He Chose Poorly
BY Herschel Smith
2 years, 6 months ago
A hiker called his wife to say he was lost. Then he and his dog vanished, Arizona police said.
Donald Hayes, 74, of Prescott Valley was last seen on Mingus Mountain on Friday, May 13, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said. He called his wife that afternoon to tell her that he and his dog, Ranger, were lost.
“Forest Patrol was able to contact Mr. Hayes Friday around 2 p.m. on his cell phone but he stated that he did not want to wait for a rescue and that he was ‘continuing down a ravine,’” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
Hayes told Forest Patrol he didn’t know what ravine he was going into, but he thought he was traveling northwest. At the time, he had food and water with him, and he told rescuers he would turn his phone off to preserve its battery.
That was the last communication with Hayes. Deputies tried to track Hayes’ phone, but efforts were unsuccessful.
Several teams of rescuers, search dogs and a helicopter crew have scoured the area looking for Hayes. Officials did not find the missing hiker as of Sunday, May 15. His car, however, was still at the trailhead.
“Mr. Hayes is a white male with salt and pepper hair, green eyes, is 6 feet tall and approximately 156 pounds,” deputies said. “He was last seen wearing nylon beige pants, a gray sweatshirt, white t-shirt, and a white visor. Ranger is a black and white Labrador.”
Mingus Mountain is about 100 miles north of Phoenix.
I’ve hiked near this area before (about 40 miles from there near the red rock area). It’s remote. I’m usually in favor of movement rather than sitting still and hoping someone finds and rescues you.
However, in this case he had actually made contact with both his wife and the Forest Patrol. He began movement and then turned off the only means of tracking his movement.
It would have been better to ask the authorities to use cell towers to triangulate on his location and stay put. To save battery power, he could have agreed to certain times he would turn on his phone (like every two hours for ten minutes).
He apparently had food and water, and he could have used his surroundings to make a debris hut for protection from the elements. His dog was at least some protection from mountain lions.
In the bush, panic is your enemy. It clouds judgment, it causes hyperventilation, it dehydrates, it dumps adrenalin into your system, it kills.
He chose poorly.
On May 19, 2022 at 5:38 am, Susan D Harms said:
also… arrogance and ego are your enemies.
On May 19, 2022 at 5:50 am, Fred said:
What you said, Herschel, is exactly correct.
On May 19, 2022 at 8:36 am, June J said:
A Prescott-area hiker who was last seen last week has been found dead with his faithful dog by his side.
Donald Hayes, 74, was last seen Friday morning along Mingus Mountain’s Woodchute trailhead, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.
https://www.abc15.com/news/region-northern-az/missing-mingus-mountain-hiker-found-dead-with-dog-by-his-side
On May 19, 2022 at 9:39 am, Furminator said:
When you call your wife to say you’re lost in the mountains you can be confident you’re going to get it when you get home. When you get a call from S&R saying your wife told them you were lost you graciously accept their help, come home late to a stern scolding, tell her you love her, and thank her profusely.
On May 19, 2022 at 9:50 am, Frank Clarke said:
Well, the dog survived. Now we know which of them was smarter.
On May 19, 2022 at 10:45 am, Drake said:
He called his wife on the last cell phone without GPS?
On May 19, 2022 at 5:36 pm, Tony Miller said:
A solid solar charger in your bag is highly recommended. Buy this and keep it with you.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T49HH94/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
On May 21, 2022 at 9:03 am, Latigo Morgan said:
No cause of death in the article. I’m curious, as earlier it is reported he had food and water. I’ve been in some ravines where you lose all GPS signal, even with a dedicated GPS receiver like my Garmin 60.
Seems the fellow may have allowed pride to kill him.
On May 21, 2022 at 11:45 am, bobdog said:
He was in contact with authorities. All he had to do was stop, build a quick shelter in a relatively open area, lay out markers of some sort and start a small fire so he could be spotted.
Your comment about turning your phone on every hour for ten minutes was a good one.