to relieve herself, wardens said in the report. She remained missing for over two years.

Google the story.

Although rare, there are a number of unsolved missing persons cases in the wilds of NY State.
Tom Messick for one a hunter near Brant Lake NY, google his name and "missing 411" TV show. I was on that search for 8 days without a clue being found.
Wesley A. Wamsganz is another, lost on the trail to Mt Marcy. I was on that one for 3 days, no conclusion.
Colin Gillis is another, near Tupper Lake, 3 more days with no resultss

Not all, and will not be the last.

 

[TomK]

People disappear all the time, but planes? Anyone remember that Learjet that vanished while on approach to the Lebanon, NH airport and wasn't found until almost 3 years later? 1996

Yup. And several years before that, a homebuilt, I think, disappeared in bad weather on the way from the mid-west to Nashua. We looked for that one for quite a while. It was found a couple years later by hikers, on the ridge just a little south of Temple Mt.

TomK

 

[dug]

Geraldine Largay, known to her friends as Gerry, disappeared on 22 July 2013 after leaving the trail to relieve herself, wardens said in the report. She remained missing for over two years.

A few pages back, someone mentioned about how some stories seem to resonate with us, likely for varying reasons. This one did, mostly because I could've pictured my mother in a very similar situation. She never camped alone, but did hike alone often and while she never got lost, she got turned around on occasion. When they were searching for her that was all I could think about. So, her story struck me and the outcome was tough to read.

 

[Nessmuk]

A few pages back, someone mentioned about how some stories seem to resonate with us, likely for varying reasons. This one did, mostly because I could've pictured my mother in a very similar situation. She never camped alone, but did hike alone often and while she never got lost, she got turned around on occasion. When they were searching for her that was all I could think about. So, her story struck me and the outcome was tough to read.

I read that she was well known to be deathly afraid of getting lost if she ever stepped off the trail. When stepping off trail to take a bio break, a simple glance at compass, the sun, or even noting wind direction would be a helpful quick assist in self preservation.

 

[DayTrip]

I read that she was well known to be deathly afraid of getting lost if she ever stepped off the trail. When stepping off trail to take a bio break, a simple glance at compass, the sun, or even noting wind direction would be a helpful quick assist in self preservation.

Isn't a bathroom break the #1 reason for getting lost? I seem to recall reading that somewhere and being surprised by that.

 

[peakbagger]

There is a book about the Largey (Inchworm) recovery with reportedly "extensive interviews of the rescue participants". I have not read it. The author at the time claimed he interviewed everyone involved with the rescue. Some details were reportedly not released by Maine Wardens to save her husband and family some grief.

https://www.amazon.com/When-You-Find-Body-Disappearance-ebook/dp/B07PJ5MZBV

Most assessments are that she should not have been hiking unaccompanied due to a progression of an ongoing mental disorder/decline. Much of the western end of the Maine AT can be dayhiked with car support which she had from her husband but the stretch from RT 4 to Caribou Valley road over the Saddlebacks, Spaulding and Sugarloaf does not have any easy access points except the washed out old railroad grade from Barnjum.

 

[Mike P.]

I tried to set-up a new FB account using an ancient lap-top and saw that lurker accounts I set up when there was even less security than now are preventing me at the moment from getting set up in that social cesspool.

I can view some of the FB 4K page and in general, the FB format is much more conducive to starting new questions (more like ask for the 1,000th time, how to get in hiking shape and what gear to buy) and showing smiling selfies, bragging about my trip with my _________ (dog, child walking, child carried, SO, friends) etc. You have to dig to get to the topics, FAQ safety links and advice and these pages are bland to look at and frankly aesthetically boring. I would like to think you could link right at the top the Current Mt. Washington conditions.

It's a rah-rah page and I could see where negativity and lecturing would be frowned upon. "Stop raining on their selfie parade"

So using an email account I barely use and another computer in the house and I managed to become a product of Zuckerberg. If it's that easy to get by their "security", it's no wonder that the word of the year is Catfishing. Pending approval over at the NH 4K group.

 

[skiguy]

So using an email account I barely use and another computer in the house and I managed to become a product of Zuckerberg. If it's that easy to get by their "security", it's no wonder that the word of the year is Catfishing. Pending approval over at the NH 4K group.

While your waiting for approval you might want to get a copy of this.

 

[Mike P.]

While your waiting for approval you might want to get a copy of this.

View attachment 6942

LOL, growing older (never grew up) we had a book called "The Dictionary for the Disenchanted". This certainly pre-dated social media beyond personal ads in free newspapers. It's actually on Amazon, from 1972. https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-disenchanted-Bernard-Rosenberg/dp/B0006C4KBC

I guess to be expected, definitions the reviewer picked were ones I wouldn't have. the easiest one to remember the definition of Theory: BS. I posted five comments today which was the most I could while pending but now just saw, at least one person with, I'm guessing limited winter experience, I could be wrong though, is looking for North Tripyramid slide info. They are thinking axe and crampons, so maybe more experience than I think, or more money for toys.

 

[egilbe]

LOL, growing older (never grew up) we had a book called "The Dictionary for the Disenchanted". This certainly pre-dated social media beyond personal ads in free newspapers. It's actually on Amazon, from 1972. https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-disenchanted-Bernard-Rosenberg/dp/B0006C4KBC

I guess to be expected, definitions the reviewer picked were ones I wouldn't have. the easiest one to remember the definition of Theory: BS. I posted five comments today which was the most I could while pending but now just saw, at least one person with, I'm guessing limited winter experience, I could be wrong though, is looking for North Tripyramid slide info. They are thinking axe and crampons, so maybe more experience than I think, or more money for toys.

If someone is asking about the slide on Facebook, they don't have the experience to be climbing it in the Winter.

 

[Mike P.]

If someone is asking about the slide on Facebook, they don't have the experience to be climbing it in the Winter.

I would agree, however, I don't know the person at all or seen anything else they've done or posted.

 

[peakbagger]

FYI, a recent article with more details https://www.boston.com/news/local-n...o-died-in-nh-remembered-as-caring-determined/