Found Safe AZ - Gary Morris, 73, Pine-Strawberry Fire Chief, hiker, Mazatzal Wilderness, Payson, 29 Oct 2019

[Savmom]

Authorities are searching for the Pine-Strawberry Fire Chief who has been missing for more than 24 hours after setting out to hike an Arizona trail last week.

Sheriff's officials say 73-year-old Chief Gary Morris was reported missing around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Deputies say Chief Morris, an avid hiker, was scheduled to do 51 miles over four days of the Arizona Trail with the ending point being in the Doll Baby area, southwest of Payson.

Authorities say Chief Morris told friends and family he would call when he made it to the end of the trail, but never did.

An Arizona Department of Public Safety Ranger helicopter was called to assist with the search, along with Tonto Rim Search and Rescue Team.

Deputies say search operations will continue Tuesday night and Wednesday.

ABC Article

AZFamily Article

Gila County Sheriff's Office FB Press Release

 

[zecats]

Hard to narrow down exact area, but Doll Baby Ranch area comes up as a road/trail on maps.

خرائط ‪Google‬‏‏

 

[zecats]

Authorities are searching for the Pine-Strawberry Fire Chief who has been missing for more than 24 hours after setting out to hike an Arizona trail last week.

Sheriff's officials say 73-year-old Chief Gary Morris was reported missing around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Deputies say Chief Morris, an avid hiker, was scheduled to do 51 miles over four days of the Arizona Trail with the ending point being in the Doll Baby area, southwest of Payson.

Authorities say Chief Morris told friends and family he would call when he made it to the end of the trail, but never did.

An Arizona Department of Public Safety Ranger helicopter was called to assist with the search, along with Tonto Rim Search and Rescue Team.

Deputies say search operations will continue Tuesday night and Wednesday.

ABC Article

AZFamily Article

Gila County Sheriff's Office FB Press Release

From your link:
"Tonto Rim Search and Rescue and other Gila County agencies are out looking for him in the Mazatzal Wilderness southwest of Payson. The Arizona Department of Public Safety Ranger Helicopter was scouring the area from the air.

GCSO said the search would continue into Wednesday."

Note - Chief Morris is also a member of the Tonto Rim Search and Rescue himself.

 

[Savmom]

UPDATED INFO posted 10/30 @ 1:50pm (STILL NOT FOUND)

From the link (there is a note about his wife at the end of the article):


This is a minor update-Gary has still NOT been found.

As of the last hour, this is what we have from his FD. 4 two man crews were dropped in areas of last phone pinging, or last known areas he was. They are Trackers and are searching out and tracking his boots/hiking. They are doing their best to keep people out so that non-trackers aren’t messing up his boot prints. DPS Rangers are overhead and Civil Air Control are being added. There are also mule teams being put together. They are working on adding another tower to work all communications off of.

 

[zecats]

Found safe.
Fire chief missing on Arizona Trail hike has been found

A search in east-central Arizona for a fire chief who himself is a member of a search and rescue unit has ended.

Fire officials confirm Gary Morris saw the search helicopter, and was finally able to get cell service and texted the Gila County Sheriff's Office. He is said to be in good condition.

 

[zecats]

Found safe.
Fire chief missing on Arizona Trail hike has been found

A search in east-central Arizona for a fire chief who himself is a member of a search and rescue unit has ended.

Fire officials confirm Gary Morris saw the search helicopter, and was finally able to get cell service and texted the Gila County Sheriff's Office. He is said to be in good condition.

DBM

 

[Savmom]

Just saw the update!! I love when the outcome is positive!

 

[Luckyzmom]

Amen to that !

Just saw the update!! I love when the outcome is positive!