Being a Treasure Hunter can be dangerous

Treasure Hunting can be rewarding.  But - it can be dangerous - either by design, being uneducated, or simply by the act of being a Treasure Hunter.

Many a treasure hunter has hiked the mountains of the Superstitions, the Bradshaw Mountains, and hundreds of other places.  Whether it is desert, mountains, streams, dredging, panning, hiking or metal detecting - we - as treasure hunters tend to "move" around.  Metal Detectorists are apt to walk with headphones on, looking down, listening
to nothing but the sounds coming from their machines.  Dredgers and highbanker enthusiasts concentrate on the next place to dig, or suction - lost treasure enthusiasts, prospectors and miners - are out hiking looking for clues, or certain types of rock, or dirt, or whatever.  And, we get in trouble.  We don't plan on it - and even folks who are well prepared, have been killed. How does it happen? What can help us stay safe? How many folks have died, or been lost - or gotten hurt? Who, and how, do you get out of a
problem that you didn't foresee?

I have a very high interest in Search and Rescue, spent years in the medical field, also looking for lost folks, hurt folks - and people who got in trouble without meaning to.  I was going to start this thread a little later, but, after seeing some talk about going out into the desert in the summer, I decided to start it now.

While we have participated in more than one search and rescue - my interest started a long time ago, in California, in the Mojave Desert.  A couple - just married and on their honeymoon, wanted to do some "desert digging", and they set up their camp at an old abandoned mine, with tent, goodies and some mining supplies. At the time, we were living on our gold claim, and we watched them navigate down the canyon.  We did not have any of this information at the time. The next morning, the dog started barking, and there was screaming coming through the canyon.  We ran out. A woman was running, screaming and crying hysterically. Trying to figure out what in the world she was saying, we followed her to her camp.  The shortened version of this sad story is that, at the old mining tunnel, her new husband was afraid to go into the tunnel, so, he thought he would be smart, and stay near the entrance.  The first few pick whacks was all it took. The entire mouth of the mine came down on him, burying him, still standing up. Our neighbor came down with his backhoe and between the back hoe and some shovels, we got him out.  He was already dead when we first got there - we unburied a dead body.
Some honeymoon.

Anyway, I got to thinking that, we, as treasure hunters, don't always know what the right thing is. The truth of old mines in the desert, is that the mouth of the tunnels are THE most dangerous. They can weathered, rained on, and are unstable. Most cave-ins have happened at the mouths of those types of tunnels than any other place. (unlike some other kinds of mining tunnels). But - he didn't know - he thought he was being safe.

Anyway, I would like to start this thread to talk about some of the hundreds of folks that have been lost - or lost and found - or killed - in the wonderful world of treasure hunting and hiking.  I add hiking to this, because, as treasure hunters of all kinds - we tend to NOT stay put - we might start out on a trail, but, then, something catches our
eye, and we just have to go see what it is - until we out hike our supplies, or get turned around --how many of us have gotten so interested in what we were doing, that, all of a sudden, we looked up and it was either dark or we were a mile from the car or our camp? I have, more times than I would like to admit.  There are many stories that are out there - hopefully, by having a discussion on what has happened to some others, we can all learn just what we should and shouldn't do in the great outdoors.

Beth (Mrs.O)

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I'm assuming that most folks, at least those familiar with Arizona and the Supes, know about some of the latest lost folks.  Three men from Utah - and, three years this December, a young man from Denver Colorado hiked into the Supers, never to be seen again.  That particular story takes a lot of twists and turns, including some private information that has never been shared.

However, for anyone interested, the searches never end. The Superstition Search and Rescue (SSAR), are a volunteer organization that has an almost 100% find rate - except for this young man from Colorado - Jesse Capen is still missing. And, SSAR is still looking.  At this point, there is now evidence of the location where he probably has ended up - there is just a matter of finding enough to bring home to his family. However, in June, Discovery channel will be airing Jesse's story. (along with some of the twists and turns).  I don't have the exact date yet, but they started filming in the Supes on Tuesday - supposedly for a 2 day shoot, and have extended the filming for another few days.  They were not allowed to put a helicopter down, so, they are having to do a little unplanned hiking.  I know it will be on a Monday, and they have done several other stories about other people.

If anyone is interested in their programming for the lost, here is the link.  A couple of weeks before Jesse's story is told, it will be on the website.

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And here is the site index, which will show you who they have already done, and other info.

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Beth (mrs.o)

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Here is one recent happening - an example for metal detectorists:

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Beth (Mrs.O)

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,35988.msg220323.html#msg220323

Amen Brother I always carry something esp with all the rattle snakes around here.

Newest toy is the 410/45 long Judge revolver shotgun/rifle, what an awesome gun.

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"Keep Digging Its Down There Somewhere" Treasure Hunting, Gold and Coins.

it would def do the trick, and works great on Snakes too and whatever else may come your way.

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"Keep Digging Its Down There Somewhere" Treasure Hunting, Gold and Coins.