Lost Hiker on Mt Holy Cross

[Chicago Transplant]

Vail Mtn Rescue went over his expected path multiple times, they ran Halo Ridge, searched Bowl of Tears/Lake Patricia, lower Cross Creek, upper Cross Creek, including around the opposite side of Middle Mtn, Fancy and Missouri Pass areas and Holy Cross City. They definitely did a good job of scouring the area. They even checked the summit register and he did not sign it. They just could not find any clues at to James' whereabouts.

My friend in VMR called me the other day to ask me if I had any other ideas for places to search and the only things we could come up with were if he went over a ridge on the west or south ends of Cross Creek which could lead him to Edwards via Lake Creek, Minturn via Grouse Creek, Beaver Creek Village or even out the upper Fryingpan Valley (which would lead to Basalt eventually). Based on his proposed route, and accounts of him having a GPS, neither of those are particularly likely, but could have happened. Anyone in any of those areas should be on the look out for him as well in the off chance that he made a huge route error and ended up over a ridge in a drainage that would not lead back to Halfmoon Pass. The drainages in HCW are complex, and just going over a wrong ridge or two can put someone very far away from where they expect.

Its a long shot that he would be in any of those areas, but I guess when all logical locations have been exhausted, the illogical may be the next step.

[Leigh]

I had a question about the photo of him at Fall Creek. Is this part of the Holy Cross hike? If so, they said he didn't have a cell phone, so did someone else upload the photo and send it out or was it a photo from the past?

Because some of the articles mentioned that his fiance dropped him off at the trailhead, I assume she snapped the photo before he headed down the trail.

[tmathews]

Vail Mtn Rescue went over his expected path multiple times, they ran Halo Ridge, searched Bowl of Tears/Lake Patricia, lower Cross Creek, upper Cross Creek, including around the opposite side of Middle Mtn, Fancy and Missouri Pass areas and Holy Cross City. They definitely did a good job of scouring the area. They even checked the summit register and he did not sign it. They just could not find any clues at to James' whereabouts.

My friend in VMR called me the other day to ask me if I had any other ideas for places to search and the only things we could come up with were if he went over a ridge on the west or south ends of Cross Creek which could lead him to Edwards via Lake Creek, Minturn via Grouse Creek, Beaver Creek Village or even out the upper Fryingpan Valley (which would lead to Basalt eventually). Based on his proposed route, and accounts of him having a GPS, neither of those are particularly likely, but could have happened. Anyone in any of those areas should be on the look out for him as well in the off chance that he made a huge route error and ended up over a ridge in a drainage that would not lead back to Halfmoon Pass. The drainages in HCW are complex, and just going over a wrong ridge or two can put someone very far away from where they expect.

Its a long shot that he would be in any of those areas, but I guess when all logical locations have been exhausted, the illogical may be the next step.

Any chance he could have tried to loop over toward Mt. Jackson?

[highcountryhiker]

I had a question about the photo of him at Fall Creek. Is this part of the Holy Cross hike? If so, they said he didn't have a cell phone, so did someone else upload the photo and send it out or was it a photo from the past?

Good questions. I had also been curious about the origin of this picture. The post above by Leigh provides the answer.

Yeah I was thinking he got into a little boulder cave to escape weather and maybe something shifted, getting Ralston'd basically.

Another possible worst case scenario would be if he slipped and fell into one of the numerous lakes in the area. His heavy backpack could have then pulled him down below the surface and he drowned. If I were searching in the area at this point, I would search along the shorelines of the lakes for any evidence of a submerged body in the water. The only sightings of him were on the first day, so a search could initially start at Lake Constantine and then maybe proceed to the Tuhare Lakes, although those two lakes would have been a side trip from his intended route. Just a thought.

Still hoping for a positive outcome.

[Chicago Transplant]

Any chance he could have tried to loop over toward Mt. Jackson?

At this point, I would say anything is possible. Its only one ridge above Cross Creek and that is what I was hinting at by saying he could get into Lake Creek, Grouse Creek or Beaver Creek. Going over one of Mt Jackon's ridges could easily lead one into any of those drainages and a long way from Halfmoon Pass. With him having a GPS and intending to return to Halfmoon Pass, him going west seems unlikely, but I wouldn't rule anything out, especially seeing as the more likely locations have been searched.

[viejo]

I'm sure these areas have been checked, but since you've posted...

Possible that he got in over his head and decided to bail early. That would make it likely he pointed downhill instead of uphill. If so, dropping into Fall Creek drainage (if he dropped beow the established trail), or dropping into French/Fancy Creek or Homestake Creek drainages from Holy Cross City.

While he had a GPS, I wouldn't rule out the possibility that it might have crapped out on him, or he possibly misplaced it (certainly seem to be enough lost and found posts on here that it's not impossible). If that was his sole navigational tool, he could be pretty befuddled as to location.

Like I said, I'm sure SAR had these things covered, but since you posted and I didn't see them, figured it was worth a mention.

[14erdude83]

Are there any new developments on his whereabouts?

[Dad Mike]

I climbed Holy Cross Ridge via Halo Ridge on Monday. I met 2 Vail SAR guys on top of Holy Cross Ridge. They had been heli-dropped on Holy Cross' north ridge...just below the final summit push. We talked about the missing hiker and I told them about some tracks I noticed on the ridge near the shelter. I descended into the Tuhare Lakes and out to the Fall Creek Pass Trail. I picked up some pretty fresh tracks (I would guess 1-3 days old) on the way down into the lakes. I followed them all the way out to the intersection with the Fall Creek Pass Trail. From there they turned right (towards Fall Creek Pass). I'm guessing the only reason someone would go that direction is if they were lost, doing a loop, or looking for someone doing a loop. Impossible to know if they were James' tracks. I did call Vail SAR and let them know what I found.

[TdotW]

It couldn't hurt to hike in the area he is believed to be, right? If nothing else, there is no search you could get in the way of, and maybe he was hiding in a cave or who knows. Maybe I'll do a little hiking in the area. Maybe make a little map of the planned route.

I remember last year when I wanted to help search, the hikers were found 25 miles from the trailhead they were supposed to return to.
http://woundedtimes.blogspot.com/2009/0 ... riend.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; This article says 15 to 20 miles.

But anyway, I guess what I'm wondering is most likely where is he?
1) He wanted to dissapear (not likely, very rare cases)
2) He's way off trail
3) He's tucked away somewhere where they didn't find him.

If he has warm clothes and a water filter, he could survive for ~2-4 weeks without food as long as he isn't injured severely. If you look at the picture of him, he's got an emergency whistle attached to his shoulder strap, but apparently no one heard him blowing it...

I, too, am a backpacker from the Chicago area. We all sincerely appreciate anything you guys out there could do to keep an eye out for our fellow backpacker.

He's almost certainly WAY off his intended path, perhaps injured and/or tucked away somewhere that wasn't discovered. I'm sure he has warm layers, a filter, a stove, etc. and so could survive for a while as long as his injuries are not too serious. I have not heard anything about him having a SPOT or PLB, unfortunately. The trailhead picture was snapped by his fiancee.

We appreciate anything anyone in the area can do to help find him.

[Rich H]

We appreciate anything anyone in the area can do to help find him.

We were planning to head down to the Sangres to have a go at Adams this weekend. I will see instead see if we can change to trying Mount Jackson via Cross Crk.

Rich

[schrund]

I know it's 72 long hours from now, but I can head up on the weekend as well~ am still studying the map for all these areas that have been mentioned

[Tigerbear]

I am not sure if Vail SAR uses or used them, but there is a search dog and handeler available in Fairplay for searches. Also the Buena Vista correctional institute has helped with a SAR in Chaffee county with tracking. They have a class A trained team. We had their training last month here in Chaffee county SAR...