BajaNomad

Missing priest in the SPM

astrobaja - 7-17-2012 at 11:03 AM

I don't know all that much about this but as of Saturday night a priest from the Vicente Guerrero area went missing in the area of the San Pedro Martir park known as the Mirador el Alter. The search is ongoing by park staff and bomberos plus a helicopter.

The search has been concentrated in the wooded and rough terrain between the Mirador and the observatory. Theres been zero traffic on the VHF radio today, not sure if thats a good or bad sign....
There was some talk on the radio that he is possibly diabetic, so all in all a bad situation.

Just heard on the radio that the search continues and that more help is coming.

A thought I don't think there are any dogs being used, anybody have ties to rescate teams perhaps in TJ that might have bloodhounds??

Mike

[Edited on 7-17-2012 by astrobaja]

astrobaja - 7-17-2012 at 11:18 AM

in addition, if anyone has contacts with search and rescue in SD county that might be willing to coordinate with the park here.

Ken Cooke - 7-17-2012 at 09:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by astrobaja
in addition, if anyone has contacts with search and rescue in SD county that might be willing to coordinate with the park here.


I wish I could help. I traveled Mirador Altar in my Jeep, up the steep switchbacks to the flat mesa with the aspen forest there. I am sure a Search and Rescue team from San Diego would be helpful. I do not have contact with any such teams, though.

astrobaja - 7-17-2012 at 10:34 PM

thanks guys! Today they were well in excess of 100 people searching together with 2 choppers from protecion civil. We met some bomberos this spring for the semana santa event at the park and they said they had trained dogs for S&R, so I dunno perhaps with the super dry terrain dogs like that are not as effective...

Anyway one last try manana hope the 52 year old friar is somehow hanging on...

Lots of local bomberos will be going at it first light...


fingers crossed!

goldhuntress - 7-17-2012 at 10:46 PM

Only one more day of searching? Finger crossed, hoping for the best.

captkw - 7-17-2012 at 10:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by astrobaja
thanks guys! Today they were well in excess of 100 people searching together with 2 choppers from protecion civil. We met some bomberos this spring for the semana santa event at the park and they said they had trained dogs for S&R, so I dunno perhaps with the super dry terrain dogs like that are not as effective...

Anyway one last try manana hope the 52 year old friar is somehow hanging on...

Lots of local bomberos will be going at it first light...


fingers crossed!
DONT UNDERESTAMATE DOGS !!

[Edited on 7-18-2012 by captkw]

Ken Cooke - 7-17-2012 at 10:51 PM

I hope he is located, alive and well.

TMW - 7-18-2012 at 10:05 AM

Here is wishing for the best.

Ken Cooke - 7-18-2012 at 03:43 PM

Are there any updates?

Ateo - 7-18-2012 at 06:14 PM

Astrobaja, hear anything more on the radio?

astrobaja - 7-18-2012 at 06:16 PM

Been in Ensenada all dayjust got back, so far by monitoring the radio traffic I gather the search is ongoing, no luck. Will text the Condor crew for an update this pm when they get back to the station. Chances are not looking good :(

BAJACAT - 7-18-2012 at 10:20 PM

El Mirador El Altar is away from any major road, last time I was there, the only way to the Mirador El Altar and El Picacho was by walking the steep hill you couldn't drive your car upthere, I hope the find him it's so easy to get lost upthere..

BajaBlanca - 7-19-2012 at 07:51 AM

wishing the padre good luck.

luv2fish - 7-19-2012 at 01:48 PM

From what I have gathered, he took a group of parishiners up to Sierra de San Pedro Mártir. On the way down Father asked the others to go on ahead so he can have some time to pray. He never arrived at the base.

http://www.afntijuana.info/seguridad/11223_persisten_en_busq...

thebajarunner - 7-19-2012 at 02:33 PM

So easy in a situation like that to let others know where you are,

All it takes is a match or a lighter,

We love that area, because there is so much campfire material.
Just a nice heaped up fire, then throw a lot of really green stuff in
and they will see your smoke signal from Ensenada.

Not that this will help the good padre,
so, will send up a prayer for his safe return...

DianaT - 7-19-2012 at 03:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by luv2fish
From what I have gathered, he took a group of parishiners up to Sierra de San Pedro Mártir. On the way down Father asked the others to go on ahead so he can have some time to pray. He never arrived at the base.

http://www.afntijuana.info/seguridad/11223_persisten_en_busq...


That almost sounds like he knew something was happening to him?? Still hoping he is found safe and sound!

astrobaja - 7-19-2012 at 04:41 PM

Choppers and rescatistas are still searching today. Have not heard the back story as both my Wife and I are recovering from the flu otherwise we would have been up helping. I'm sure we will get more info soon. I'm wondering if barring a fall or accident or some medical emergency that maybe he does not want to be found??

Heres another article from the Vigia:

http://www.elvigia.net/noticia/sigue-desaparecido-en-la-sier...

Ken Cooke - 7-19-2012 at 11:33 PM

I really hate hearing this happening to the poor guy. Nothing I can do from here but type about it.:no:

astrobaja - 7-20-2012 at 07:14 PM

Still hear the choppers flying and people looking, still nada......

Mula - 7-21-2012 at 09:21 AM

no updates so far today . . .

astrobaja - 7-21-2012 at 01:58 PM

still searching, seems to have shifted to the south it seems....

astrobaja - 7-24-2012 at 01:10 PM

todays the last day of the search

Ken Cooke - 7-24-2012 at 01:43 PM

:no:

TMW - 8-14-2012 at 06:19 PM

Anything further on the priest?

BAJACAT - 8-14-2012 at 08:06 PM

the whole story sounds fishy..to me...

vgabndo - 8-14-2012 at 09:45 PM

Careful Bajacat, when I suggested that, my post disappeared!:lol: