The search for the Death Valley Germans

rob_gendreau · 10-09-2013, 12:12 PM

I suppose some of you have probably read this, since it's been mentioned a bunch on Expedition Portal, but it was new to me and hasn't been mentioned here. It's a fascinating read about a fellow's search for a missing German family that started in the nineties and ended thirteen years later. Now part of the lore of DVNP.

Check it out: http://www.otherhand.org/home-page/sear ... y-germans/

**BroncoHauler** · 10-09-2013, 12:28 PM

Popped up here early this year.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=10336&hilit=germans

Herb

**daveb** · 10-16-2013, 10:04 PM

I read both DV stories earlier this year and although captivating, the German story was truly a sad one. I looked up the area on Google Earth.

Looks similar anyway.

Quite the walk at that time of year if this is the correct area.

Ocsmb · 10-16-2013, 11:33 PM

I'm lazy. Does anyone have cliff notes for this story?

86Scotty · 10-17-2013, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ocsmb

I'm lazy. Does anyone have cliff notes for this story?

I'm lazy too, but take the time to read it. It's worth it. You won't be disappointed.

**BroncoHauler** · 10-17-2013, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ocsmb

I'm lazy. Does anyone have cliff notes for this story?

Bottom line: Completely ill-prepared tourists venture into the desert and die, and to make it much worse, young children were part of the group.

I absolutely agree with 86 Scotty that it's well worth the read, especially as it is well written, and maybe it will remind people who read it to not underestimate the backcountry, let alone a very, very harsh desert.

Herb

rob_gendreau · 10-17-2013, 07:33 PM

A coupla other bullet points:

Inyo Co Sheriff: yikes.

Don't go hiking off from your vehicle (cf the James Kim story in Oregon; equally awful).

Don't trust GPS mapping (he references the death of someone who was misdirected into this same general area). I had reported a similar problem with a road listed in Google maps that would be presented as a way into Carrizo Nat Mon; not so much a problem if you were going in cuz of a locked gate you hit right away. But if you were going out you'd be led on an increasinly sketchy road till you got stuck and died. Or at least got majorly inconvenienced. I reported it April 30th 2013 and got this back May 9th:

"Hi Rob,

Your Google Maps problem report has been reviewed, and you were right!"

Yesterday I got an email from Google saying it had been fixed...but it hasn't. Go to Google Maps and type in "Selby Campground, Selby Rd, CA 93254" and then get directions to say Santa Maria. It'll route you on a closed road that the monument says is often 4x4 or 4x4 iffy wet. AND there's a locked gate at the intersection with 166. The monument's web page advises against using google and other services for routing for this reason. Maybe if you guys complain as well.

**daveb** · 10-17-2013, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ocsmb

I'm lazy. Does anyone have cliff notes for this story?

Bottom line: Completely ill-prepared tourists venture into the desert and die, and to make it much worse, young children were part of the group.

I absolutely agree with 86 Scotty that it's well worth the read, especially as it is well written, and maybe it will remind people who read it to not underestimate the backcountry, let alone a very, very harsh desert.

Herb

Then there is the other DV story about the guy who decided to end his life by walking off from Badwater.

I agree about using GPS units as a sure thing. I think in the other thread I posted about the elderly folks who tried to get to Kings Canyon from Pine Flat lake. At first I thought it was locals who knew more about the area than me. Not! It was their GPS leading them into a trail that was not car friendly.
Anyway all of the Otherhand.org postings are worth a look.

Ocsmb · 10-17-2013, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveb

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ocsmb

I'm lazy. Does anyone have cliff notes for this story?

Bottom line: Completely ill-prepared tourists venture into the desert and die, and to make it much worse, young children were part of the group.

I absolutely agree with 86 Scotty that it's well worth the read, especially as it is well written, and maybe it will remind people who read it to not underestimate the backcountry, let alone a very, very harsh desert.

Herb

Then there is the other DV story about the guy who decided to end his life by walking off from Badwater.

I agree about using GPS units as a sure thing. I think in the other thread I posted about the elderly folks who tried to get to Kings Canyon from Pine Flat lake. At first I thought it was locals who knew more about the area than me. Not! It was their GPS leading them into a trail that was not car friendly.
Anyway all of the Otherhand.org postings are worth a look.

Is that about the UFC fighter?

Ocsmb · 10-17-2013, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 86Scotty

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ocsmb

I'm lazy. Does anyone have cliff notes for this story?

I'm lazy too, but take the time to read it. It's worth it. You won't be disappointed.

I just read the whole thing from start to finish. Thanks for the words of encouragement. Well written, riveting and ultimately extremely sad. Gives me the chills just imagining for a split second what it would feel like had that been me and my family stranded out there.

No solo desert trips for me!!! Meaning, Ill only go if there's at least one other more capable rig.

Btw - speaking from complete ignorance, what is the allure of the desert unless there is some amazing (subjective of course) feature/monument/etc.