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Missing in DV - DAW89446 - 2021-04-08
From the Saline Preservation Association page.
Be on the lookout for these
https://www.facebook.com/InyoCountySheriffsOffice/posts/1813368938845665
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK MULTIAGENCY SAR
INYO COUNTY, CA, APRIL 8, 2021 – On Tuesday April 6 at approximately 6:15pm Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch was notified of two potentially missing individuals. According to the reporting party, 32 year-old Alexander Lofgren, and girlfriend 27 year-old Emily Henkel, both from Tucson, AZ left Helendale, CA for a camping trip in Death Valley National Park and were due to return Sunday April 4.
On April 6, after receiving notification of the two potentially missing individuals all hotels were checked in the Death Valley National Park (DVNP) area, and a “be on the lookout” (BOLO ) was sent to CHP and DVNP for their white 2018 Subaru Forester with Yakima roof rack. Additionally both were left messages on their cell phones to contact the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office as soon as possible; both phones went straight to voicemail.
On April 7, the entire Death Valley Highway 190, from Death Valley Junction to Lone Pine, was driven and every monument and attraction along to route was checked. DVPN assisted in checking every site listed on Lofgren’s backcountry itinerary. Lofgren had entered a backcountry registration log listing the following destinations while they were in the park: Artist Drive, Devils Golf Course, Racetrack, and Badwater Basin. All the areas were checked and some were checked morning and afternoon with no results.
On April 7, Lofgren and Henkel were entered into the Missing and Unidentified Persons (MUPS) database. Forensic analysis of both parties’ cell phones did not provide useful information due to the remote location and lack of cellular service.
Today, both aerial support and ground support will be utilized throughout the Death Valley area.
Both Lofgren and Henkel are described as experienced campers. Lofgren is believed to have jugs of water and at least one day’s worth of food as well as camping gear. Lofgren is known for camping in remote areas that are not designated campgrounds.
Assisting agencies currently: Inyo County Search and Rescue, Death Valley National Park, Inyo Sheriff, and China Lake Naval Weapons Base for aerial. The public is asked to contact the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office at 760-878-0383, option 4, with any information that may assist in the search.
RE: Missing in DV - Desert Fog - 2021-04-08
-UPDATE-
INYO COUNTY, CA, APRIL 8, 2021, 4:00PM UPDATE– The two missing individuals: 32 year-old Alexander Lofgren, and 27 year-old Emily Henkel, both from Tucson, AZ, were located today shortly after noon. They were spotted through aerial reconnaissance in a very remote area of Death Valley National Park near Willlow Creek on a very steep ledge.
A hoist operation was attempted, but due to the extreme location the two team members who rappelled down were unable to reach Lofgren and Henkel. It is unclear at this point what condition Lofgren and Henkel are in.
This evening an Inyo Search and Rescue technical team will travel to Death Valley National Park and will descend the canyon as soon as they arrive.
The missing white Subaru was located first by Death Valley National Park at approximately 11:00am off of Gold Valley Road. A note was located in the vehicle that read, “Two flat tires, headed to Mormon Point, have three days’ worth of water.” This note proved to be a crucial tip in directing search efforts. The location of the vehicle was not included in Lofgren’s backcountry itinerary.
The search was initiated Tuesday April 6, after Inyo County Sheriff’s Office received notification that Lofgren and Henkel had not returned by their due date of April 4. Lofgren’s backcountry itinerary was thoroughly checked along with every attraction and tourist site along highway 190 with no results.
The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the following agencies: Inyo County Search and Rescue, Death Valley National Park, CalOES, and China Lake Naval Weapons Base for aerial.
RE: Missing in DV - trailhound - 2021-04-09
Spend the 300 bucks on a PLB. If you ever need one, you will need one bad.
RE: Missing in DV - Kauri - 2021-04-09
A tire repair kit and portable air compressor are also a good idea to have. I paid $140 for my setup (ARB tire repair kit and Smittybilt compressor)--totally worth it in my opinion--but I know the repair kits come as cheap as $8 and about $30 for a compressor (but I’m not sure of the quality).
And I think backtracking is usually the safest tactic rather than trying to shortcut on an unknown route. Seems like they’d have been better off hiking out of Gold Valley and back up the Greenwater Valley Road to look for help?
That’s good they at least knew to bring extra water.
RE: Missing in DV - Kauri - 2021-04-09
Sad update here:
https://www.ridgecrestca.com/story/news/2021/04/09/missing-arizona-couple-found-death-valley-rescue-underway/7162145002/
"The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that one of the missing Arizona campers, Alexander Lofgren, 32, died in the wilderness. The other, Emily Henkel, 27, was found alive and flown to Lemoore Naval Air Station for treatment."
RE: Missing in DV - DAW89446 - 2021-04-09
Sad ending. I wonder why they chose to drop directly into the valley instead of simply walking out to Shoshone. I’ve heard that the route down to the valley in Willow has technical sections. It seems that they were wilderness savvy, it’s too bad that they made a bad choice of routes.
RE: Missing in DV - TacoLand - 2021-04-09
That's an awful ending. No telling how far out Gold Valley Road they were, but I'm guessing they looked at a map and Mormon Point with a paved road looked a lot closer to them than Greenwater Valley Road. All sorts of bad mistakes can happen in the backcountry and it sounds like they compounded to the worst possible degree here. Super heavy – RIP and condolences to everyone involved.
RE: Missing in DV - Desert Fog - 2021-04-10
Another article here..
Tucson man dies, woman rescued from steep ledge in Death Valley National Park
RE: Missing in DV - DeathValleyDazed - 2021-04-10
(2021-04-10, 08:12 AM)Desert Fog Wrote: Another article here..
Tucson man dies, woman rescued from steep ledge in Death Valley National Park
Here's a link from r/reddit's DeathValleyNP
https://www.reddit.com/r/DeathValleyNP/comments/mmxfdo/sar_underway_for_missing_persons_in_death_valley/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
RE: Missing in DV - bbbb - 2021-04-10
Very sad. It sounds like he was an experienced hiker too.