Found Deceased CA - Paul Miller, 51, Canadian missing in Joshua Tree National Park, San Bernardino Co., 13 Jul 2018

[RickshawFan]

It is said they had already packed to go home and he quickly wanted to take a few pictures because they hadn‘t seen the oasis. Also, Paul is said to be a good hiker, no amateur.

She changed her story? We hadn't heard about the photos before. We just heard a timeline and how much he'd wanted to go there.
Does she mean he'd hiked it already, she couldn't come, and maybe the next day he was just going back on the trail for a little bit to take photos?
This is getting weirder.

 

[RickshawFan]

Thanks for the tip.

I have heard of such maps, but never used one. Then again, now that you mention it, my Pueblo Bonito map was sold as USGS, but seems different. In either case, I am going to order a National Geographic one for my next hiking trip to New Mexico. I think it will be fun to see the difference.

You'll want a National Geographic map for the area you're going to hike, not the whole state. National Geographic maps for the whole state are very ordinary, IMO, nothing special. The National Park ones are fantastic.

 

[cybervampira]

She changed her story? We hadn't heard about the photos before. We just heard a timeline and how much he'd wanted to go there.
Does she mean he'd hiked it already, she couldn't come, and maybe the next day he was just going back on the trail for a little bit to take photos?
This is getting weirder.

It‘s what the family friend said in the interview. I guess Paul‘s wife told him that. I don‘t know if they hiked it already. Family friend just said they hadn‘t seen the Oasis in the Joshua Tree and that Paul quickly wanted to take a few photos and went there on his own.

 

[RickshawFan]

I would say that desert hiking in the southwest US is quite different than hiking in the rest of the US and Canada.

Great correction. I consider myself an experienced hiker, but not at all for desert hiking, or hiking across snowfields, and I don't give a rip about summiting, let alone above tree line.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

glued to Paul's thread. I don't usually wander onto WS Friday-Sunday so I hope with everything I have that there is news about Paul by the time I check again Monday morning. We have an early hike planned for Saturday. Early - we will start out at about 5am when it is only about 90 degrees, and it will be short - like 6 miles only, so we are back before the heat of the day. I have a large pack with a 4 liter bladder and will stay on trail. I also will not be alone. I'll be thinking of Paul, sorta hoping he had something else planned because the alternative is just, well...

 

[MaryG12]

I'm glued to the thread too, I hope there is an update of some kind that this poor guy is found soon.

If the weather's nice this weekend we'll go for a brief hike too.

 

[carbuff]

We'll be in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Mr. Carbuff and friends will be doing a longer hike. Not sure what I'll do. Something in Crawford Notch, probably. But I'll be thinking of PM and all the other missing hikers past and present...

 

[GraceG]

I haven't hiked that particular trail, but from what I see on the pictures, it's pretty dry and rocky before you reach the oasis. With that kind of terrain, even if only moderate, the heat must be exacerbated by that dryness. We don't know if he actually reached the oasis....maybe he got into trouble on the way back...maybe got lost? No empty water bottles found? Anything? This doesn't sound as though it will be a positive resolution. I hope I'm wrong.
Where was his wife....at the motel/ hotel?

There is a warning regarding this trail (and NOT the others) on the National Park website in big letters to "Avoid trail during hot temperatures."

 

[Jackeee]

There’s just something not quite right here. Trying not to be melodramatic.

 

[SeesSeas]

National Park Service - News Release
Search Operations Scaled Back For Hiker Missing in Joshua Tree National Park - Joshua Tree National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Search Operations Scaled Back For Hiker Missing in Joshua Tree National Park

Date: July 18, 2018
Contact: George Land, 760 367-5507

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, Twentynine Palms, California – The search for missing Canadian hiker, Paul Miller has been scaled back after 5 days of intensive efforts by personnel from a number of local and regional agencies. Miller was last seen Friday morning when he departed to hike 49 Palms Oasis trail in Joshua Tree National Park. Miller’s wife became concerned and notified rangers around 12 noon that he was late on return. Rangers launched an immediate search which included up to 90 ground searchers, 6 canine search teams, an ATV search team and a helicopter. Efforts to find Miller or any trace have been without success.

While resource levels will be reduced, the incident will enter into a limited continuous search mode. During this phase, searchers will continue to methodically search areas of high probability when sufficient resources are available.

Participating in the search were resources from Joshua Tree National Park Search and Rescue, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and their search and rescue team. Resources from Death Valley National Park, Santa Monica Mountain and Mojave Desert Preserve have also assisted in the operation.

Anyone having information as to the whereabouts of this individual or having any other pertinent information is asked to call: 909 383-5651.

-NPS-

For more information see, www.nps.gov/jotr, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @JoshuaTreeNPS.

 

[dulcinea]

Although I would suggest it's an appropriate assumption. I really know nothing about this man or his familiarity with the region but I do know that folks in this part of Ontario (I'm not that far from Guelph) have literally no idea what the heat is like in the desert of CA. While it DOES get very hot here often in the summer, it's a very wet, humid heat and thankfully only lasts for a few days at a time, for the most part. Very very different from the dry heat of the desert. I used to live there (Palm Springs), so that's the only reason I know the difference and how deceptive the different type of heat can be.

Here, when it's 85f, it can often feel like 100+ due to the humidity. There, in the arrid heat of the desert it can be 120f and you'd never in a million years guess it was that hot, because there's little humidity with it. Very, very deceptive for those not familiar with it.

I agree 100% that the types of heat both areas experience are completely different. I am originally from Michigan (not too awful far from Guelph) and currently live in So Cal, not too far from JTNP. We were just in MI around the holiday. It was in the 90s with humidity also in the 90s. Yes it was hot, but it didn't bother me to hike while we were there, though all of my MI family stayed inside and melted. However, it I would never dream of hiking in that type of weather in JTNP. Heck, anything above 75 in the desert, even with little humidity, gets hot fast. There's no shade and it's brutal. It must just be that the sun is more direct here. I can hike all day in the heat and humidity, but not the desert. Often I hear people say it the other way. Regardless, people often underestimate the heat and don't realise the severity until it's too late. I am concerned that it what happened to this man.

 

[crhedBngr]

An "experienced" city hiker (if there is such a thing) in Los Angeles area. What makes hiking bearable to me in 90+ degrees is the breeze we get (we're within 2 miles of the ocean) and the water fountains in our city's parks.

Never having hiked in Joshua Tree, can anyone tell me if the trails are windy in summer? If so, that might make things more bearable. That, plus a decent hat and water . . .

Still praying for a positive outcome . . .

 

[jash]

Missing Guelph man's wife returns home from U.S.

Local news video..not sure if it's been posted. The car has Ontario plates...they must have left the car behind. (Wife and friends who flew down to California to support her)

The car has California plates (see attached). I'm assuming it's a rental from the airport.

I haven't seen if there are wider photos of the parking lot available. I'm curious if it makes sense where the Hyundai was parked, given how busy (or not) the lot would have been when the car arrived.

I think the suspicion some of you have is valid, but I am personally not ready to "go there" yet. I wonder if police inspected the car at all for signs of the last driver. If it wasn't Paul, then there must have been a second vehicle to transport the driver away.

 

[jash]

This is a really good question. It could start with things like, is he a bird watcher, a rock collector all the way to did he have financial troubles?

The only thing I dug up was that he and his wife played pub darts several years ago but I don't think that's relevant. Adult sports weekly report

 

[Inthedetails]

The only thing I dug up was that he and his wife played pub darts several years ago but I don't think that's relevant. Adult sports weekly report

They made it to the finals!

With so little info, I'll take this tidbit! While it might not be totally relevant, perhaps we can infer a few things: they did things together as a couple, they have a social life, perhaps one or both of them are a bit of competitive (could possibly imply interest in active activities), they probably are fun (playing darts is a social thing, at a bar, etc).

I think we can assume he is not a loner type, but is social, connected, active. However, he's not active on SM as far as we know at this point.

I have a relative who is on a dart team - it's an activity that is regular. They meet for the weekly games but many people also meet to practice. It's friendly competition with varying levels of competitiveness - with some people more interested in the beer and others more interested in winning.

So, this tidbit does give us a hint, imo. Thanks for finding it. (I searched for info and came up with nothing!)

jmopinion

 

[RickshawFan]

The hiker’s hometown newspapers don’t seem to have expanded on the story with biographical details, either. Evidently nothing like: Did he work and where? Where did he go to college? What did he value in life? Ages of kids? Parents? Hobbies?

 

[jash]

The age of that person is different but I did wonder if any possible relation because the mayor seems to know our missing person so politics was the common thing.

RSBM

It turns out the mayor of Guelph knows Paul through their church. So I don't think it's a political thing. 51-year-old Guelph man missing in California

Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie has known the man for two decades through Lakeside Church.

“We are just praying he comes home safely,” Guthrie said.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

They made it to the finals!

With so little info, I'll take this tidbit! While it might not be totally relevant, perhaps we can infer a few things:

If he is anything like darts players in the UK, he's likely to be unfit and to drink a fair amount.

 

[Sjm_qc]

Search scaled back for missing Guelph hiker in California

A local (to their home) news report with a few more details:

- they were supposed to catch their flight home the afternoon of the day he went missing (explains why Mrs Miller reported him missing so quickly)

- gives children’s details (some were wondering)

- a family member flew to California to help Mrs Miller & came home with her

ETA:

The Miller's were at the end of a vacation that involved hiking at four large national parks. They had just come from the Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce Canyon in Utah and were finishing up in Joshua Tree when Paul went missing.

With it being so hot out, the searchers were putting themselves in danger, Haibach said. She and Stephanie were prevented from taking part in the search effort because wandering off the trail would just put them at risk of them getting lost.

 

[Inthedetails]

Search scaled back for missing Guelph hiker in California

A local (to their home) news report with a few more details:

- they were supposed to catch their flight home the afternoon of the day he went missing (explains why Mrs Miller reported him missing so quickly)

- gives children’s details (some were wondering)

- a family member flew to California to help Mrs Miller & came home with her

ETA:

Yes, that definitely explains why she reported so quickly. Not only was he later than expected, he needed to be back on time to catch the flight and she couldn't reach him....because his phone wasn't with him.

What happened after 9am??

jmo