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

[AlaskanPrincess]

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

Interesting question .... but that detail hasn't been provided in news.

 

[moonriverfarm]

Smell a rat here.

 

[PommyMommy]

Welcome to Websleuths, @AlaskanPrincess. I'm using Google Maps to look at the area since I'm not local. I was suggesting the recreation area might be somewhere she may try to reach to gain access to water and call for help. Obviously, I don't know if she's familar with that area or knows how to get there - I just threw it out as a possibility. I think it's been too long now and I'm fearing the worst. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[AlaskanPrincess]

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.

(sigh) There really has been very little information released. I grasp looking at maps trying to get feel for where they were ...and perhaps ideas about where she might be. But all these questions, speculation about her husband, arguments, etc. IMO doesn't seem to add anything meaningful ...but it does create a 'sensational' aspect to her disappearance. As for 'where she's headed'-- if she's LOST she's probably trying to get back to road, or to populated area.

 

[oviedo]

And nothing much being reported today either...Where could she have gone to and why wasn't she carrying a cell phone even if hiking with someone?

 

[ms_x_to_the_m]

Wouldn't you bee asking for a massive sun burn to hike in bikini. The sun alone would crisp you.
If she was indeed abducted, then didn't husband see a car coming, either way? I mean you could see it pass you?
I hope she has found some place to get some reprieve from the sun and heat and more important water.

 

[Davia18]

This is my backyard (not literally). In Bullhead and Lake Havasu city with the river and lake being near us you see people all the time wearing nothing but bikini's. I'm always shocked when I see girls out riding in side by sides with just a bikini on, as this can't be comfortable. JMO

 

[ClaireNC]

<modsnipped linking to unapproved source>

Link to the sheriff’s office alerts. The search continues.
July 15th - The search for Barbara Thomas, age 69, is continuing in the area of Kelbaker/ Hidden ... from SBSD - Colorado River Sheriffs Department : Nixle

 

[ClaireNC]

Most recent articles. No new info:
Hiker Wearing Bikini Disappears in Southern California's Sweltering Mojave Desert


Bikini-Clad 69-Year-Old Woman Missing After Hiking in Mojave Desert Amid Heatwave

Arizona woman missing in California's Mojave Desert

Woman, 69, missing in Mojave with no supplies or cellphone and wearing only a bikini

 

[ClaireNC]

Bikini-Clad 69-Year-Old Woman Missing After Hiking in Mojave Desert Amid Heatwave

 

[zecats]

Links above state she decided to return to their trailer while he stayed behind to photograph something. She was 1/2 mile ahead and when he arrived back at the trailer she wasn't there. Any info on where their trailer is located? Were they camping offload or in a campground? Seems strange he was behind her, never passed her on the way back or noticed anything, and then she was not there at the destination. Strange not in a blaming way, but in a "where could she be" way.

 

[oviedo]

Nothing new about the searches or anything - Where could she be?

 

[zecats]

Nothing new about the searches or anything - Where could she be?

Some campgrounds in the area. If she was headed back to their trailer, they were camping I guess. Hole in Wall shows photos of trailers and also hiking trails when you search area. Were they on a trail? Or just meandering trough the desert? No clue.
campgrounds in mojave desert

 

[Herat]

Bikini-Clad 69-Year-Old Woman Missing After Hiking in Mojave Desert Amid Heatwave

Looks like the same person to me. More power to her if she is comfortable hiking in a bikini.

But if you look at desert nomads, they all cover up from the sun. And I’d have a backpack with water,water and the 10 essentials. Even if I intended to stay within sight of the campground

 

[1&2&3]

Would a cell phone work out in the desert?

How far away from their trailer had they hiked?

Were there more than one way to hike back to the trailer? If so, BT may have gone a different way than her husband.

On the other hand, with the searchers not finding her, it makes one question the highway they crossed. What happened at that point, did someone pick her up? Or is hubby telling a made up story?

She is a beautiful lady to be 69 years old.

 

[Usd2bfun]

Well, the other missing hiker was just found.. Maybe there’s hope for this lady too. I hope so

 

[Betty P]

I hope they find her, that's a pretty desolate looking area. The local recreation area web site says they're having a water shortage and ask people to bring in their own water when they visit.

I know someone who works on an SAR team in a desert area. They said if you ever get lost in a desert area where there's lots of sand, just turn around and follow your footprints back the way you came.

Too often, people panic and wander around in circles, etc. For SAR, once they find footprints they just follow them and find the (usually deceased) missing person at the end.

ETA: Of course, this wouldn't work as well in an area that is rocky, etc.

 

[PommyMommy]

Well, the other missing hiker was just found.. Maybe there’s hope for this lady too. I hope so

Good to hear. Welcome to Websleuths, Usd2bfun.

 

[Luckyzmom]

Bet it's easy to get turned around out there, with the heat and probably little water with her. Praying she's found today !!

 

[kay74]

It's got to be around 115 degrees, right? I've been to Lake Havasu in the summer and I could not get out of my car it was so hot!