Picacho del Diablo hiking party missing/overdue [FOUND!]

More info to come...

I have multiple communications from last night and this morning regarding a 3-person hiking party that was due back in San Diego on Sunday from a hike to Picacho del Diablo. Missing are Morgan Fox and his two daughters. Morgan is diabetic.

From the inbox last night:

"My cousin and his (2) daughters are missing. They were to return Sunday from a hike on Devils Peak. Search starts tomorrow early we hope they are found quickly. My cousin loves this park and has hiked it for years. Its very remote and no other hikers ckd to hike so they are alone. We are worried no contact since Tuesday last week, and due home Sunday."


And a follow-up this morning:

"I just called the civil protection and Carlos comes in at 7. The gentleman I spoke with said they have had 2 teams searching since 1 am. Not sure how many in the team. Angie the friend that knows the trail is great. Since they are most likely still on the trail. It's a couple day hike but someone without a heavy backpack should be able to get thru quicker. Anyone that goes out needs to bring honey/ sugar. That can be squirted or rubbed on the gums. Or IV's"





[Edited on 6-27-2017 by BajaNomad]

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy

http://www.ensenada.net/noticias/nota.php?id=49601

Quote: Originally posted by bajatrailrider

Hope they are Ok it was 108 in the Shade other day and up to 118.

Another picture of the daughters, Claire and Maura:

Hikers Found!

thats GREAT NEWS! after they're down and safe I bet they'll want to celebrate with a delicious ice cold coors light!

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Glad they got found. The location on the GE screen shot via FB page shows they were photographed on the ridgeline route between blue bottle pass and south peak of Diablo, not on the standard class 4 route that goes via campo noche. They are west of the hard part, so maybe on way out after being delayed by some adventure on the peak?...

Here is the Climbing Diablo Mountain web page: http://www.dankat.com/swhikes/devil.htm

From that web page:
Return to Vallecitos trailhead

It is a long and tough climb up and out of the canyon back to Vallecitos Meadow. You must be careful not to leave Blue Bottle Wash too soon to begin contouring right toward the Blue Bottle Saddle. But mostly it is a hard slog punctuated by rest stops during which you can again admire the magnificient view behind you. Finally, you should reach the Blue Bottle Saddle (30o58.39'N 115o23.75'W) about lunchtime. Thus replenished, you begin the gentle descent through a shallow valley traveling northwest in the direction of Vallecitos meadow. The going is fairly easy, and as long as you head northwest, you will inevitably intersect the dirt road to the west. The trail is initially very well ducked and passes through some beautiful aspen groves. But then it seems to evaporate and you cross from one canyon to another on several occasions. With some luck you will encounter the ducked trail again in the flat, sandy-bottomed canyon that emerges onto the broad meadow where your vehicle was parked (30o59.93'N 115o27.07'W). It is a three mile drive north along the dirt road to the junction with the main dirt road to the Observatory.


Here is one of the maps. It shows that going down into the canyon to Campo Noche, and not staying up high using Pinnacle Ridge, is the route suggested:





[Edited on 6-28-2017 by David K]

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Here is the Climbing Diablo Mountain web page: http://www.dankat.com/swhikes/devil.htm Here is one of the maps. It shows that going down into the canyon to Campo Noche, and not staying up high using Pinnacle Ridge, is the route suggested: [Edited on 6-28-2017 by David K]

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Goat, I posted the map so Nomads could see they were not using the standard route and could see where Pinnacle Ridge compared to the route through Campo Noche. Saying any route to the top of Diablo is a tourist route is not very accurate and borders on dangerous. Experienced... perhaps? They required a rescue, did they not. They are not the only ones and many have not survived the Mountain of the Devil. We are lucky that Desert Rat made it out alive. Ron has been hiking Baja and other places for many years and barely made it to the observatory road where Graham Mackintosh found him!

Quote: Originally posted by David K

I don't think climbing Diablo is easy, maybe only if you are a 'mountain goat'? Calling those who have "tourists" borders on insulting, does it not?

Quote: Originally posted by David K

I don't think climbing Diablo is easy, maybe only if you are a 'mountain goat'? Calling those who have "tourists" borders on insulting, does it not?

Quote: Originally posted by Maderita

News from Civil Protection Wednesday morning. Translation by Google: GOOD NEWS: The rescuers have already made contact with the victims, the two girls are well and feel strong, the Lord feels a little weak, perhaps because of their diabetes. The operation changed, from extraction to being a controlled supply, so they will be given water, food, VHF radio communication and a glucometer, to be thrown from the helicopter, as the area is not fit to perform A landing or rescue maneuvers in static flight. The evacuation will be on foot, following the route taken by the rescuers. Everything indicates that it will go well, now they will remain calm since they are waiting for a walk of 8 hours or more. Likewise, more elements will be approached on foot to the bottom of the canyon to re-supply and support with the backpacks of the victims and the rescuers.

The helo dropped them water yesterday. The helo should have also dropped them a sat phone and laptop, so they could post answers here in this thread

seriously, from the FB threads, it seems no one thought to drop a sat phone or radio wtf????

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

The helo dropped them water yesterday. The helo should have also dropped them a sat phone and laptop, so they could post answers here in this thread seriously, from the FB threads, it seems no one thought to drop a sat phone or radio wtf????

Quote: Originally posted by EnsenadaDr

Why people hike in this weather when it is known to get over a 100 degrees is beyond me. Experienced or tourist, people need to realize especially a diabetic that a different time of year might be a better idea.

Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha

DK, again it's not about you, as usual. Yet another thread with a happy ending turning into pubered quibbling. Now back to the regular scheduled programming. Sheesh.

You seem a bit cranky, Maybe you should get medicated again, As Usual.

Better yet, why don't You, Ralph, and Chuckie get a motel room together and self medicate.
We'll let DK suggest the motel

DK's banter with the Goat regarding tourist route vs other routes was just conjecture, You three marooons on the other hand had to take upon yourselves to make it a DK bash party.

Here's to hoping the Fox famly make it home safe and sound.

Quote: Originally posted by BeemerDan

Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha   DK, again it's not about you, as usual. Yet another thread with a happy ending turning into pubered quibbling. Now back to the regular scheduled programming. Sheesh. You seem a bit cranky, Maybe you should get medicated again, As Usual. Better yet, why don't You, Ralph, and Chuckie get a motel room together and self medicate. We'll let DK suggest the motel DK's banter with the Goat regarding tourist route vs other routes was just conjecture, You three marooons on the other hand had to take upon yourselves to make it a DK bash party. Here's to hoping the Fox famly make it home safe and sound.

Dk needs frequent piñata treatment to keep his head from exploding from swelling ego, hot air and misinformation.

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by EnsenadaDr   Why people hike in this weather when it is known to get over a 100 degrees is beyond me. Experienced or tourist, people need to realize especially a diabetic that a different time of year might be a better idea. June is a great time on SPM, days are long, summer t-storms are still infrequent,... What makes you think the temp ever gets to 100 degrees at 8,000'+ elevation? I suspect the day time temp in past few weeks have been 85 or less. With today's cooling trend, probably 70s today.

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by BeemerDan   Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha   DK, again it's not about you, as usual. Yet another thread with a happy ending turning into pubered quibbling. Now back to the regular scheduled programming. Sheesh. You seem a bit cranky, Maybe you should get medicated again, As Usual. Better yet, why don't You, Ralph, and Chuckie get a motel room together and self medicate. We'll let DK suggest the motel DK's banter with the Goat regarding tourist route vs other routes was just conjecture, You three marooons on the other hand had to take upon yourselves to make it a DK bash party. Here's to hoping the Fox famly make it home safe and sound. Dk needs frequent piñata treatment to keep his head from exploding from swelling ego, hot air and misinformation.

Wotta thread........

Wotta great thread.......

WOTTA THREAD !

I LOVE HAPPY ENDINGS!!!

Quote: Originally posted by EnsenadaDr

I still remember the Gary Patton thread and know how the heat can affect people, especially older individuals with chronic health problems. What are the SAR teams? It was too bad back when Gary got lost this was not available.

The drama on talk baja is quite entertaining, and the story is shaping up to have a happy ending. But based on the comments it seems like every arm chair savant thinks only young and experts should be allowed to venture out on a hike. I imagine most such critical comments come from people with little experience adventuring and BMIs over 30

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

The drama on talk baja is quite entertaining, and the story is shaping up to have a happy ending. But based on the comments it seems like every arm chair savant thinks only young and experts should be allowed to venture out on a hike. I imagine most such critical comments come from people with little experience adventuring and BMIs over 30

Quote: Originally posted by JoeJustJoe

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666   The drama on talk baja is quite entertaining, and the story is shaping up to have a happy ending. But based on the comments it seems like every arm chair savant thinks only young and experts should be allowed to venture out on a hike. I imagine most such critical comments come from people with little experience adventuring and BMIs over 30 Yeah, great rescue, and everybody loves a happy ending, but at the same time, I was rolling my eyes at some of the comments especially at Facebook, like a couple here: "Thank you to all involved in bringing back Morgan and the girls! We are so grateful!" "I'm crying. Thank you for sharing" I bet some of the comments are coming from people who didn't even know the 3 hikers, but hey they are white Americans, so lets over do the worry, the waiting, and the exhilaration when they are found. Meanwhile, Mexican nationals probably go missing in the same area from time to time, and we probably never hear about that. They even coined a term for this phenomena, called the "Missing White Woman Syndrome" although the father's involvement probably put a damper on how popular this event could have been in the media. Missing White Woman Syndrome The term Missing White Woman Syndrome describes the fact that Western media will focus on the murder, kidnapping, or disappearance of Caucasian females—usually pretty, young, and middle- or upper-class—to the exclusion of male, minority, poor, or disabled missing persons. Also meanwhile all the Mexicans rescuers coordinated agencies success response, barely gets a byline in the press and social media. ( I was watching the local TV news talk about this missing hiking story)

joey,
don't be a party-pooper and fart up the place! the only differences here were (1) THE LOST WERE FOUND ALIVE, AND (2) THE RESCUE DRAMA PLAYED OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA in almost real-time. In the past these stories usually were not covered online in real-time, and the victims are usually found dead
i was surprised at the speed at which pics things were posted to FB. They must have had a sat internet link, or perhaps were running pics back to an internet cxn at the observatory.
I like how the govt posted pics frequently, nice touch, and probably a good way to get some good PR which never hurts

p.s. if you are jealous of missing white woman syndrome, just go out in drag and white-face and get lost!

[Edited on 6-30-2017 by mtgoat666]

Quote: Originally posted by Desert Rat

Morgan and the girls go into detail as to how they lost their way.

As anyone who has been up there knows, losing "the" way is as easy as following ducks in a row, just the wrong ones sometimes. They knew it, did the right thing and Baja SAR rocked it.

Good to know that the Baja SAR team for that area is so very competent.

Happy ending and a reminder of why one should consider buying or renting a Sat phone or Sat messaging device.

We never do anything stupid without one.