ACTIVE SEARCH JAPAN - Patricia "Pattie" Wu-Murad, 60, US Citizen, on hiking trip Kumano Kodo Trail, didn't arr next stop Osaka, 10 Apr 2023

[Cryptic]

She said they were raising money to hire a private search and rescue mountain crew at about $10,000, fly them to Osaka at about $5,000 and hiring a helicopter for aerial search at $1,600 per hour.

Need to hire private search teams at huge costs? Understandable in say, a developing country like Mali.

But this is in Japan, and they still need to hire private teams and helicopters- WTF? (not a good acronym, and not "pc", but I cant think of a better one to describe this.)

The police have stated that they have concerns about her well being.

Japan is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Even if their police departments do not routinely have helicopters due to a lower crime rate, the Japanese armed forces have hundreds of them.

No possible way that the very well equipped Japanese military could fly a FLIR equipped helicopter(s) over that trail and surrounding area? The helicopter time could then be written as a military training mission.

Likewise, many US wilderness areas often have volunteer Search and Rescue teams associated with local law enforcement. I knew one such volunteer in California- and he liked being called out. I cant believe that there are no equivelants in Japan.

 

[slowpoke]

I wonder what the chances of wildlife encounters are - bears, wolves? Are there often large groups of people on these journeys?

Kumano Kodo Tips & Safety｜Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau

Helpful Tips & Hints for Walking the Kumano Kodo Detours and Closures Trails and roads along the Kumano Kodo are occasionally closed due to landslides or weather-related difficulties. Check here for detour and closure information provided by local officials. NOTE: Sudden inclement weather occurs...

www.tb-kumano.jp

According to this page, it lists the Japanese Pit Viper, Giant Centipede, and the Asian Giant Hornet under “creatures to be wary of”.

The Kohechi route that she took, I believe, is considered the most challenging one, remote, and much less travelled so that one would encounter far fewer fellow hikers (based on various readings I’ve done, no personal experience). JMO

 

[Eli9]

Need to hire private search teams at huge costs? Understandable in say, a developing country like Mali.

But this is in Japan, and they still need to hire private teams and helicopters- <modsnip>

The police have stated that they have concerns about her well being.

Japan is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Even if their police departments do not routinely have helicopters due to a lower crime rate, the Japanese armed forces have hundreds of them.

No possible way that the very well equipped Japanese military could fly a FLIR equipped helicopter(s) over that trail and surrounding area? The helicopter time could then be written as a military training mission.

Likewise, many US wilderness areas often have volunteer Search and Rescue teams associated with local law enforcement. I knew one such volunteer in California- and he liked being called out. I cant believe that there are no equivelants in Japan.

I have been leaning towards the optics and hope I am wrong about that. MOO

 

[j_in_c]

Need to hire private search teams at huge costs? Understandable in say, a developing country like Mali.

But this is in Japan, and they still need to hire private teams and helicopters- <modsnip>

The police have stated that they have concerns about her well being.

Japan is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Even if their police departments do not routinely have helicopters due to a lower crime rate, the Japanese armed forces have hundreds of them.

No possible way that the very well equipped Japanese military could fly a FLIR equipped helicopter(s) over that trail and surrounding area? The helicopter time could then be written as a military training mission.

Likewise, many US wilderness areas often have volunteer Search and Rescue teams associated with local law enforcement. I knew one such volunteer in California- and he liked being called out. I cant believe that there are no equivelants in Japan.

If you followed missing hiker Amanda Eller's story in Hawaii, it was similar that search and rescue efforts are only allocated around 3 days of time and effort. That is also the general policy in the US National parks. IMO the family is doing the right thing by safely doing their own searching and funding a private effort.

I really hope their efforts pay off and they find her!!!

 

[Sillybilly]

ADMIN NOTE:

Pattie's family is using a G*M site to update people on the search. While a link is not allowed, the page is called "Help find Pattie & Bring her home safe".

We will allow paraphrasing and discussion of what is contained in the "Updates" section of the page as it relates to the specifics of the case and the search.

What is not allowed is a link, any copy/paste/screenshots or direct quotes from the page, and discussion of the actual fundraiser/dollars.

 

[Eli9]

If you followed missing hiker Amanda Eller's story in Hawaii, it was similar that search and rescue efforts are only allocated around 3 days of time and effort. That is also the general policy in the US National parks. IMO the family is doing the right thing by safely doing their own searching and funding a private effort.

I really hope their efforts pay off and they find her!!!

I didn't know that. Thanks for that information as it changes my perception of how this has been handled.

 

[Cryptic]

search and rescue efforts are only allocated around 3 days of time and effort.

So the Japanese did make an official search using resources proportional to their level of development- including helicopters?

 

[annpats]

I would like to know if the hostel had any lone males who checked out on the same day.

Also, are there any other hostels near that one she stayed at? Or are there only hostels in certain areas, every so many miles?

 

[annpats]

So the Japanese did make a search with resources proportional to their level of development?

The Japanese are very well trained in search and rescue. A lot of their country is quite mountainous.

I do think 3 days seems to be about the standard length of time to search for someone across the globe.

 

[slowpoke]

So the Japanese did make an official search using resources proportional to their level of development- including helicopters?

They used a helicopter on 4/11 & 4/12 (info from the updates at the G*M site by a family member).

 

[Cryptic]

I have been leaning towards the optics and hope I am wrong about that. MOO

The author of this book related that the Japanese police are not known for being decisive, even with Japanese victims and seem to make a "reputation of the victim" type assessment routine.

https://www.amazon.com/People-Who-Eat-Darkness-Tokyo/dp/0374230595

But.. as @slowpoke and @annpats related, they did conduct a helicopter based search. As with the US, search helicopters cannot be used indefinetly.

 

[ifindedout]

Are there any mountain lions or tigers? I know nothing about Japans wildlife.
This case is a mystery.

No wild cats on any of the four main Japanese islands. The two cats mentioned below are on tiny islands well away from the mainland.

Wildlife of Japan - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[WingsOverTX]

So the Japanese did make an official search using resources proportional to their level of development- including helicopters?

I'm not sure air searches would be of value. The trail being searched is in a mountainous/hilly forest with dense tree cover.

Personally, I think only her carrying an emergency beacon would have helped. And that would help only if she could activate it.

I'm wondering if she got off the main trail somehow & is lost with few supplies to sustain her.

Too many days have passed with no clues.

Miracles do happen but lack of preparedness for potential misadventure has claimed many lives.

Where are you, Pattie?

JMO

 

[ifindedout]

Simple but informative Wiki article about the trail, with a simple map:

Kumano Kodō - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[evilwise]

'Sleuths may want to familiarize themselves with the Gerry Largay disappearance to know what they can expect - and why this should be considered an urgent search and rescue still at this point.

Found Deceased - ME - Gerry Largay, 66, Appalachian Trail, 21 July 2013

http://www.wlbz2.com/news/article/250990/3/Wardens-Woman-from-Tennessee-missing-in-Maine Maine Game Wardens report that approximately 60 searchers have gathered to look for Geraldine Largay from Brentwood, Tennessee. Wardens say Geraldine Anita Largay started her hike on the...

www.websleuths.com

The Appalachian Trail is three times as long but 700 miles is still a very extreme hike. Kumano Kodo is a pilgrimage of the Japan-exclusive animist religion Shinto. The shrines along the route are iconically beautiful, believed to hold actual spirits. The religious aspect shouldn't make suicide seem any more likely (they have a designated forest for that too).

I think she is likely in a lost camp. Hopefully still alive.

 

[Cryptic]

I'm not sure air searches would be of value. The trail being searched is in a mountainous/hilly forest with dense tree cover.

I am thinking that they would have searched with 'FLIRs'- sensitive infra red sensors.

 

[Cryptic]

I'm wondering if she got off the main trail somehow & is lost with few supplies to sustain her.

That could well be what happened. I just wonder how densely populated the area is? Would she likely of been able to "walk out" to a rural road or town by going in a general down hill direction for a period of time?

 

[ZaZara]

Are there any mountain lions or tigers? I know nothing about Japans wildlife.
This case is a mystery.

No and no! There is a Yamaneko Wildcat, but this cat is very rare and smaller in comparison.

The Japanese Railway Pass has an overview of the wildlife:

A Wildlife Tour of Japan

 

[WingsOverTX]

Need to hire private search teams at huge costs? Understandable in say, a developing country like Mali.

But this is in Japan, and they still need to hire private teams and helicopters- WTF? (not a good acronym, and not "pc", but I cant think of a better one to describe this.)

The police have stated that they have concerns about her well being.

Japan is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Even if their police departments do not routinely have helicopters due to a lower crime rate, the Japanese armed forces have hundreds of them.

No possible way that the very well equipped Japanese military could fly a FLIR equipped helicopter(s) over that trail and surrounding area? The helicopter time could then be written as a military training mission.

Likewise, many US wilderness areas often have volunteer Search and Rescue teams associated with local law enforcement. I knew one such volunteer in California- and he liked being called out. I cant believe that there are no equivelants in Japan.

Hiking in Japan: Why Insurance Matters

Japan Rescue Organization Hiking Accident Statistics One of the hazards of outdoor recreation such as hiking, camping, mountain biking or skiing is that it entails an element of risk. For solo adventurers such as myself, the level of risk is even more significant with a real potential for things...

ridgelineimages.com

In 2016 for example the average incident that jRO attended cost ¥455,000 ($4,000 USD). On the higher side, fees can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

 

[annpats]

They used a helicopter on 4/11 & 4/12 (info from the updates at the G*M site by a family member).

I think that shows seriousness from the Japanese authorities, however the trail looks like it is heavily forested, so I'm not sure what could actually be seen from a helicopter with all that foliage cover.... but all credit for trying.