MEDIA RELEASE

To: All News Media 
From: Lieutenant James Jarrell 
Date: July 10, 2003 
Subject: YCSO Information

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 9, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office received word of 2 overdue hikers in the Beaver Creek Wilderness in the Verde Valley.

The caller advised that her husband, 46 year old Robin Hoard of Glendale, AZ and his friend, 45 year old Stephan Caird of Oregon, reportedly experienced hikers, left on Sunday, July 6 on a backpacking trip into Waldroup Canyon, which is a branch of Beaver Creek Canyon. Robin and Stephan had read about the canyon hike in 2 publications and on a website, which described the hike as only requiring 13 hours. Robin told his wife that if they had not returned by midnight on Tuesday, July 8, to call the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office. Hoard and Caird did not return at the appointed time, and Robin's wife contacted the YCSO shortly after midnight.

Due to the danger to searchers inherent in searching the remote and rugged backcountry in the dark, Search and Rescue personnel elected to wait until daylight to begin the search. The Yavapai County Sheriff's Air Group was activated, with both fixed wing and rotorcraft involved in the search.. AZ DPS Ranger assisted. YCSO Forest Patrol Deputy Roial Armstrong located one of the vehicles used by the subjects on a remote U.S. Forest Service Road, and the Yavapai County Sheriff's Air Group spotted the subjects from the air, apparently uninjured and moving under their own power.. Hoard and Caird were seen swimming a trail less section with a raft carrying their gear, moving in the direction of a trailhead. Each time the aircraft spotted the two hikers, they indicated that they were in good shape and in no need of assistance. Their progress was monitored until they reached the main trail.

The two men reached the trailhead at about 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 9. They were in good health although exhausted from the trip, much of which was hiked in temperatures of over 110 degrees F. They said that the conditions had been extreme and they had underestimated the ruggedness of the terrain, which included boulders, deadfall, and waterfalls. The terrain, swimming and portaging unexpectedly slowed their progress.

Both men reportedly had planned for contingencies by packing dry bags to keep their gear dry during water crossings, a rubber raft and wetsuits, water filtrations systems, food, and camping gear.

YCSO reminds those people recreating in Yavapai County's backcountry to always notify a friend or family member of where you intend to be, with a pre-appointed time of return or contact. Also, make sure you are physically able to traverse Yavapai County's rugged terrain, which can range from the desert floor to mountain peaks of nearly 8,000 feet in an area approximately the size of the State of Massachusetts. The YCSO conducts many Search and Rescue missions every year, many of which are initiated to rescue people who were physically or mentally unprepared for the challenges of their trip..