CA CA - Barbara Thomas, 69, Bullhead City, hiking wearing bikini in Mojave desert, 12 July 2019

[fictionisbetter]

Barbara Thomas was hiking with her husband in the Mojave Desert and they became separated. She has not been seen since.

Search underway for lost hiker in Mojave Desert

"Thomas does not have supplies or a cell phone, and she was last seen wearing a black bikini, red baseball cap and tan hiking boots with black socks."

"She is a resident of Bullhead City, and she is 5 feet and 9 inches tall, weighing about 130 pounds, with blonde hair and green eyes."

 

[GraceG]

Hiking in the desert mid-day with no supplies and temps at 115 (that's the actual temperature, not the heat index)? And in a bikini? Here's a picture of her, and an article with a little more specific info as to where in the desert she was hiking. Search underway for lost hiker in Mojave Desert

 

[PommyMommy]

Barbara Thomas was hiking with her husband in the Mojave Desert and they became separated. She has not been seen since.

Search underway for lost hiker in Mojave Desert

"Thomas does not have supplies or a cell phone, and she was last seen wearing a black bikini, red baseball cap and tan hiking boots with black socks."

"She is a resident of Bullhead City, and she is 5 feet and 9 inches tall, weighing about 130 pounds, with blonde hair and green eyes."

Question #1: How did she and her husband become separated?

From the article:

• SBCS is searching for a lost hiker in the Mojave Desert, 20 miles north of Interstate 40 and east of Kelbaker Road. Google Maps
• BT was hiking with her husband in that area on Friday around 2:30 p.m.
• Assisting in the search are fire personnel, park rangers, sheriff’s aviation and SAR team members.
• Anyone with information is urged to contact the Colorado River Station of the SBSD by calling (760) 326-9200 or sheriff’s dispatch at (760) 956-5001.

 

[PommyMommy]

Referencing: An search is underway in the Mohave desert 20 miles north of I-40 & east of Kelbaker Rd. for a lost ... from SBSD - Colorado River Sheriffs Department : Nixle

SBCSD Colorado River Station on Twitter

 

[kkdj]

I've been there many times. It's very hot and dry in the summer. Not many trees as it's desert so I think they should be able to find her with a helicopter.

 

[PommyMommy]

I've been there many times. It's very hot and dry in the summer. Not many trees as it's desert so I think they should be able to find her with a helicopter.

That's reassuring. Thanks, kk. Is the closest water the Colorado River? MOO

 

[Really?]

How in the world did they become “separated “?

 

[kkdj]

That's reassuring. Thanks, kk. Is the closest water the Colorado River? MOO

Yes. There's also Lake Mojave.

 

[alexwood]

How in the world did they become “separated “?

Good question. Who wears hiking boots and doesn't even bring water, at the very least?

The only thing I can think is that the husband was wearing the backpack with the water and Barbara's other clothes inside -- like hiking wear.

 

[kkdj]

The heat will be the biggest problem. But if she's out there I would certainly think the helicopter would spot her. It's very desert. Is there a map of where she was last seen?
Also, why wouldn't she be carrying supplies such as water? Was her husband carrying everything?

 

[alexwood]

The heat will be the biggest problem. But if she's out there I would certainly think the helicopter would spot her. It's very desert. Is there a map of where she was last seen?
Also, why wouldn't she be carrying supplies such as water? Was her husband carrying everything?

PommyMommy's map (from post #3 above):

Google Maps

 

[kkdj]

From the description of where they were hiking it doesn't appear they were in the Bullhead City area but more in the mojave desert itself.

 

[kkdj]

The nearest water seems to be near the town of Needles which is on the river. Depending on her exact location she might have many miles to get to it. She would need water for sure.

 

[PommyMommy]

Yes. There's also Lake Mojave.

Well that's not good. That's as far as the Colorado River. I wish we had a more precise marker as to where they became separated. MOO

 

[kkdj]

I wonder if she and her husband had an argument and one of them stomped off.

 

[kkdj]

I wonder what brought them out to where they were to hike. There's so many places closer to where they live. I'm perplexed.

 

[PommyMommy]

I wonder what brought them out to where they were to hike. There's so many places closer to where they live. I'm perplexed.

I was just looking at that. It's almost two hours by vehicle so I think it's safe to assume that if they did have an argument, she didn't plan to walk home to Bullhead City. MOO

Google Maps

 

[alexwood]

Where did they leave their vehicle when they began their hike? There is a Providence Mountains State Recreation Area nearby.

 

[PommyMommy]

Could she be headed here? Google Maps

Providence Mountains SRA

 

[alexwood]

Could she be headed here? Google Maps

Providence Mountains SRA

Looks like a good possibility.